Conference Session

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE) Technical Session 1

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Madhumi Mitra Ph.D, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Abhijit Nagchaudhuri, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Jesu Raj Pandya, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Alena Zheng, University of Maryland College Park

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

Highland Simulant 1 (LHS-1) and Mexico Lunar Mare 1 (MLM-1), (c)mastering aeroponics, and (d) developing skills in data collection, analysis, and research design.Students were assessed on their ability to program FarmBot for automated watering and plantmonitoring, as well as maintaining and troubleshooting the Tower Garden’s aeroponic systems.They formulated hypotheses, designed experiments, and analyzed key variables such as regolithconcentration and watering schedules. Growth metrics, including leaf width and plant height, werecollected and analyzed. Findings were communicated through written reports and oralpresentations, strengthening their scientific communication skills. This program inspires STEMstudents to tackle space agriculture

Conference Session

Engineering Education Issues Relevant to Agricultural, Biological and Ecological Engineering: Part 1

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Trisha Moore, Kansas State University; James Randall Etheridge; Glenn Thomas Dale; Sara Winnike McMillan, Iowa State University of Science and Technology; Niroj Aryal; David Austin; Theresa Thompson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

, sustainability, resilience, the role ofhumans in ecosystems, and system-scale impacts and benefits to both humans and environment.The theoretical basis of ecological engineering is largely credited to Howard T. Odum, a systemsecologist who, in the early 1960s, began publishing his ideas on applications of ecosystem scienceto design systems that do useful work for people while at the same time benefiting the environmentunder the name of “ecological engineering” [1, 2]. The definition and practice of ecologicalengineering have since expanded to encompass a variety of systems that benefit people and naturalsystems, including constructed marshes to regulate water quantity and quality while providinghabitat functions, biologically diverse and hydraulically

Conference Session

Engineering Education Issues Relevant to Agricultural, Biological and Ecological Engineering: Part 1

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Deepak R Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Jennifer Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Logan Ryan Newman, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Rachel Ibach, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Taryn King, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

conceptualized from a longitudinal study of a scholar’s program atthree different universities in the state of Nebraska. A department faculty member was part of amulti-year institutional professional learning community (PLC) that explored the scale-up andscale-out of this model. Based on their experience from the PLC, this model was used in thedevelopment of the department’s overall student services ethos and in the specificimplementation of two initiatives: 1) hybrid advising/mentoring model, and 2) peer-mentoringprogram. This practice paper provides an overview of the ecological validation model andpresents our approach to implementing these initiatives. We also reflect on challenges and futureopportunities including long-term sustainability and

Conference Session

Engineering Education Issues Relevant to Agricultural, Biological and Ecological Engineering: Part 1

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hector Palala, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Amy Millmier Schmidt, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Mara Zelt, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Bethany Zelt, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Andrew Stiven Ortiz Balsero, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Maria Jose Oviedo Ventura, Cornell University

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

highlights the curriculum's adaptability to various educational contexts and forstudents with diverse backgrounds and educational needs. However, challenges such as ensuringclarity of complex concepts and evaluating long-term behavioral change are acknowledged.Continuous refinement, based on stakeholder feedback, is essential for long-term success. Thestudy underscores the curriculum's role as a catalyst for change in combating antimicrobialresistance, emphasizing the importance of embedding sustainability planning and adopting adynamic, evidence-based approach for maximizing student engagement and impact.IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to global health, necessitating creativesolutions to lessen its effects [1]. In

Conference Session

Biological & Agricultural Division Technical Session

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Abhijit Nagchaudhuri, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Madhumi Mitra, Ph.D., University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Jesu Raj Pandya, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

production agriculturalpractices on UMES farms for growing corn, soybean, and wheat utilizing advanced farmmachinery and drones to promote sustainable intensification through best practices in the growingarea of “precision agriculture” at a somewhat larger scale. Integration of advanced digitalagricultural tools such as the FarmBots (http://farmbot.io) for growing specialty crops on smallraised beds is also central to the overall scope of the project [1-3]. Since its inception, the projecthas adopted the experiential learning [4] paradigm and involved undergraduate students fromengineering and other STEM disciplines on campus to engage with one another in a verticallyintegrated [5] team setting along with the graduate student (s) in the Food Science

Conference Session

Biological & Agricultural Division Technical Session

Collection

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Heydi Han, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Hector Palala, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Jennifer Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Deepak R. Keshwani, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

, whethernegative or positive, provided feedback to improve the course. Although students value in-person interactions over technology-based interactions, technology is a good ally to fostercommunity and aid the learning process.IntroductionEngaging students in the classroom is always challenging for instructors, but research suggeststhat motivation can be sparked by appealing to students’ desire to make a positive impact on theworld [1], [2]. Keshwani and Curtis [2] found that sophomore students in biological engineeringare motivated by the opportunity to make this world a better place, help others solve problems,and improve other people's lives. Keshwani and Keshwani [3] provided evidence that 67% ofbiological engineering students, who participated in a

Conference Session

Engineering education issues relevant to agricultural, biological and ecological engineering-Part 2

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Cody Prince, East Tennessee State University; PAMELA MIMS, East Tennessee State University; Aruna Kilaru, East Tennessee State University; Eric Jorgenson, East Tennessee State University

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

National Science Foundation are incentivizing thedevelopment of research, industry, and training across the country [1, 2, 3]. In this work, wepresent an initial work-in-progress report and solicit feedback on our efforts at East TennesseeState University (ETSU) to develop a responsive program in bioengineering andbiomanufacturing within the Appalachian Highlands region of south-central Appalachia. Ourwork so far has been motivated by a confluence of timing, opportunity, and a desire to movebeyond the past socioeconomic factors that have weighed on this region. To that end, this projecthas elements affecting regional secondary education, workforce training, post-secondaryeducation, and research and development. The major component of our current

Conference Session

Strategies and/or Approaches to Engage Students in Agricultural, Biological, or Similarly Named Programs

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lucie Guertault, North Carolina State University

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

students andprofessionals [1], [2], [3]. Learning to program is difficult, and undergraduate engineeringstudents are required to learn it regardless of their initial interest and motivation for it. Theytraditionally take their programming course in the computer science department, a course thatgenerally delivers to a mixed audience of multiple majors and relies on generic problems for theapplication of coding skills.Research suggests that motivation plays a key role in student success in programming courses[4], [5]. Interest in the content and activities, and relevance or usefulness, i.e. the content isuseful for students’ short or long term goals, are among the factors that contribute to academicmotivation [6], [7]. Students perform better in

Conference Session

Strategies and/or Approaches to Engage Students in Agricultural, Biological, or Similarly Named Programs

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Madhumi Mitra Ph.D., University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Abhijit Nagchaudhuri, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Jesu Raj Pandya, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

address those needs. Some of the initiatives like community-led urban farming projects, training programs, or cooperative models that empower and benefit thecommunity are taken into consideration to enhance such collaborations with the community atlarge.1.Introduction1A. Sustainable Robotic AgricultureThe global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, placing immense pressure on foodproduction systems1. Concurrently, environmental concerns such as climate change, soildegradation, and water scarcity pose significant challenges to traditional farming methods. Roboticagriculture offers a promising solution by leveraging technology to enhance efficiency,productivity, and sustainability in food production. Robotic agriculture encompasses

Conference Session

Engineering education issues relevant to agricultural, biological and ecological engineering-Part 2

Collection

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hector Palala, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Heydi Han, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Juan Carlos Ramos Tanchez, Cornell University; Boanerges Elias Bamaca, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

' native and secondary languages to boost their grasp of scientific ideas.Research [1] confirms that this approach enhances students' scientific understanding. To foster asupportive teaching environment, a workshop was recently held for teaching assistants, whichHan et al. [2] found effective in building community and attracting international students seekingto improve their teaching skills. In the work by Pierson [3] the concept of translanguaging iselucidated as a dynamic process where individuals leverage diverse languages and modes for thepurposes of meaning-making and expression, particularly within the context of bilingual andEnglish-dominant STEM classrooms. This process is posited to facilitate learning by allowingfor a more inclusive and

Conference Session

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE) Technical Session

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Christopher Isaac Camacho, University of Texas at El Paso; Toluwalase Opanuga, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Heidi A. Diefes-Dux, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

demonstrateddifferences in the impact each BAE course had on students’ knowledge gains that wereconsistent with the reflection implementation in each course. Ultimately, this study revealed thatthe RKGI is a valuable tool that can provide insight concerning reflection instruction andimplementation.I. IntroductionEngineering’s accreditation student outcome ABET 7 is concerned with students developing anability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies [1].Implied in this outcome is students’ transition from a reliance on pedagogy to andragogy. Theterm pedagogy refers to a structured style and method of learning that relies heavily oninstructors to help students meet learning objectives. Andragogy is adult learning

Conference Session

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE) Technical Session

Collection

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Leslie Bartsch Massey, University of Arkansas

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Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

connection, students gained valuable networkingopportunities and access to industry professionals, enabling discussions on career pathways, jobexpectations, and strategies for success in the field.Piloted in Fall 2024, the program was open to all undergraduate students. It followed a mentorcircle format, with groups of two to four students paired with two industry mentors. Thesegroups met monthly for 1 to 1.5 hours, either in person or remotely, based on the preferences ofeach circle. Mentor circle assignments were made based on availability, facilitated by BENGfaculty and representatives from the Arkansas Academy of Biological and AgriculturalEngineering.Participant demographics, program engagement, mentor-mentee relationship quality, andprogram