7 Research-led Approach to Learning — Environmental Engineering

Professor Pilar Fernandez-Ibáñez shares her experience of embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the Environmental Engineering module at Ulster University. With a career spanning over 25 years in water research, solar energy, and environmental technologies, she demonstrates how research and teaching can be seamlessly connected to inspire students and foster sustainability literacy.

For Professor Fernandez-Ibáñez, separating teaching from research is “practically impossible.” Her teaching draws directly on cutting-edge research into water treatment, pollution control, and renewable energy. Students are introduced to real-world case studies on energy, waste, and environmental challenges, as well as the social and economic contexts that shape these issues internationally. This ensures learning is not only scientifically rigorous but also globally relevant.

A distinctive feature of the module is its team-based project, where students select a clean technology of interest and investigate it in depth over eight weeks. They conduct independent research, engage with industry or local examples, and present their findings in both written reports and peer-assessed oral presentations. This process strengthens students’ critical thinking, research skills, and ability to apply sustainability principles to engineering problems.

Student feedback consistently highlights the value of this approach, praising its emphasis on independence, collaboration, and authentic engagement with sustainability. Professor Fernandez-Ibáñez concludes that research-led teaching not only deepens disciplinary knowledge but also empowers engineering students to see themselves as active contributors to addressing global sustainability challenges.