2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Background: Mathematics is the foundation of engineering and technology, with many shared courses across these fields. However, its abstract nature can pose challenges for student learning. Historically, educators have used physical models and, more recently, digital rendering tools to visualize concepts and support student learning. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Department of Mathematics acquired and produced a substantial collection of mathematical models in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to facilitate hands-on learning. A recent building renovation and the temporary closure of the Mathematics Library created an opportunity for collaboration between the Department and the Library to revitalize these models for learning, research, and outreach.

Purpose: The project aims to assess, preserve, and revitalize the Department’s historical mathematical model collection through a combination of library stewardship, undergraduate research, instructional innovation, and cross-campus collaboration.

Design/Methods: During the renovation, the Mathematics Librarian collaborated with Department faculty, staff, and students to inventory, organize, describe, and digitize the historical mathematical model collection. What began as an inventory initiative expanded into multi-semester undergraduate research projects, digitization and metadata efforts within the Library, and partnerships with a campus makerspace and an external software company to support student learning and research.

Results: The project transformed an inventory project into an interdisciplinary effort that supported student research, experimentation with mathematical visualization and fabrication technologies, and new outreach and exhibition activities. Students engaged with the models beyond their aesthetic appeal by describing them mathematically, fabricating physical and digital replicas, and communicating their work to broader audiences.

Conclusions: The project demonstrates how the Department’s historical mathematical collection can be revitalized for contemporary STEM teaching, research, and outreach through campus-wide collaboration. It also highlights the library’s role in both stewarding academic heritage and new modes of learning and inquiry.