An undergraduate interdisciplinary environmental assessment project in partnership with the U.S. Public Health Service

Abstract

The Science and Engineering Project Center at Seattle University, in partnership with sponsoring businesses and government agencies in the Puget Sound region, provides all undergraduate engineering students with experience working on real-world design problems. During their senior year, students work in teams on projects proposed by the sponsors, developing skills in project planning and management, team building, and technical applications. The Real-Time Environmental Monitoring Project conducted by electrical and environmental engineering students for the US Public Health Service demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach to assessment of environmental quality and associated human health problems. It also serves as a model for academic institutions in building a long-range cooperative relationship with a government agency or corporation for undergraduate education. This paper describes the technical aspects of the project as well as the steps taken to form a successful partnership between academic institutions and industry or government agencies in developing interdisciplinary design experiences for undergraduate engineering and science students.