2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The purpose of this work-in-progress paper is to share developments related to an ASEE EOP Mini-Grant Program award. The project has two objectives: 1) Use the Engineering for One Plante (EOP) Framework to modify learning outcomes in MEAM 1010 Introduction to Mechanical Design, a course that I already teach every semester to classes of ~75 students, and 2) Leverage the EOP Framework to create a new course on bicycle engineering & advocacy.

Our students have identified that outside MEAM 1010, there are no other mechanical engineering courses they can take in their first year. Course offerings in engineering that involve sustainability are very slim, even for students in their second through fourth years. Additionally, only about 1/4-1/3 of students in MEAM 1010 in any given semester are MEAM majors. The other majors range from other engineers (electrical, bio, etc.) to physics majors and even political science majors. Although the course is not technically required even for MEAM students, over 95% of them take the course in their first year. Consequently, by teaching sustainability concepts in this class, I not only reach almost all the mechanical engineers, but a broad cross-section of the undergraduate community. This semester I have been integrating sustainability into the learning objectives and assignments in the course, specifically by using the sustainability add-in in SolidWorks that effectively performs a life cycle assessment on a part or assembly of parts. By implementing the use of the sustainability add-in in our assignments, I have been able to address some of the EOP Framework learning outcomes in Design, Materials Selection, and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Regarding objective 2, I will be teaching a new class called Bicycles: The Mechanical Advantage in the spring 2024 semester. This interdisciplinary course combines bicycle design, engineering, and activism to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the history, evolution, and impact of bicycles on society and the environment. Through hands-on projects, volunteering at a local bike shop, and discussions, students will develop advanced bicycle design and engineering skills, gain practical experience and exposure to real-world bicycle design and engineering, and explore the critical impact of the bicycle industry on sustainability. In addition to working on all the approvals and paperwork behind the scenes to get it approved, I have been actively working with community partners and leveraging internal grant mechanisms to include everything from bike-powered smoothies to an international experience in Amsterdam.