Integrating Resource Efficiency into Photonics Education: New Course Development and Redefining Design Training for a Holistic Approach
As the semiconductor and photonics industries grapple with mounting environmental pressures, weaving resource efficiency into engineering education has evolved from a priority to an imperative. Under the umbrella of FUTUR-IC, this paper highlights novel pedagogical strategies at Bridgewater State University (BSU) aimed at equipping photonics and optical engineers to address today’s ecological challenges. We detail two complementary approaches that together form a cohesive educational framework. The first involves a newly introduced fresh year-level seminar on Resource-Efficient Microchip Manufacturing, which immerses students in resource efficiency metrics such as Life Cycle Assessment and circular design principles. By interlinking photonic integration concepts with tangible ecological impact assessments, this course fosters an early appreciation of how advanced technologies can be developed responsibly, with reduced energy consumption and minimized waste. The second approach redefines senior-level engineering design courses to embed multifaceted resource efficiency criteria in the design process. Through project-based learning and collaboration with industry partners, students integrate photonic solutions with data-driven environmental metrics, refining their ability to propose holistic prototypes. These initiatives go beyond technical mastery to cultivate interdisciplinary collaboration and critical thinking. This work illustrates how an integrated approach to engineering education can spark the next generation of practitioners to design for both technological excellence and environmental responsibility.
Citation: S. Serna, X. Liu, P. Nagarkar, T. Ono, E. Huttner, B. Unger, S. Saini, L. Kimerling and A. Agarwal. Integrating Sustainability into Photonics Education: New Course Development and Redefining Design Training for a Holistic Approach. ETOP 2025 conference, May 2025. DOI:10.1109/ETOP64842.2025.11030634.