Teaching

PROFESSOR ARISTILDE’S TEACHING

COURSES

At Northwestern

CIV_ENV 395: Projects Practicum in Environmental Engineering
–This course focuses on the application of environmental engineering fundamentals to evaluate, model, and develop engineering solutions for different environmental contamination scenarios. Students will work in groups of “environmental consulting engineers” to address each problem scenario by designing engineering approaches to the problems, deriving mass balances of problem contaminants, applying differential equations to model biological and chemical transformations, evaluate cost-benefit analyses, and assess implementation challenges of solutions.

CIV_ENV 495: Environmental Particles and Surface Chemistry
–Natural particles such as mineral precipitates, mineral oxides, clay minerals, and organo-mineral composites facilitate the cycling of important elements in the environment, facilitate nutrient availability for agricultural productivity, buffer the adverse effects of climatic conditions in lakes and oceans, and mediate transport and degradation of contaminants in environmental processes. This course covers the surface chemistry of these particles, including fundamental concepts and applications of chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and molecular spectroscopy in particle characterization.

At Cornell

BEE / ENGRD 2510: Engineering Processes for Environmental Sustainability
–This course teaches students how to solve environmental problems by describing and modeling natural and engineered environmental systems using their knowledge of math, chemistry, biology, geology, and environmental ethics. Students learn to apply basic biological and chemical sciences along with math, physics and engineering sciences through material mass balances. Emphasis is on solving case studies of contemporary environmental issues including contaminant flows and transformations in lakes and rivers, contaminant behavior in engineered reactors, hazardous waste management, sustainable engineering solutions in developing countries, groundwater pollution, and air quality assessment.

BEE 4200/6200: Surface Chemistry of Particles in Natural and Engineered Processes (Offered Spring semesters, alternate years)
–Natural particles such as clay minerals, mineral oxides, and organo-mineral composites facilitate the cycling of elements in the environment, transport and degradation of contaminants, and physico-chemical processes in environmental and chemical engineering. This course will cover the surface chemistry of these particles relevant to their role in these natural and engineered processes. The applications of chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and molecular spectroscopy in particle characterization will be discussed and taught in laboratory modules.

BEE 4980: Undergraduate Teaching
–The student assists in teaching a biological and environmental engineering course appropriate to his/her previous training. The student participates in preparing course materials, grading assignments, holding office hours for students enrolled in the course.

BEE 4990: Undergraduate Research
–Undergraduates involved in research in the Aristilde Research Group work on different aspects of the environmental behavior of organic molecules of special interest to the student. In consultation with Prof Aristilde, the student reviews literature, prepares a project outline, carries out an approved plan, and submits a formal final report or presentation.

BEE 4993: Undergraduate Honors Thesis
–Intended for students pursuing the research honors program in BEE. This course is the culmination of the program’s honors project requirement. At least a year of undergraduate research in the Aristilde Research Group is required in order to be eligible to conduct an honors research thesis under the supervision of Prof. Aristilde.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

As an educator, I strive to provide an interactive and stimulating environment of learning for my students.
In the classroom: The goal of my courses is to equip young engineers and scientists with the knowledge and tools essential to address environmental problems arising from natural and anthropogenic stresses. I design my lectures to present fundamental and complex materials into smaller, simplified sections, and I seek to create ample opportunities to illustrate key concepts with examples and discussions of practical applications in natural and engineered systems found in both developed and developing nations.
Beyond the classroom: Teaching-through-research activities represent a significant portion of my teaching program. I seek to encourage the desire of students to continue their learning beyond the classroom. In my research group, the undergraduate students are involved in research projects that combine the new scientific knowledge learned in the classroom and their passion towards solving a fundamental problem related to environmental science, pollution and sustainability. I work closely with my undergraduate researchers in developing and conducting their research projects.