2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Development and Success of an Explosive Engineering Instrumentation Lab as a Distance Course

Presented at Instrumentation in Engineering Projects

A graduate level course in scientific instrumentation for explosives has been re-imagined to support distance education. Serving a diverse student body that includes professionals in government, military, and industry roles, the course integrates remote learning with practical, hands-on experiences. To maintain the program’s high standards, lab demonstrations are recorded and made accessible online. Additionally, several experiments can be performed using equipment available at home, such as cameras. The final project involves an on-campus weekend, during which students design and execute an experiment using three or more of the instrumentation techniques covered in the course. This collaborative project culminates in a research paper summarizing their findings. The course redevelopment has resulted in increased enrollment, positive student evaluations, and several peer-reviewed publications. This model demonstrates a successful hybrid approach that ensures distance learners gain equivalent hands-on experience and research opportunities as their on-campus counterparts.

Authors

Dr. Catherine Johnson http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0670-8179 Missouri University of Science and Technology [biography]

Dr. Catherine Johnson is the Robert H. Quenon Associate Professor of Mining and Explosives Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky, and bachelor's and master's degrees in Mining and Quarry Engineering from the University of Leeds, UK. Dr. Johnson teaches a range of courses in mining and explosives engineering and is recognized for integrating cutting-edge research into her instruction. She is committed to student success and educational innovation, earning numerous accolades for her teaching and mentorship, including the University Faculty Excellence Award, multiple departmental teaching awards and Missouri S&T’s Woman of the Year for her impactful role as a mentor, educator, and leader.
Dr. Rachel L Bauer http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3046-727X Missouri University of Science and Technology [biography]

Dr. Rachel Bauer is a postdoctoral fellow in the Mining and Explosives Engineering Department at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She holds a PhD in Explosives Engineering from Missouri S&T, and both a master’s in Human Factors and Systems Engineering and a bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

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