Simplifying equations via assumptions is integral to the "engineering method." Algebraic scaling helps in teaching the engineering skill of making good assumptions. Algebraic scaling is more than a pedagogical tool. It can create a solution where one was not possible before scaling. Scaling helps in engineering proper design…

The semiconductor industry offers ample employment opportunities for chemical engineers. The CHIPS Act prioritizes workforce training as a key contributor to the success and growth of semiconductor manufacturing. UF ChE teaches semiconductor processing lab modules to both undergraduate and graduate students. At the graduate level UF ChE offers…

Due to the structured format of most engineering courses, the number of opportunities for engineering students to view matters differently from the traditional ways is limited. Therefore, a mandatory requirement was introduced into three engineering courses for students to propose an out of the ordinary solution to certain technical problems,…

Molecular-, fluid- and field-dynamics simulation are becoming more mainstream tools for practicing process engineers; here, the academic community needs to pay close attention to "upskilling" demands from industry, where remote working/training emphasizes the need for sophisticated computational-engineering design tools with molecular…

We have developed an assessment of authentic problem-solving in chemical engineering, which we used to measure students' problem-solving at the beginning and end of a cornerstone design course. We measured how much problem-solving students learned, and how these students compared with data collected from seniors at the beginning of the capstone…

Development of team skills is vital to becoming a successful and productive engineer. To prepare students for successful team-based work, they need a basic understanding of the organizational psychology underpinning teamwork and an introduction to tools and techniques to develop and sustain team effectiveness. The goal of this paper is to…

Product design is an emerging area within the discipline of chemical engineering. While in the past product design was left to practicing engineers as well as research and development professionals, more recently, product design courses have started to appear within the chemical engineering curriculum, both as electives and required courses,…

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities have switched to online learning platforms, which inhibits engineering students from completing formative hands-on experiments. To address this, we developed at-home experiments for an undergraduate biomaterials course. These inquiry-based learning experiments were well received by students and…

In an effort to offer modern and engaging senior design projects, as well as to improve ABET student outcome achievement, students were tasked with proposing their own design project idea for potential use as a senior project. Survey results from two cohorts have indicated that the majority of the students felt they achieved targeted ABET student…

The current business trends, such as Industry 4.0, require a modern chemical engineer to know about programming, advanced computational tools, and holistic thinking. To this end, an integrated approach, where theoretical concepts are supplemented by computational lab-based exercises and team projects promoting "Design Thinking" is…

An interactive MATLAB simulation app and design project are described for introducing chemical engineering concepts to engineering freshmen. A MATLAB simulation for pharmaceutical drug dosing is packaged with a graphical user interface in an app that is student friendly. Minimal engineering or coding knowledge is necessary to operate and…

This reflective practice contribution presents the lessons learned from teaching plant design using an online flipped format to a small cohort of students in the first COVID-19 semester. These lessons were applied to the online teaching of the capstone design course to a full-sized cohort. The impact of the implemented recommendations on the…

In collaboration with NASA, the Space Grant Foundation, and the eXploration Habitat Academic Challenge, the University of South Alabama developed a systems engineering undergraduate elective that instructs students on the fundamentals of systems engineering and provides the students the opportunity to apply systems and chemical engineering…

A hands-on educational module was created to illustrate the scope of chemical engineering. Students are taught fundamental concepts that they integrate in a laboratory experience designing and fabricating a 'plant-on-a-chip' microfluidic device capable of continuous processing of reactive flows. Students gain insight into chemical engineering…

To incorporate active and collaborative teaching methods early in our curriculum, we have developed a freshman design laboratory. The course introduces numerous core concepts and lab skills, by way of seven teaching modules, including spectrometer construction and a collaborative project with seniors. Survey data show students enjoyed and learned…