2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Board 183: Utilizing On-Site Sustainability Technology to Engage K-12 Students in Engineering Learning (Work in Progress)

Presented at Pre-College Engineering Education Division (PCEE) Poster Session

Utilizing On-Site Sustainability Technology to Engage K-12 Students in Engineering Learning (Work in Progress)

Research to develop sustainable technologies in response to the changing climate, combined with educating K-12 students about those technologies, is vital in creating a sustainable future. This study was designed to create a partnership between researchers and K-12 schools to increase student knowledge about sustainability and to generate interest in engineering and STEM careers by utilizing environmental bioengineering technology as a tool to teach sustainability principles. In this study, an aerobic bio-digester for the sustainable disposal of food wastes was installed in a K-12 school, and researchers assisted teachers in generating hands-on, engineering-focused lesson plans based on the digester technology. A pre-/post-assessment was conducted for a biology lesson. Results indicate students improved in their knowledge of sustainability issues related to food waste and aerobic respiration. Students also self-reported learning more about sustainability, engineering, and biology concepts through the lesson. Perhaps most importantly, students were excited about the hands-on learning experience provided by the digester and expressed increased interest in engineering and STEM-related careers.

Authors

Rachel Burch University of Delaware [biography]

Rachel Burch is a 5th year PhD candidate at the University of Delaware in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Rachel is researching the sustainable treatment of food waste using aerobic bio-digesters with hopes of recovering resources, such as biogas, from the food waste. Rachel has a passion for sustainability and engineering education, both of which she is incorporating into her work in her time as a graduate student.
Dr. Amy Trauth http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5146-592X American Institutes for Research [biography]

Amy Trauth, Ph.D., is a Researcher at American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on equity and access in science and engineering education and K-12 STEM teacher education.
Dr. Michael Chajes University of Delaware [biography]

Michael Chajes is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Dean of the Honors College at the University of Delaware. His teaching and research focuses on (1) bridge testing, evaluation, and rehabilitation, (2) sustainability applications, and (3) and engineering education. During his 33 years at UD, Dr. Chajes has also served as Dean of the College of Engineering.
Dr. Daniel Cha University of Delaware [biography]

Dr. Daniel K. Cha is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Delaware. He has over 30 years of academic and industrial research experience in the area of environmental biological processes. Most of his research has focused on microbial degradation of environmental contaminants in natural and engineered systems, and sustainable solutions to wastewater treatment. Dr. Cha received his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to joining University of Delaware, Dr. Cha also worked as a consulting engineer for an environmental consulting firm and an assistant engineer at a wastewater treatment plant.

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Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
Pre-College