The Insertion of Environmental Contents in the Engineering Teaching: A Tentative Approach at the UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

In this work a tentative approach is described, with the intent of an optimized insertion of the environmental contents in engineering courses, using the existing disciplines, and with a minimal, if any, increase of the disciplines related to environmental protection. The disciplines are firstly classified with regard to the environmental issues into four groups: (1) the fundamental ones, which can be considered as a tool for achieving a melioration or a degradation of the environment; (2) the application ones, which can be used for the melioration of the environment by controlling or correcting negative impacts; (3) the application ones, which are related to the degradation of the environment; and (4) the application ones that are specifically related to the protection of the environment. The recommended approach for insertion can be accomplished in three different routes: (1) reinforcement of the disciplines of the Group 1, including fundamental themes related with environment, such as ecology, environmental rights, etc.; (2) modification in the disciplines of Group Three, including in their programs the discussion of the possibilities of minimizing the degradation of the environment by means of primary, preventive measures; and (3) altering the disciplines of the Group Two, in order to include in their programs the subjects related to the secondary, corrective measures for environmental protection. The disciplines of the Group Four should discuss the necessary environmental contents for each engineering course that could not be given in other groups. With this approach, all the environmental contents of the engineering formation can be given without unnecessary increase of the duration of the courses, avoiding the repetition of subjects during the course. After interviewing all the professors of the engineering courses in the UFMG (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), it could be demonstrated that the proposed approach is feasible, and its implementation is presently being shaped for each course. (Author/YDS)