Entrepreneurial Mindset (EML) Modules for Chemical Engineering Courses
- Conference
- Location
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Salt Lake City, Utah
- Publication Date
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June 23, 2018
- Start Date
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June 23, 2018
- End Date
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July 27, 2018
- Conference Session
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Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation Division Technical Session 2
- Tagged Division
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Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation
- Page Count
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11
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--30433
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/30433
- Download Count
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587
Paper Authors
Noelle K. Comolli Villanova University
Noelle Comolli is an Associate Professor and the Chair of Chemical Engineering at Villanova University. Her research focuses on polymers for biomaterials and targeted drug delivery, as well as engineering education. She received her Ph.D. from Drexel University and her B.S. from University of Delaware, both in chemical engineering. Her interests are Chemical Engineering Education and Entrepreneurial Education.
Jacob James Elmer Villanova University
Dr. Elmer earned dual B.S. degrees in Biology and Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri Rolla in 2003 and obtained a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University in 2007. After a short posdoc at Arizona State University and some adjunct teaching at Grand Canyon University, he secured an Assistant Professorship at Villanova University in the Chemical Engineering department. He currently teaches heat transfer and several biochemical engineering electives (Lab Techniques, Protein Engineering, etc.). His research focuses on developing novel blood substitutes and optimizing gene therapy treatments.
Abstract
Traditional chemical engineering curriculum focus on the math, science and engineering fundamentals culminating in a senior year process design course. These courses are excellent preparation for most chemical engineering jobs, but they typically omit very practical skills such as curiosity, connections and creating value. The lack of these fundamentals of the entrepreneurial mindset puts chemical engineers at a disadvantage in today’s workplace. The faculty at XX University have made the effort to focus on EML (entrepreneurial minded learning) by creating modules that can be implemented in already existing courses. These modules all vary in time scale, and application, but have the same goal: to introduce chemical engineers to the entrepreneurial mindset. This paper will review five different modules created and presented to students. The projects vary from elective courses (intro to biotechnology and polymer science) to required courses (heat transfer operations and process design). The projects included an attempt to explore a contrarian viewpoint by evaluating “bad” plastics, developing a new technology based upon RNA detection, design of a shower without electricity, 3-D printing of heat exchanger plates, and applying systems thinking (specifically heuristics) to a process design. The projects were all evaluated using student surveys and post implementation reflection by the faculty. In all cases the faculty believed the students gained some understanding of EM concepts. The authors believe these same modules can be implemented in similar classes at other institutions with equal success.
Comolli, N. K., & Elmer, J. J. (2018, June), Entrepreneurial Mindset (EML) Modules for Chemical Engineering Courses Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--30433
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