2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering education has long emphasized mathematical rigor, analytical problem-solving, and technical precision. However, many students struggle to connect abstract equations with their real-world origins and applications. Without historical or experimental context, equations often appear as isolated formulas rather than representations of physical phenomena shaped by human curiosity and discovery. This paper introduces a pedagogical framework that seeks to bridge this gap through the development of modular Historical Figure Packages. Each package documents the life, experiments, and conceptual insights behind key equations in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and mechanics of materials, highlighting the people, experiments, and contexts that gave rise to foundational engineering principles.

Each Historical Figure Package consists of five core components: historical context, experimental origin, conceptual narrative, engineering impact, and classroom activities. The design goal is to create stand-alone, flexible, and scalable modules that faculty can easily integrate into existing courses with minimal preparation. This paper presents the first phase of an ongoing research study investigating the effectiveness of these packages in improving student conceptual understanding, engagement, problem-solving ability, and long-term knowledge retention, while also examining faculty usability and adaptability across courses. By embedding storytelling and history within technical instruction, this framework aims to humanize engineering education and strengthen students’ connection to the discipline.