2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This paper presents two community-engaged engineering initiatives at University X that promote sustainability, innovation, and civic responsibility through experiential learning. The first initiative involves collaboration with the local Salvation Army Food Pantry, where engineering students designed and implemented a sensor-based automated food distribution system. The system enables extended service hours with minimal human intervention, increasing accessibility and operational efficiency for clients. By integrating sensing, control, and automation technologies, students applied classroom concepts to address real-world community needs thus strengthening both their technical and social problem-solving skills.

The second initiative focuses on sustainable food production through the development of an aquaponics system in the SVSU greenhouse as part of an Electrical and Computer Engineering capstone design project. The system supports vertical growth of fruit-bearing plants such as cucumbers using row beds and includes multi-tiered shelving for propagation and vegetative growth. Planned enhancements include the addition of fish and tanks, real-time monitoring meters for environmental and water quality parameters, and equipment for biological filtration, aeration, and water circulation.

Together, these projects demonstrate how engineering design can foster both technical competency and civic mindedness. By engaging students in projects that merge sustainability, automation, and community service, University X advances the integration of experiential learning and social impact within engineering education aligning with the mission to prepare engineers for global and ethical leadership.