A new taught Masters degree from the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) offers the skills, knowledge and experience to help tackle the environmental impacts of buildings and the construction industry
MSc Green Building, starting this September and now open for applications, allows students to specialise in sustainable construction, providing a broad overview of climate change and environmental degradation, and exploring the range of effective solutions.
Dr Adrian Watson, head of CAT’s Graduate School of the Environment, said: “With around 40% of UK greenhouse gas emissions coming from the built environment and approximately one-third of landfill waste from construction, it’s essential that we start to build and renovate in ways that radically reduce our environmental impact.
“This new Masters degree is focused on solutions to these problems, developing students’ knowledge of the issues and helping them to understand how different building materials and methods can be useful in the transition to zero carbon.”
As well as providing a deep understanding of sustainable design principles and sustainable materials, the course covers the selection and use of materials, energy flows, site selection and preparation phases, waste management and project management. Regulatory and legal requirements and the social, political and economic aspects of green building are also explored.
The highly practical course combines theoretical and scientific underpinnings with hands-on experience of a wide range of different low impact materials and methods.
The course is suitable for anyone who wants to enhance their skills and knowledge in environmentally sensitive building, whether they are already working in the architecture, construction or materials industries, are looking to enter these industries, or simply seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills for their own build projects.
As well as MSc Green Building, two other new courses are being added this September: MSc Sustainability and Ecology and MSc Sustainability and Behaviour Change.
Graduates from CAT MSc programmes include the award-winning Adaptavate and IndiNature teams, which have developed innovative new environmentally sensitive building materials based on research conducted during their Masters degrees.
MSc Green Building is available full-time or part-time, via distance learning or on-site at CAT’s base in Mid Wales. Postgraduate funding may be available. The programme is offered subject to validation by the University of East London.
