Engineering Disciplines Research Articles

Using Educational Robotics in Chemistry Education: A Systematic Review

Although the value of educational robotics (ER) is recognised in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, limited research has been published that focusses on using ER to support and enhance chemistry education (CE). This article considers the existing body of scholarly knowledge related to the use of ER in CE published in scholarly literature by means of a systematic literature review. To structure the findings conceptually, a Robotics-Education-Chemistry Considerations (RECC) framework was developed and applied. The findings indicate that the use of ER in CE is understudied. ER is largely applied to enhance the operational and content aspects of traditional CE, rather than to exploit the affordances related to modern education theories and practices that using ER potentially offers to CE.

Formation of a gender-sensitive environment in the innovative transformation of the scientific and educational space: the aspect of STEM education

In the conditions of martial law, the creation of a gender­sensitive environment in higher education institutions based on STEM is an urgent task. An important task of science and education at the moment is to provide favourable conditions for the subjects of education based on the state’s innovation policy (for example, STEM, artificial intelligence, robotics, etc.), as well as to provide feedback between the student and the teacher. Activation of the problem of the gender component, focusing attention on the concept of zero tolerance in the system of training personnel from the economic profile and developing a new methodology for building a gender­sensitive environment in this field will ensure the integrity of the process of forming intellectual potential among women and men, is the main goal of the author’s research. This is aimed at the rationality of the organization of the training of education seekers taking into account gender aspects on the basis of STEM. In the research, the authors outlined contextual levels and contradictions regarding the formation of a gender­sensitive environment, in particular: the context of the needs for social order (taking into account the equality of rights of women and men); the context of needs for science (pedagogical, engineering, technical, legal, physical and mathematical disciplines), taking into account transdisciplinarity and aspects of STEM education; in the context of the needs of pedagogical practice (development and implementation of innovative approaches in a gender­sensitive environment in the context of the formation of soft skills of subjects of education capable of implementing STEM technologies in the educational process). The purpose of the research is scientific substantiation, conceptualization and development of a gender­sensitive environment for institutions of higher education based on STEM. The object of research is the educational process in institutions of higher education. The subject of the research is the theoretical and methodological substantiation of the expediency of the formation and development of a gender­sensitive environment of a higher education institution based on STEM education.

Research on Teaching Reform of Smoke Control and Exhaust Course under the Background of New Engineering

A large number of fire cases have proven that smoke is the main cause of casualties in fires, with over 80% of victims dying directly or indirectly due to smoke. Scientific and rational design of smoke control systems is crucial for slowing down the spread of fires and ensuring safe evacuation time. At present, the process of smoke exhaust in fire scenes is still the main way of fire rescue utilization, and industries related to smoke exhaust are also one of the main employment areas for undergraduate students majoring in fire engineering. However, traditional smoke exhaust engineering courses have outdated teaching content, teaching methods, and assessment methods, which cannot meet the demand for cultivating technical talents in energy engineering majors under the background of new engineering construction. This study first starts from the characteristics of smoke control engineering courses and the problems existing in teaching. Using advanced online teaching platforms, advanced teaching aids, mature commercial software, and computer programming language design environments, the teaching content of smoke control engineering courses is upgraded and transformed towards modular computing, intelligent design, and other directions. In the context of new engineering disciplines, students' learning interests are enhanced, and their practical, innovative, and comprehensive computing abilities are exercised.

An Operations Research–Based Teaching Unit for Grade 12: The ROAR Experience, Part III

In this paper, we finish describing the project and the experimentation of Ricerca Operativa Applicazioni Reali (ROAR; in English, Real Applications of Operations Research), a three-year project for higher secondary schools. ROAR is composed of three teaching units addressed to grades 10, 11, and 12, respectively. To improve students’ interest, motivation, and skills related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines, ROAR integrates the teaching of mathematics and computer science through operations research. Its implementation started in 2021 in a grade 10 class at the scientific high school IIS Antonietti in Iseo (Brescia, Italy). We provided the details of the first two units in previous papers. Here, we focus on the third and last unit, carried out from October 2022 to January 2023, with the same students, then in a grade 12 class. Similarly to the first two units, we describe objectives, prerequisites, topics and methods, the organization of the lectures, digital technologies used, and a challenging final project that, this time, involved the manufacturer company Filtrec S.p.A. with a case. After analyzing the feedback from students, teachers, and practitioners engaged in the experimentation, we reflect on the entire experimentation and provide some insights to replicate a similar experience. Funding: G. Colajanni was partially supported by the research project Programma Ricerca di Ateneo UNICT 2020-22 linea 2, Ottimizzazione di Modelli di Network slIce 5G con UAV, the Italian Ministry of University and Research and the European Union for the Programma Operativo Nazionale project on Research and Innovation 2014-2020, D.M. 1062/2021, and the GNAMPA-INdAM Group. A. Raffaele was partially supported by the National Group for Scientific Computation. E. Taranto was partially supported by the National Group for Algebraic and Geometric Structures, and their Applications. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2023.0065 .

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.

Integration of BIM and GIS for the Digitization of the Built Environment

The integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a growing reality in the building production sector. Through this integration, it is possible to improve the efficiency of management, maintenance, use and planning of conservation operations, providing an integrated and dynamic vision of the built environment. Simultaneous exchange of BIM-GIS elements in a shared environment facilitates information access and optimizes processes like requalification, activity planning, safety and sustainable urban design. Two alternative strategies are proposed for the multidisciplinary approach, using advanced technologies to acquire, process and manage detailed and georeferenced data. The first one is an open-source environment to guarantee flexibility, customization and accessibility. The second option, in a closed-source environment, provides advanced functionalities and dedicated support. Both require careful planning, detailed analysis and collaboration between the disciplines of architecture, engineering and geoinformatics. The study transcends theoretical analysis by exploring practical implications for real-world systems integration, examining their advantages, limitations and potential synergies in terms of flexibility, security and sustainability. This will enable a more efficient and comprehensive management of the architectural heritage and the built environment, contributing to its preservation and enhancement in the context of the digital transition in a future perspective of smart cities.

The series solutions of fractional foam drainage and fractional modified regularized long wave problems

In general, integer order differential equations fall short of adequately describing a range of phenomena in many disciplines of science and engineering when compared to fractional order differential equations. In the context of the Caputo fractional derivative, this study examines the nonlinear fractional order foam drainage problem as well as the fractional order modified regularized long wave equation. In this work, we offer two novel techniques by combining the Elzaki transform with the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) and the homotopy perturbation method (HPM). We first translate the problem into its differential partner using the Elzaki transform, and then we use He’s polynomials and the Adomian polynomials that are derived from HPM and ADM, respectively. These are two very powerful supports for nonlinear problems. The efficacy and precision of the recommended techniques are illustrated through the use of numerical and graphical findings. The numerical simulations of the derived solutions make use of a number of relevant values of the order of fractional parameter λ. It is important to keep in mind that the recommended techniques can achieve higher overall performance since they need less computational effort than alternative strategies while yet retaining a high degree of numerical precision. The solutions acquired through the suggested techniques have been compared with the classical solutions and the solution obtained by ADM, new iterative method (NIM). The considerable results show that these approaches minimize the heavy calculation without restricting variables while requiring no assumptions. The present study can confirm the applicability of the new generalized Caputo type fractional operator to mathematical real-world problems. This approach shows to be one of the most efficient methods to solve fractional order nonlinear differential equations that arise in related fields of engineering and science. These methods also make clear how to use fractal calculus in real life. Furthermore, the results of this study support the value and significance of fractional operators in real-world applications.

Visualization and analysis of the integration mechanism of artificial intelligence-enabled sports development and ecological environment protection

The development of all sports requires a competent sports ecological environment. Pollution of the sports ecological environment greatly restricts people’s enthusiasm and interest in taking part in sports activities, and at the same time greatly affects people’s physical and mental health and hinders the development of sports. As people’s awareness of environmental pollution protection increases, it will certainly curb and alleviate the environmental pollution problem. Promote social harmony and sustainable development. Therefore, this paper will intuitively analyze the integration mechanism of sports development and ecological environmental protection based on artificial intelligence. After analysis, China’s research in related fields, sports and environmental engineering disciplines accounted for the largest proportion of 74.46%, and with the progress of sports events and environmental protection, the number of international publications in 2017 reached a maximum of 134. To a certain extent, this is linked to the Rio Olympics in Brazil the previous year. However, in the global research in this field, the number of published papers in the United States reached a maximum of 159, which opened a large gap with other countries.

A Growing Willow: The Six Rs Indigenous Research Framework—Stories of the Native American Faculty Journey in STEM*

AbstractNative American faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (NAF‐STEM) disciplines are historically underrepresented. Creating inclusive academia for Indigenous people that typically live and thrive in rural communities requires insights into their personal, relational, and collective experiences. This study was guided by the Six Rs: relationship, respect, responsibility, relevance, representation, and reciprocity, and was informed by Indigenous Research Methodologies. Twelve NAF‐STEM from tribal colleges and non‐tribal institutions were asked to share their perspectives and experiences in seven Research Circles. NAF‐STEM joined sequential hybrid workshops over seven weeks on how to conduct qualitative data analysis. Authors conducted analysis on the transcripts of Research Circles for themes associated with the professional satisfaction and success of NAF‐STEM. Results of the study identified the importance of holistic support systems that remain mindful of both the opportunities and challenges facing NAF‐STEM and emphasize the significance of balancing the need for respectful relationships, adequate representation, shared responsibility, relevance of diversity, and reciprocity in STEM. Through implementation of the Six Rs throughout the research process, the study identified successes, support systems, and challenges of NAF‐STEM at both tribal and non‐tribal colleges and universities. These outcomes can inform institutions to create an equitable and inclusive environment for NAF‐STEM.

Research on the Deep Integration of CDIO and Maker Education to Promote the Cultivation of Innovative Talents in Emerging Engineering Disciplines

"First-class practical projects" constitute one of the four fundamental elements of the Undergraduate Education Teaching Reform Pilot Work Plan (Plan 101), aiming to cultivate future "revolutionary" and "disruptive" talents in emerging engineering disciplines. Both CDIO engineering education and maker education are committed to nurturing students' innovative and practical abilities, serving as robust pillars for the cultivation of talents in emerging engineering fields. Based on a review of relevant literature on CDIO engineering education and maker education from both domestic and international sources, this paper analyzes the differences between the two in terms of educational philosophy, curriculum system and content, teaching faculty, teaching resources, teaching methodologies, and evaluation methods. It proposes the concept of deeply integrating CDIO with maker education, outlining methods for such integration: constructing a curriculum system that merges CDIO with maker education, compiling textbooks for an engineering practice system that incorporates maker projects within the CDIO framework, establishing a makerspace through school-enterprise collaboration that integrates engineering practice with maker activities, building a practical teaching model that fuses CDIO with maker education, formulating a diversified evaluation scale that combines qualitative and quantitative assessments, and organizing competition activities that integrate CDIO with maker education. Furthermore, a comprehensive practical case study of the deep integration of CDIO and maker education is provided.

Quality Evaluation Tools for Learning Objects: A Case of Engineering Tuition in an ODL Setting

This research investigates the application of Learning Objects (LOs) in enhancing the delivery of educational content through multimedia approaches, particularly within the contexts of Open Distance Learning (ODL) and engineering education. The quality of LOs employed in these settings is critical, as it can significantly impact student comprehension, influencing both successful qualification completion rates and attrition rates within specific fields of study. The study aims to evaluate whether the current criteria used to assess LOs are sufficient and appropriate for the teaching and learning (T&L) of engineering disciplines. A technology scorecard for various LO technologies is developed, and the assessment is conducted using the Learning Object Review Instrument (LORI) criteria. The findings from this assessment are then analysed against the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) module outcome criteria to determine whether the existing LORI criteria are suitable for measuring the acceptable quality levels of LOs in engineering T&L. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, with the establishment of a technology scorecard being a key component. The study's outcomes will reveal whether the LORI criteria are adequate and appropriate for assessing the quality of LOs in engineering education. If inadequacies are identified, the research will highlight these gaps and propose recommendations for addressing them. Ultimately, the study aims to establish a new, refined framework for assessing the quality of LOs in engineering T&L contexts.

Advanced AI technologies for optimizing Crop–weed interaction management: A data-driven modeling approach

Artificial intelligence has become the most widely used and trusted component of research in almost all disciplines of science and technology, starting from engineering, online businesses, and industry, to biotechnology and agriculture. Successful rice crops with maximum yield and weed management are the target set by several developed as well as developing countries, based on a combination of cultural and chemical control methods. In this paper, the weed control strategy through the competition model is documented with the aid of the time-series forecasting tool of artificial intelligence. A time-dependent computational framework is built based on the real data, and by utilizing supervised learning algorithm, incorporated with delay. It is emphasized during this research that the accurate precision of time delays in competition models can help in developing the weed control strategies more efficiently and can further support in implementing these strategies as precision models for other crop protection challenges.

A Simulation for Teaching Set Based Design in Architecture Engineering and Construction

Question: How can a simulation be designed to support teaching and learning of set-based design principles among architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) learners? To what extent can a set-based design (SBD) simulation enhance the understanding of set-based design (SBD) principles in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC)? Purpose: This paper presents a simulation exercise for teaching SBD principles and processes among AEC learners. Research Method: The simulation game is presented through a physical, in-class simulation activity. A pre-and post-test survey is also incorporated into the study to assess its effectiveness among learners. Findings: The paper disseminates a novel physical simulation exercise that can be adopted for teaching set-based design principles among AEC learners. The findings demonstrate that the simulation can enhance learners’ understanding of set-based design concepts, such as mapping the design space, imposing constraints on the design, and performing the set-based design process. Limitations: The study involved two rounds of surveys with 26 student participants from the Architectural Engineering discipline. Including more learners from more diverse disciplines can be further explored and compared to the current findings. Further studies may also include practitioners and trainees within the construction industry. Implications: The simulation can be adopted to train students in a set-based design process to prepare for collaborative project delivery in contexts with the involvement of construction teams early in the design process. Value for practitioners: The paper presents a simulation that can guide practitioners in elaborating the concepts of collaborative design to project AEC teams. Keywords: simulation, games, lean design, point-based design, set-based design Paper type: full paper

Enough Food to Feed the World, yet so much goes to waste!

Here we are again. In this last quarter of 2024, there have been many meetings and conferences on different aspects of the food systems. I am sure there are people who are moving from one meeting to another. What are they looking for, we may ask? I am sure they are looking for something not just new, but also relevant. The positive aspect here is the hyped attention to ending world hunger, and ending poverty as well. Clearly it is the poor who go hungry. From the last issue of AJFAND we published, there is growing interest in postharvest issues for better nutrition. Again, the question is: what is the point of pushing for increased productivity only to end up with more of it getting lost through bad management and lack of policy, lack of financing and lack of expertise?. This is where the discipline of Food Science and Technology plays a key role. From harvest to consumption, handling storage properly to avoid loss, cleaning, processing and packaging all require food scientists with different expertise. Food processors, food microbiologists, food packaging experts, food engineers, food lab analysts, food chemists, molecular scientists, space nutritionists, and many more are required. We agree there is enough food in the world to feed everyone. However, most of the extra we produce goes to waste. Also, a lot of what we produce goes towards making people obese, while others go without. And when we process it, we do not have enough expertise to make sure as much nutrition as possible is retained. Do you get what I am saying? This is the right time to engage on these crucial aspects. Let us highlight these issues going forward: capacity building, reducing waste, creating jobs, financing innovative projects, providing affordable financing, and thus addressing SDG2 (ending hunger by 2030) in a serious way. It requires political and good will all round. Our young people need hope, and there is no other way of doing this. There are many opportunities now in agripreneurship, not just to create jobs but also to feed Africa. There is no shortage of innovative minds and ideas. We need good policies and affordable financing to accompany all this. It is one good way of addressing SDG2, ending world hunger by 2030, and addressing youth unemployment.

Empowering Computer Vision in Higher Education: A Novel Tool for Enhancing Video Coding Comprehension

ABSTRACTThe growing demand for skilled computer vision professionals requires effective educational approaches. This study explores a novel tool based on Virtual Programming Language principles designed to enhance computer vision education, specifically in video coding. The tool leverages a user‐friendly interface and a custom widget library for video exploration, enabling students to engage with video data manipulation, motion estimation simulations, and visualization of coding effects. A controlled experiment with computer vision students from a university master's program demonstrates that the tool significantly improves student motivation, knowledge acquisition, and overall learning outcomes. This study highlights the potential of such tools to revolutionize computer vision education, leading to better engagement, deeper understanding, and enhanced practical skills. Therefore, it paves the way for further exploration of similar tools in computer vision and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.

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.

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.