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Session 2255

Implementing an Interdisciplinary Curriculum in Internal Combustion Engines

Duane L. Abata Michigan Technological University

Abstract

This paper describes the design and implementation of an interdisciplinary curriculum in internal combustion engines at Michigan Technological University. This curriculum enhancement is part of the newly formed Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Propulsion (ICAP) which is a United States Department of Energy Center of Excellence funded under the GATE program. One of the main goals of this Center is to provide multi-disciplinary engineering training for both undergraduate and graduate students specializing in this important area of national need. Now in it’s second year, ICAP has significantly stimulated team teaching and research across departmental and college boundaries and provided a unique opportunity for students in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and metallurgical engineering to pursue their interests and develop careers in an otherwise traditionally mechanical engineering area. Although difficulties existed at the onset, and problems still exist, traditional barriers are being bridged by a successful teambuilding.

I. The Nature of Interdisciplinary Work

Although interdisciplinary teambuilding within the academic setting makes sense, fostering teams and encouraging growth across departmental and college lines, can be a difficult task. Problems lie not only in technical language barriers, i.e., different disciplines think and speak with different approaches in different terms, but managerial barriers as well. For the most part, faculty easily overcome technical language barriers. This is the challenge of interdisciplinary work and the thrill of examining someone else’s approach to a shared problem; this is a rewarding experience. Inevitably though, there are the ‘productivity measures’ which are imposed by those involved with tenure, promotion, and merit. These productivity measures are often attempts at labeling (or evaluating) one’s work in a quantitative fashion. When it comes to merit assignment, department heads, chairs, deans, and provosts often ask:

Who actually did the work? Who was behind the funding and expenditure of funds? Who was leading and who was following?

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Abata, D. L. (2000, June), Implementing An Interdisciplinary Curriculm In Internal Combustion Engines Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8441