Institute record of Sustainable Systems Engineering

Information

Type

Organization

Type

https://marineinfo.org/ns/institutes/types#Scientific

Name

Sustainable Systems Engineering

Acronym

UGent-STEN

Parent institute

Universiteit Gent; Faculteit Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen; Vakgroep Groene Chemie en Technologie

Description @en

The research of the Sustainable Systems Engineering research group (STEN) focuses on both methodological developments and different technological applications. From a methodological perspective, environmental sustainability assessments are in the core of its expertise. As an engineering group, STEN's methodological expertise covers process engineering methods and material flow analysis. This methodological expertise of the group is applied to a broad range of materials, products, and technologies. In particular, the assessment of raw materials and resources is covered. In addition, a broad expertise on the bio-economy has been developed, including on the one hand bio-based processes and products and on the other hand agricultural and food systems. The research group engages in the transition to a circular economy by investigating an optimal end-of-life management, including recycling technologies and the analysis of recycling opportunities. STEN also has technological expertise in the chemical, pharmaceutical and energy sectors and conducts research on nature and natural resources management, focusing on soil quality and ecosystem services. In the marine domain, the group has been doing research into sustainable resource management and life cycle assessment within the deep sea mining context. In this regard STEN developed a sustainability assessment toolbox that follows system-thinking in order to reduce the overall impact of deep sea mining. It develops sustainability assessment methods for human activities in the marine environment, relying on impacts on ecosystem services and through life cycle assessment methodologies (SUMES project). Further on, it investigates circular economy strategies for infrastructure employed in the marine environment, such as wind farms (CTO project).