A Hands-On Approach to Teaching K-12 Students About Microfluidic Devices (Work in Progress)

Adam T. Melvin

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Conference: 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Publication Date: June 26, 2016
Start Date: June 26, 2016
End Date: June 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-692-68565-5
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: K-12 & Pre-College Engineering Division Poster Session: Works in Progress
Tagged Division: Pre-College Engineering Education Division
Page Count: 10
DOI: 10.18260/p.26329
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/26329
Download Count: 1017

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Paper Authors

biography

Adam T. Melvin Louisiana State University

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Adam Melvin obtained a BS in Chemical Engineering and a BA in Chemistry from the University of Arizona, a MS in Chemical Engineering (with a minor in Biotechnology) and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University under the direction of Jason Haugh. He was an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering under the direction of Nancy Allbritton. In August of 2013 he joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University. His current research interests include biomolecular engineering, point of care diagnostics, microfluidics, single cell analysis, chemical biology, algal chemotaxis and growth dynamics.

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Abstract

There have been significant advances with microfluidic devices and lab-on-a-chip technology leading to micro total analysis systems (µTAS) capable of analysis and discoveries in the laboratory, the field, and the clinic. Unfortunately, while the academic community is well versed in the utility and application of these devices, the public (especially promising young scientists) is relatively unaware of their existence. Furthermore, several of the underlying chemical and physical principles governing microfluidics have applications in a several STEM disciplines including engineering, chemistry, physics, and biology. Here, we highlight a series of workshops and outreach activities designed to provide elementary, middle, and high school students an opportunity to learn more about microfluidic devices through a hands-on approach. Initially, these workshops were given to high school students from traditionally underrepresented minorities as part of two week-long summer camp offered by the College of Engineering at Louisiana State University entitled REHAMS and XCITE. The demonstrations provided students with an overview of microfluidics including introductions to polymer chemistry and fluid flow dynamics. The students were able to fabricate and test their own devices using a simple microfluidic gradient generator to mix yellow and blue colored water to make green. Expanding upon these initial demonstrations, we have developed a series of outreach activities to be performed at local area elementary, middle, and high schools focusing on the use of microfluidic droplet generators as tools for cancer diagnostics. The presentations and demonstrations were adjusted depending upon the age range, but all session contained several hands-on activities to show the students what could be done in a few millimeters on a microfluidic device. To show the students what was happening in the device, we constructed large-scale version of the devices for the students to use and experiment with (e.g., a table-top microfluidic droplet trap array that uses ball pit balls instead of picoliter-sized aqueous droplets). Additionally, a key strength of this outreach program is the inclusion of undergraduate students from the Society of Peer Mentors at Louisiana State University as presenters to increase student engagement. As this work is preliminary in nature and no precise quantitative data has been collected about the workshops, informal discussions with student participants have all been positive with many students appearing eager to learn more about this exciting field of science and engineering.

Citation
Format

Melvin, A. T. (2016, June), A Hands-On Approach to Teaching K-12 Students About Microfluidic Devices (Work in Progress) Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26329

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - There have been significant advances with microfluidic devices and lab-on-a-chip technology leading to micro total analysis systems (µTAS) capable of analysis and discoveries in the laboratory, the field, and the clinic. Unfortunately, while the academic community is well versed in the utility and application of these devices, the public (especially promising young scientists) is relatively unaware of their existence. Furthermore, several of the underlying chemical and physical principles governing microfluidics have applications in a several STEM disciplines including engineering, chemistry, physics, and biology. Here, we highlight a series of workshops and outreach activities designed to provide elementary, middle, and high school students an opportunity to learn more about microfluidic devices through a hands-on approach. Initially, these workshops were given to high school students from traditionally underrepresented minorities as part of two week-long summer camp offered by the College of Engineering at Louisiana State University entitled REHAMS and XCITE. The demonstrations provided students with an overview of microfluidics including introductions to polymer chemistry and fluid flow dynamics. The students were able to fabricate and test their own devices using a simple microfluidic gradient generator to mix yellow and blue colored water to make green. Expanding upon these initial demonstrations, we have developed a series of outreach activities to be performed at local area elementary, middle, and high schools focusing on the use of microfluidic droplet generators as tools for cancer diagnostics. The presentations and demonstrations were adjusted depending upon the age range, but all session contained several hands-on activities to show the students what could be done in a few millimeters on a microfluidic device. To show the students what was happening in the device, we constructed large-scale version of the devices for the students to use and experiment with (e.g., a table-top microfluidic droplet trap array that uses ball pit balls instead of picoliter-sized aqueous droplets).  Additionally, a key strength of this outreach program is the inclusion of undergraduate students from the Society of Peer Mentors at Louisiana State University as presenters to increase student engagement. As this work is preliminary in nature and no precise quantitative data has been collected about the workshops, informal discussions with student participants have all been positive with many students appearing eager to learn more about this exciting field of science and engineering.
AU  - Adam T. Melvin
CY  - New Orleans, Louisiana
DA  - 2016/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - A Hands-On Approach to Teaching K-12 Students About Microfluidic Devices (Work in Progress)
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/26329
DO  - 10.18260/p.26329
ER  -