BOARD # 435: Reflections on a Decade of Engineering Workforce Development for the Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG)

Jean S Larson; Leah Folkestad

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Conference: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publication Date: June 22, 2025
Start Date: June 22, 2025
End Date: August 15, 2025
Conference Session: NSF Grantees Poster Session II
Tagged Topics: Diversity and NSF Grantees Poster Session
Page Count: 6
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/55814
Download Count: 1

Paper Authors

biography

Jean S Larson Arizona State University orcid.org/0000-0003-4898-2149

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Jean Larson, Ph.D., is the Educational Director for the NSF-funded Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), and Associate Research Professor in both the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and the Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Technology, postgraduate training in Computer Systems Engineering, and many years of experience teaching and developing curriculum in various learning environments. She has taught technology integration and teacher training to undergraduate and graduate students at Arizona State University, students at the K-12 level locally and abroad, and various workshops and modules in business and industry. Dr. Larson is experienced in the application of instructional design, delivery, evaluation, and specializes in eLearning technologies for training and development. Her research focuses on the efficient and effective transfer of knowledge and learning techniques, innovative and interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthening the bridge between K-12 learning and higher education in terms of engineering content.

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Leah Folkestad Arizona State University

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Abstract

The Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG) is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded, third generation Engineering Research Center (ERC), comprising four partner universities: Arizona State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, New Mexico State University, and University of California, Davis. As the Center approaches its final year of funding, we reflect on a decade of educational programming. The Engineering Workforce Development (EWD) programs are designed to motivate and educate students from diverse backgrounds, inspiring a new generation of engineers interested in pursuing graduate degrees and careers in biogeotechnical engineering.

Over the past ten years, the Center has actively recruited students, teachers, and professionals from underrepresented populations to participate in CBBG EWD programs. The EWD has developed and honed a collection of programs and activities that prepare graduates and the professional workforce with the skills required for proficiency in the field: communication, engineering success, career connections, technical expertise, multicultural skills, and mentorship. Students participate in outreach by conducting lab tours and demonstrating their research at events. Activities of the EWD have produced expert-reviewed biogeotechnical curricula (webinars, modules, courses, etc.) for pre-college, undergraduate, graduate, and practitioner levels. The EWD has fostered industry engagement with CBBG students through research, internships, career connections, design challenges and more. Rigorous assessment and evaluation are seamlessly integrated into all aspects of the education and outreach programs, enabling systematic, ongoing improvement of activities and materials.

Plans for sustainability of the CBBG EWD partnerships and programs beyond the Center’s graduation into the Consortium of Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics include disseminating research through the International Conference on Bio-Mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (ICBBG), sharing existing curricula through short courses and certificate programs, and continuing as the leader in biogeotechnical engineering.

Citation
Format

Larson, J. S., & Folkestad, L. (2025, June), BOARD # 435: Reflections on a Decade of Engineering Workforce Development for the Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG) Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/55814

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - The Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG) is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded, third generation Engineering Research Center (ERC), comprising four partner universities: Arizona State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, New Mexico State University, and University of California, Davis. As the Center approaches its final year of funding, we reflect on a decade of educational programming. The Engineering Workforce Development (EWD) programs are designed to motivate and educate students from diverse backgrounds, inspiring a new generation of engineers interested in pursuing graduate degrees and careers in biogeotechnical engineering.

Over the past ten years, the Center has actively recruited students, teachers, and professionals from underrepresented populations to participate in CBBG EWD programs. The EWD has developed and honed a collection of programs and activities that prepare graduates and the professional workforce with the skills required for proficiency in the field: communication, engineering success, career connections, technical expertise, multicultural skills, and mentorship. Students participate in outreach by conducting lab tours and demonstrating their research at events. Activities of the EWD have produced expert-reviewed biogeotechnical curricula (webinars, modules, courses, etc.) for pre-college, undergraduate, graduate, and practitioner levels. The EWD has fostered industry engagement with CBBG students through research, internships, career connections, design challenges and more. Rigorous assessment and evaluation are seamlessly integrated into all aspects of the education and outreach programs, enabling systematic, ongoing improvement of activities and materials.

Plans for sustainability of the CBBG EWD partnerships and programs beyond the Center’s graduation into the Consortium of Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics include disseminating research through the International Conference on Bio-Mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (ICBBG), sharing existing curricula through short courses and certificate programs, and continuing as the leader in biogeotechnical engineering.
AU  - Jean S Larson
AU  - Leah Folkestad
CY  - Montreal, Quebec, Canada 
DA  - 2025/06/22
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - BOARD # 435: Reflections on a Decade of Engineering Workforce Development for the Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG)
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/55814
ER  -