Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Education: Upperclass Years

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Bullard, North Carolina State University; David Ollis, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Professional Development Buffet: From Banquet to À La CarteAbstractBoth ABET and industrial advisory boards encourage engineering departments to includeinstruction in “soft skills” that reflect the broader professional qualities necessary for studentsuccess in their careers. These include oral and written communication, ethics and professionalbehavior, resume and interviewing skills, electronic and professional etiquette, informationliteracy, and broader knowledge of engineering solutions in a global or societal context. Whilesome departments dedicate one or more instructional credits to accomplish this objective, othersmay integrate such topics into existing core courses. This paper presents a one-credit model fora junior-level course in professional

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Education: Upperclass Years

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Bullard, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

traditionallecture content as well as a capstone project. Academic content typically includesflowsheet synthesis and development, process simulation, process economics, andequipment design/heuristics. Depending on the background of the instructor and whetherthe course is one or two semesters, a laundry list of additional topics might includesustainability and “green design” concepts,1 process safety, 2 Good ManufacturingPractice, Six Sigma,3 optimization,4 selecting materials of construction, reading P&ID’s,heat exchanger network or reactor network synthesis, environmental regulations,engineering ethics, batch scheduling, and product design.5 Senior design is also the lastopportunity to reinforce “soft skills” such as teamwork6,7 and communication.8

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Education: Underclass Years

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Silverstein, University of Kentucky; Margot Vigeant, Bucknell University; Donald Visco, Tennessee Technological University; Donald Woods, McMaster University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

required courses are: Computer Applications in Chemical Engineering; Introduction to Engineering with no ChE activities, 1 credit; and Programming for Engineers also with no ChE activities. 2 credits. (39)Option 4This option includes a common first-year, a common engineering course with ChE content, andChE activities. Common course content typically includes programming, teamwork, ethics,software, projects, and communication/writing. - Auburn University has a ChE section of a general engineering course, Introduction to Engineering, ENGR 1110, required for ChE majors, with emphasis on design, college level skills and projects. (2) - Bucknell University has a required Introduction to Engineering with an overview

Conference Session

Contemporary Issues in Chemical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jason Keith, Michigan Technological University; Daniel Crowl, Michigan Technological University; David Caspary, Michigan Technological University; Jeffrey Allen, Michigan Technological University; Jeff Naber, Michigan Technological University; Dennis Meng, Michigan Technological University; Abhijit Mukherjee, Michigan Technological University; John Lukowski, Michigan Technological University; Jay Meldrum, Michigan Technological University; Barry Solomon, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

, natural gas, hydrogen, or batteries for transportation applications.Secondary emphasis is placed on understanding professional and ethical responsibility,understanding the global and social impact of engineering solutions, and demonstratingknowledge of contemporary issues. These are addressed by working on a project to find anaffordable future energy source. More details will be provided in the next section.It is noted that the final grade is determined from attendance (10%), individual summaries(10%), and a team report (80%) which is weighted by peer evaluations.Sample Enterprise ProjectsThe following is a brief summary of Alternative Fuels Group Enterprise projects related tohydrogen and fuel cells. Each semester there are at least three

Conference Session

Demonstration and Project Enhancements in Chemical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Allen Yang, Cornell University; Kathryn Dimiduk, Cornell University; Susan Daniel, Cornell University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

Page 15.187.14were able to get the work done quickly and efficiently.”SummaryDevelopment of a team-based biotechnology project on the metabolism of alcohol was aneffective way to modernize the Mass and Energy Balance course. This project promotedteamwork, communication, and cooperation, while exposing students to modern biotechnologytopics related to chemical engineering. The concepts of scaling down a process, creating in vitromodels of biological processes for testing and design of pharmaceuticals, and development ofengineering judgment and ethics in evaluating efficacy of drugs on human health was integratedinto this project. Student response to the project was very positive and reinforced thepedagogical change to this type of interactive

Conference Session

Chemical Engineering Education: Underclass Years

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Bullard, North Carolina State University; Donald Visco, Tennessee Technological University; David Silverstein, University of Kentucky; Jason Keith, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

, minds-on”approach through in-class cooperative problem solving, experiments and demonstrations,computer exercises, and small-scale and semester-long projects.40 Also, Hamilton et al.describe the successes and challenges of starting an engineering college at the NationalMilitary Academy of Afghanistan.41 They highlight the use of face-to-face and distancementoring, cultural and ethical challenges, faculty development, providing resources andequipment, and ensuring the continuity and sustainability of programs. Finally, thereader may want to consult the article by Rugarcia et al. on methods to establish a culturefor a research university that maintains a strong engineering education emphasis. 42It must be noted that there are unique issues

Conference Session

Contemporary Issues in Chemical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Milo Koretsky, Oregon State University

Tagged Divisions

Chemical Engineering

). Washington DC: National Academy Press.6. Kolb, D.A. 1984. Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Prentice- Hall, Englewood-Cliffs, NJ, 1984.7. Kolb, D.A. 1985. Learning Style Inventory. McBer & Co., Boston.8. Perry, W.G. 1970. Forms of Intellectual and Ethical Development in the College Years: A Scheme. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.9. Stice. J.E. 1987. Using Kolb’s Learning Cycle to Improve Student Learning. Eng. Educ., 291.10. McCarthy, B. 1987. The 4MAT System. Teaching to Learning Styles and Right/Left Mode Techniques, EXCEL, Barrington, IL.11. Svinicki, M.D. and N. M. Dixon, “The Kolb Model Modified for Classroom Activities, “Coll. Teach., vol. 35, p. 141, 1987.12