Engineering Disciplines Research Articles

Examining How Student Identities Interact with an Immersive Field Ecology Course and its Implications for Graduate School Education.

One of the central issues in ecology is the underrepresentation of individuals from diverse backgrounds. This underrepresentation starts at the undergraduate level and continues into graduate programs, contributing to a need for more diversity in the discipline. We hypothesize that the interplay of students' identities and contextual factors influence how students perceive their sense of belonging in a field-based discipline. We present findings from a 2-yr evaluation of a pregraduate school field program, FIRED UP (Field-Intensive Research Emphasizing Diversity UP in the alpine), where students interacted with a curriculum focused on building field skills and cohort bonding. Students provided feedback through surveys and interviews conducted at various phases throughout the program. Using the Phenomenological Variant Ecological Systems Theory, we present our interview results in three cases describing differing student outcomes regarding belonging which allows us to give voice and weight to students with more critical and constructive perspectives. Thus, the results of this study can be used to critically examine field-based educational program design to maximize the ability of programs to respond to diverse student needs. The broader implications of this work address how to approach pregraduate school training and cohort building that supports students marginalized in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines as they enter graduate school.

Calling for Equity-focused Quantitative Methodology in Discipline-based Education Research: An Introduction to Latent Class Analysis.

Mixture modeling is a latent variable (i.e., a variable that cannot be measured directly) approach to quantitatively represent unobserved subpopulations within an overall population. It includes a range of cross-sectional (such as latent class [LCA] or latent profile analysis) and longitudinal (such as latent transition analysis) analyses and is often referred to as a "person-centered" approach to quantitative data. This research methods paper describes one type of mixture modeling, LCA, and provides examples of how this method can be applied to discipline-based education research in biology and other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. This paper briefly introduces LCA, explores the affordances LCA provides for equity-focused STEM education research, highlights some of its limitations, and provides suggestions for researchers interested in exploring LCA as a method of analysis. We encourage discipline-based education researchers to consider how statistical analyses may conflict with their equity-minded research agendas while also introducing LCA as a method of leveraging the affordances of quantitative data to pursue research goals aligned with equity, inclusion, access, and justice agendas.

Stretchable and body conformable electronics for emerging wearable therapies

AbstractWearable therapy represents a research frontier where material science, electrical engineering, and medical disciplines intersect, offering significant potential for remote and portable healthcare. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on rigid materials, the ability to stretch is crucial for therapeutic devices to achieve enhanced mechanical adaptability. Moreover, the conformable integration of these devices into the body is pivotal in establishing reliable interfaces for long‐term treatment. These emerging devices provide an attractive platform for developing new therapeutic protocols that do not disrupt daily activities. This review comprehensively overviews recent progress in stretchable and body‐conformable electronics for wearable therapeutic applications. The discussion begins with the design and fabrication of these devices through structural designs and material innovation. The therapeutic mechanisms adopted by these devices are then systematically explored. Furthermore, the article delineates the crucial characteristics of wearable therapeutic devices, such as biocompatibility, secure skin attachment, and effective moisture management. This review article is poised to inspire innovative device designs and treatment protocols for future medical technology.

Challenges faced by women and persons excluded because of their ethnicity and race in physics learning environments: Review of the literature and recommendations for departments and instructors.

Physics, as a discipline, has long struggled with pervasive stereotypes and biases about who is capable and can excel in it. Physics also ranks among the least diverse among all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, often cultivating and fostering learning environments that lack inclusivity and equity. Moreover, stereotypes about brilliance, inequitable physics learning environments and the overall physics culture not only impact the experiences and outcomes of students who major in physics, but also those from other STEM disciplines who must take physics courses. Here we undertake a narrative review, delving into research concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion within undergraduate physics education. We concentrate on the experiences of women and persons excluded due to their ethnicity or race (PEERs) in physics, aiming to shed light on the alarming current situation. The review begins with a few concrete examples of exclusionary experiences that research shows are common for women in physics and can reduce their interest or motivation to pursue a physics major. Then, we provide our conceptualization of equity in physics learning environments and describe the frameworks informing the perspective taken in the review. We then discuss issues related to inequities in physics learning environments, including but not limited to inequities in academic performance, participation, and persistence in physics, as well as psychological factors such as physics self-efficacy, perceived recognition, social belonging, mindset beliefs, and others. We also review research on factors commonly associated with the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in physics including the lack of role models, stereotypes associating physics with brilliance, and the overall prototypical culture of physics. We emphasize that addressing these systemic issues in physics requires a holistic approach. We conclude with a list of recommendations for physics departments and instructors on how they can play an important role in transforming the physics culture and making the learning environments equitable and inclusive so that all students can engage in learning physics and enjoy it while feeling supported.

Evaluation of Instructor Capability: Perspective from Building Information Modeling Competition Students in Mainland China

Building information modelling (BIM) technology, which has experienced rapid development, has become the focus of digital education learning in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) related disciplines. However, BIM education is still confronted with the disconnection between theoretical education and engineering practice. In mainland China, BIM competitions are an important digital platform for higher education practice teaching. As the organizer and leader of student participants, BIM instructors, especially their BIM capability, have an important impact on digital education. Previous research on BIM capability did not involve the field of BIM education, and the existing BIM capability framework is not entirely applicable to evaluating the BIM capability of instructors. Semi-structured interviews based on grounded theory (GT) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to construct a five-dimensional model containing 23 capability indicators. The research findings highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of BIM capability for instructors and indicated that personnel capability was the most important for instructors, while process capability was considered the most dispensable. This is significantly different from the emphasis on technical and process capability in BIM capability research in the traditional AEC industry. It was also found that students from different levels of universities and different educational backgrounds had different demands for the BIM capability of instructors. The results of this study will help universities select excellent instructors, improve the quality of BIM education in universities, and cultivate more outstanding BIM talents for the development of BIM in the AEC industry, thereby promoting the digital practice of BIM education in universities.

Discussion on the Teaching Reform and Practice of “Civil Engineering Materials” under the Background of “New Engineering”

As a fundamental course in civil engineering, the reform and practice of “Civil Engineering Materials” are crucial for the development of the civil engineering discipline. This paper addresses previous teaching shortcomings and integrates the new requirements of “New Engineering” construction. It explores the reform of teaching methods for “Civil Engineering Materials” in five areas: optimization and integration of teaching content, adjustment of experimental content, application of online learning platforms, cultivation of students’ innovative abilities, and optimization of assessment methods. The paper offers constructive suggestions for the future development and practice of the course.

Localized Internationalization Framework in Higher Education for Undergraduate Institutions in the Context of Emerging Engineering Disciplines

This study explores the integration of global perspectives within engineering literacy education through localized internationalization efforts at Guilin University of Electronic Science and Technology (GUET). Focusing on the experiences of faculty members and administrative staff, the research investigates how GUET applies its localized internationalization model to emerging engineering disciplines. Utilizing a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with participants directly involved in curriculum development and international collaboration projects. The Concept-Construct-Theme (CCT) method was employed for data analysis, allowing for the identification of key themes related to the implementation, challenges, and effectiveness of the internationalization initiatives at GUET. The findings highlight the critical role of tailored educational strategies in enhancing global competencies while maintaining regional relevance. The study also underscores the importance of addressing resource limitations, institutional support, and faculty development to strengthen internationalization efforts. The insights gained from this research offer valuable recommendations for improving practices and policies in higher education institutions aiming to balance global engagement with local context.

Research on the Theory of Power in Foucaults Mid-term Thoughts

Abstract: The concept of power is deeply rooted in everyday life, making it difficult to escape the dominant status assigned by the world. The issue of power is central to Foucaults field of study, where he innovatively proposed a productive view of power and explored its internal relationship with knowledge and subjectivity from a micro-power perspective. On one hand, Foucault posits that the subject is a product of power and primarily analyzes three ways in which power produces subjects, introducing the theory of the death of the subject in modernity. On the other hand, Foucault elucidates the relationship between power and knowledge, asserting that power produces knowledge, but it must also rely on the creation of discourse for its implementation and circulation. This paper then focuses on Foucaults theory of disciplinary power, analyzing how the technologies of discipline in the operation of modern micro-power tame the bodies of modern subjects, thereby forming a disciplinary society. The model of power over the body shifts from the harsh penal practices of the classical period to modern disciplinary training. Foucaults theory of power marks an important turning point in the history of Western philosophy, and his theory of biopolitics provides an innovative understanding of the concept of power from macro to micro levels.

Recent Advances in controlled manipulation of micro/nano particles: A review

Abstract This review discusses the transformative impact of micro/nano particle manipulation techniques across scientific and technological disciplines. Emphasizing the pivotal role of precise control at the micro and nanoscale, the paper categorizes manipulation strategies into mechanical/surface force-based, field-control manipulation, and microfluidics manipulation. It addresses challenges specific to the submicrometer scale, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each approach. The unique behaviors exhibited by objects at the micro–nano scale influence the design and operation of manipulators, algorithms, and control systems, particularly in interactions with biological systems. The review covers dielectrophoresis and magnetic manipulation, showcasing their applications in particle manipulation and microfluidics. The evolution of optical tweezers, including holographic, surface plasmon-based, and optical fiber tweezers, is discussed, emphasizing their contributions in various scientific fields. Additionally, the paper also explores the manipulation of micro/nano particle in microfluidic platforms. The comprehensive review underscores the significance of understanding manipulation strategies in diverse environments, anticipating further advancements in science and technology.

Sustainable Urban Design Strategies in a Cultural Equipment. The Samaria of Ibagué, Colombia

Objective: define a method for the development of tools that are capable of interpreting and providing solutions based on design in cultural, architectural, urban and sustainable terms, so that they are applicable in the field of urban design. Theoretical Framework: A review of the historical development of the facilities is addressed, together with the New Urban Agenda, the conceptual sustainability criteria and the techniques contained in the regulations, as well as some software that allows simulation in the design process. Method: The methodology is mixed, in response to the urban design criteria addressed by Bazant (1984). The urban context that a facility must have with respect to the city, the sector and its socio-cultural link with the place to intervene was taken into account. A regulatory analysis and a design simulation were addressed. Results and Discussion: There is a lack of effective space for equipment, in direct correlation with public spaces and the importance of environmental certification regulations as instruments that can efficiently guide urban interventions. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing information on how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of sustainable urban design. These implications could encompass urban planning, regulatory design and simulations. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by presenting design possibilities that link regulations with simulations. The relevance and value of this research is evident in the need for the disciplines of architecture and engineering for the planning of cities.

Sustainable Management of Agrifood Systems: Interdisciplinary Workshop as a Learning Tool in Bioresource Technology in secondary and technical education in Agriculture at ECIT Riachão do Poço, Paraiba, Brazil

This article addresses the project of an Interdisciplinary Workshop, AGROTEC, and the implementation of the sensory garden at ECIT Riachão do Poço, in Paraíba, as an interdisciplinary learning tool for high school and technical students in agriculture, including the topics of bioresource technology. The municipality of Riachão do Poço, located in the state of Paraíba, with a semi-arid tropical climate, is rich in agricultural practices. The objective of the Technical Course in Agriculture at the school seeks to promote a comprehensive and contextualized education. The workshop aimed to integrate knowledge from the disciplines of plant health, agricultural soils, horticulture, olericulture and bioresource technology, providing students with practical and meaningful experiences for their training. The methodology used included holding an interactive workshop, where students could apply theories in a practical environment, encouraging collaboration and active learning. At the end, students also had a class on media content management, disseminating the work carried out in the workshop. The results demonstrated an increase in student motivation, resulting in greater learning, obtaining higher grades than at the beginning of the subjects, in addition to a greater awareness of sustainability and agroecological practices. The project not only enriched the students' education, but also strengthened the school community, demonstrating the success of the interdisciplinary approach in technical education. The experience reaffirms the importance of pedagogical innovations in the training of critical professionals prepared for the challenges of the agricultural sector, especially in the areas of bioresource technology.

The Association Between Corporate Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, And Job Pursuit Intention

Taiwan, renowned as a global leader in technology, boasts a manufacturing sector that accounts for more than 30%of its GDP. With the growing public knowledge of climate change, there has been a notable rise in environmental awareness among contemporary societies, influencing how businesses are perceived based on their environmental practices. This research targets potential job candidates in the tech sector, employing semi-structured interviews with individuals educated in engineering and related disciplines within Taiwan. It delves into three core questions, aiming to uncover: (1) whether individuals with environmental awareness prefer to work for committed companies to environmental sustainability; (2) if environmentally aware employees can facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices within their companies; and (3) whether a company's dedication to environmental sustainability enhances its appeal to prospective employees, thereby aiding in the recruitment and retention of top talent. Findings indicate that all participants are environmentally aware and eager to support workplace sustainability initiatives. Individuals with employment options often opt for companies with robust environmental reputations. Conversely, those encountering challenges in securing employment tend to prioritize immediate job availability over the environmental standing of the company. The study concludes with several recommendations to foster environmental awareness across various sectors, including government, media, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals.

A centrifuge modelling setup for dewatering, rewetting, and characterizing soil deposits

Dewatering in soils serves various purposes in the field of geotechnical engineering as well as other disciplines. In geotechnical engineering, dewatering is effective for improving stability, reducing settlements, and limiting seepage of contaminated pore fluid. This study details the development of an experimental setup that enables dewatering and rewetting soil deposits in-flight in a geotechnical centrifuge while the pore pressures/suctions and moisture contents are measured. Cone penetration tests and shear wave velocity measurements are also used to characterize the material in-flight. Detailed discussion is provided regarding the construction of the tensiometers and calibration of the moisture content probes. Tests are performed on two coal combustion products (CCPs) to exemplify the capabilities of the equipment. Illustrative test results provide time histories and profiles of soil suction and water content at different depths, agreeing well with measurements from laboratory soil-water retention curves. The results also show that dewatering of the CCP deposits leads to significant increases in strength and stiffness, and that after subsequent rewetting, the material maintains a permanent increase in stiffness. The developed system enables an economical and reliable study of the impacts related to dewatering and rewetting cycles to fulfill research purposes in a broad range of engineering disciplines.

Choose your own T-cell fate: creation of a narrative-based, decision-making activity to engage students in immunology.

Undergraduate courses in immunology are content-heavy and combined with a new, complex vocabulary, can be an overwhelming subject for students. In-class active learning approaches have been found to improve understanding of difficult concepts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines; however, many undergraduate courses maintain a high dependence on lecture-style teaching because of time constraints, content demands and student resistance. We designed an online, out-of-class activity, the "Life and Death of a Tcell", to complement a lecture on a complex immunological concept, T-cell development. Inspired by the "Choose Your Own Adventure" children's books, a fictional narrative was created in which students assume the role of a cell with a dream of becoming a helper Tcell. Decision-making scenarios then prompt students to draw on their knowledge from the lecture to successfully navigate the steps of T-cell development. The activity was built on two platforms, Google Forms and H5P (HTML 5 Package), both of which are readily accessible and allow the inclusion of branching logic and the creation of a decision tree-based activity. An anonymous survey revealed that students found this interactive approach enjoyable, and their perceived understanding of the content significantly increased. Students appreciated the inclusion of a novel learning resource, with requests for similar activities to be developed for other immunological concepts. In conclusion, we developed a narrative-based, decision-making activity to complement a lecture on T-cell development. As an out-of-class activity, this style of learning approach can potentially capitalize on the benefits of active learning, while also overcoming barriers of student resistance.

Effective Model Reduction Scheme for the Electronic Structure of Highly Doped Semiconducting Polymers.

Highly doped organic polymers have emerged as prominent candidates within novel technological disciplines, yet the fundamental correlation between structure and charge transport characteristics still remains missing. Toward this objective, an efficient model reduction scheme for highly doped polymer chains is developed considering the paradigmatic case of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS). The reduced model accounts for the chemical and structural details of the conducting polymer chain in addition to the long-range Coulombic interactions between charge carriers (holes) and dopant ions and the Coulombic repulsion between holes residing on the PEDOT chain. The model is shown to reproduce the intrachain hole-density profile of bulk polymer chains within a mean-field description. Furthermore, and critically, the model is adept at determining the energy distribution of doped PEDOT samples that in effect, influences the hole distribution among polymer chains. The hole distribution so obtained broadly upholds the approximation of a homogeneous charge-carrier distribution in doped polymers commonly found in the literature. In addition, it is observed that the spin configuration of the charge carriers dictates the energetics of the doped chains while it is a critical function of the chain length, carrier density, and disorder parameters.

Nanoscale wettability characterization—Interpreting droplet morphological evolution in nanopores

AbstractNanoscale wettability, crucial for various disciplines in science and engineering, challenges traditional theory, particularly the Young's equation. This study proposes and validates a modified format of the Young's equation under nano‐confinement and, for the first time, the nano‐confined droplet morphological evolution and transition are investigated from thermodynamic theories and molecular dynamics simulation. The morphologies of droplets in nano‐silts, identified as double‐cap, single‐cap, and bridge‐shaped, underscore the critical roles of line tension and nano‐confinement in characterizing wetting behavior. In hydrophobic nano‐slits, droplets transition from the double‐cap to the single‐cap shape at the critical point of = 0.31 and to bridge shape at the critical point of = 0.40. Moreover, the relative width of the neck region in the bridge‐shaped droplets is found to stabilize at ratio of 1.8. Particularly, linear relationships have been established between the droplet contact angle and the parameter , which identify condensation and breakage of droplets within hydrophobic nano‐slits. This model effectively characterizes nanoscale wettability, with precise droplet behavior predictions, which could be beneficial to enhance nano‐fluid dynamics understanding and its applications in science and engineering.

A coupled peridynamics–smoothed particle hydrodynamics model for fluid–structure interaction with large deformation

Fluid–structure interaction (FSI) is ubiquitous in various engineering disciplines, and effectively managing FSI often appears to be the key for successful failure analysis and safety-oriented design. Smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) serves as a potent nonlocal meshfree method for fluid dynamics modeling, while peridynamics (PD) demonstrates exceptional capability in addressing structural dynamics involving large deformations and discontinuities. Thus, leveraging their respective strengths in a combined approach holds significant promise for tackling FSI challenges. In this work, we propose a new peridynamics–smoothed particle hydrodynamics (PD-SPH) coupling model for addressing FSI. A stable and efficient coupling algorithm for data transfer between PD and SPH is put forward. In this coupling strategy, a PD particle directly participates in solving the SPH governing equations when it is identified to be within the support domain of an SPH particle. This can be done since the SPH quantities including the density, velocity, and pressure of a PD particle are naturally attainable within the framework of non-ordinary state-based peridynamics theory. Concurrently, in solving PD governing equations, reaction forces from SPH particles act as external forces for PD particles, determined straightforwardly through Newton's third law. As such, the proposed PD-SPH coupling strategy is straightforward to implement and offers high computational efficiency. Validation examples demonstrate that the proposed PD-SPH coupling model is computationally robust and adept at capturing physical phenomena in diverse FSI scenarios involving breaking free surfaces of fluid and large structural deformations of solid. Moreover, the proposed PD-SPH coupling model is flexible introducing no constraint conditions for applications and can accommodate different particle resolutions for PD and SPH domains. These features enable a broad application range of the proposed PD-SPH coupling model including simulations of explosion-induced soil fragmentation, rock fracture, and concrete dam failure, which will be conducted by authors in the near future.

A study on the structural behaviour of Self Sensing Concrete using Nanomaterial as Fillers

Abstract Concrete technology has recently advanced to the point that different sensors can be used to measure a building’s mechanical attributes, including stress, amount of crack formation, deflection, and in various applications across Civil engineering disciplines. This can be achieved by various techniques or methods to measure the stress and strain of concrete in real-time. One of the methods is self-sensing concrete. To measure the self-sensing characteristics, concrete should be prepared with materials that possess sensing properties. Fibers (Carbon fibers, Steel fibers etc.,) and nanoparticles (nano nickel powder, carbon black powder, graphene powder etc.) are the main sources in the preparation of sensing concrete. This paper reviews the study on various self-sensing materials and methods that can be adopted and the study on the piezoresistive characteristics of concrete. The carbon and steel fiber-based self-sensing concrete were examined for compressive, tensile, and flexural strength as well as the electrical resistivity of the concrete was discussed in this paper.

Bringing embodied approaches to on-campus research methods teaching for large STEM cohorts: design, challenges, learning

In the post-pandemic world, Learning Development researchers have posited a ‘new hybrid era of teaching’, in which lessons from lockdown in best practice for online and remote teaching play a key role in increasing the inclusivity of higher education (Kantcheva and Bickle, 2023). At the same time, as many students have returned to campus, research has begun to interrogate the role that campus spaces and in-person interaction play in teaching and learning in this new era (Hrach, 2021; Cox et al., 2022). Whether through explicit pedagogical design or implicitly, courses with practical elements, particularly in many scientific disciplines, tend to favour principles of embodied learning through ‘learning-by-doing’. Courses incorporate hands-on interaction with laboratory equipment and social constructivist approaches through student co-creation (Deshmukh, 2021), the centrality of which to students’ professional training was made even more apparent during the move to remote learning. However, these same principles have not underscored the pedagogical approach to research methods education on the undergraduate Engineering degree programmes at the University of Manchester, which has typically been taught more didactically in recent years. This lecture-format approach has been used partially due to challenges of practicality, with the course unit being delivered to a large cohort that can reach 500 students in a typical year. With these principles in mind, this academic year, the Library Teaching, Learning and Students team has collaborated with academic leads across Engineering disciplines to deliver embedded research methods workshops that incorporate elements of an embodied, social constructivist approach, playing to the unique strengths of in-person group learning. This presentation charted the process of Learning Developers and academic staff co-designing these workshops, highlighting challenges encountered, and outlining learning from the process to take forward into future collaborations with disciplines with large cohorts.

Academic Traces of Urban Furniture: A Bibliometric Perspective

Urban furniture, which increases the quality and aesthetics of urban life, has recently been the subject of academic studies. However, a bibliometric and visual analysis in this field has not been conducted in sufficient number. This paper presents a quantitative and descriptive study of 1,063 documents from the Web of Science database (1975-2022) using RStudio's 'Bibliometrix' package. Key bibliometric indicators include 887 documents, 619 references, 582 articles, 12.25 citations per document, 2,558 authors, 1,386 keywords, keywords of 2,968 authors, and a collaboration index of 16.8%. The study found higher scientific productivity in China and the USA. Research status, influential sources, countries, institutions, authors, keywords and data relationships were analysed. In particular, it was observed that academic interest increased after 2000 and focused on technology, environment and urban disciplines rather than architecture. The keywords (Author's Keywords and Keywords plus) vary, with a focus on the urban field of study and the health and environment field of study, but both keywords are increasing. The paper recommends increased interdisciplinary co-operation to broaden the scope of urban furniture research. This is one of the first comprehensive bibliometric and content analyses on urban furniture.