You're an environmental engineer trying to solve a problem. What are some common mistakes you should avoid?

1 Lack of stakeholder engagement

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as an environmental engineer is to ignore or overlook the needs, preferences, and opinions of the stakeholders involved in your problem. Stakeholders can include clients, regulators, communities, users, suppliers, and others who have a stake in the outcome of your solution. If you don't engage them early and often, you might miss important information, requirements, feedback, or support that could affect your project's success. To avoid this, you should identify and communicate with your stakeholders regularly, involve them in the decision-making process, and address their concerns and expectations.

2 Poor data collection and analysis

Another common mistake is to rely on inaccurate, outdated, or insufficient data to define and solve your problem. Data is essential for understanding the scope, causes, effects, and potential solutions of your environmental problem. However, data collection and analysis can be costly, time-consuming, and prone to errors or biases. To avoid this, you should plan your data collection and analysis carefully, use reliable and relevant sources, apply appropriate methods and tools, and validate and verify your results.

3 Unrealistic assumptions and constraints

A third common mistake is to make unrealistic assumptions or constraints that limit your creativity and feasibility of your solution. Assumptions are statements that you accept as true without proof, while constraints are factors that restrict your options or resources. Both are necessary for problem solving, but they can also lead to oversimplification, overconfidence, or overcomplication of your problem. To avoid this, you should identify and document your assumptions and constraints clearly, test and challenge them regularly, and revise them as needed.

4 Lack of innovation and sustainability

A fourth common mistake is to settle for conventional or outdated solutions that fail to address the root causes or long-term impacts of your problem. Innovation and sustainability are key aspects of environmental engineering, as they aim to create solutions that are novel, effective, efficient, and adaptable to changing conditions and needs. However, innovation and sustainability can also be difficult to achieve, measure, and communicate. To avoid this, you should explore and evaluate multiple alternatives, use systems thinking and life cycle assessment, and incorporate social, economic, and environmental criteria into your solution.

5 Poor communication and presentation

A fifth common mistake is to communicate or present your solution poorly to your audience. Communication and presentation are crucial skills for environmental engineers, as they allow you to convey your ideas, arguments, and results clearly, persuasively, and professionally. However, communication and presentation can also be challenging, especially if you have to deal with complex, technical, or controversial topics. To avoid this, you should tailor your message and format to your audience, use clear and concise language, visuals, and examples, and anticipate and address questions and objections.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?