Innovative Engineering: Real-World STEM Challenges Addressing Global Problems

In this dynamic engineering class, students will explore various branches of engineering while designing their own innovative solutions to real-world problems currently affecting our society. These pressing issues are at the forefront of current events and require creative and effective solutions. Students will be encouraged to think independently and creatively as they learn the Engineering Design Process to address these challenges. Each week will feature a different problem that students will research and investigate in class, brainstorm potential solutions, and collaborate to share ideas. At the end of each class, students will apply what they have learned to design and test their own solution. They will have the opportunity to document their process through videos or photographs and present their findings to the class the following week. Throughout the course, students will gain insight into engineering practices, learn how engineers identify failure points and redesign solutions, and explore six different branches of engineering, including mechanical, civil, electrical, environmental, aerospace, and chemical engineering. This hands-on approach will inspire students to become innovative problem solvers ready to tackle the challenges of the future
Week 1: Drought in Chad - This small landlocked country in Africa is in crises due to climate change and over use of water resources. Lake Chad is rapidly disappearing, creating a humanitarian crises. Can you design an airdrop system that can get supplies into affected areas without damaging them?
Week 2: Avalanche! - Each year, avalanches occur around the world in the winter and spring. Sometimes these events trap skiers and mountain climbers, and sometimes they cause damage to the cities at the bottom of the mountain. Changes in the world’s climate have caused an increase in the number of avalanches in recent years.  Your city, located at the base of the Big Snowy Mountains in Montana is planning to build barriers to protect the homes and citizens from avalanches and have asked your firm to submit a proposal. Can you design avalanche barriers above the city to protect them from avalanche destruction?
Week 3:Earthquake! - Earthquakes can be unpredictable, even with the tools seismologists have, and can cause major destruction and loss of life. They happen all over the world, and in recent years many countries have experience significant loss of life from collapsing buildings. Your architectural engineering company has been asked by the city of San Francisco to submit a proposal for the new City Hall building in downtown San Francisco. Since San Francisco experiences significant earthquake events, they are looking for the structure that will withstand earthquakes to the best possible extent.  Your challenge is to design a building that will still stand after being tested on an earthquake shake table.
Week 4: Blow Wind Blow - More and more, cities are turning to alternative sources of renewable energy in order to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. One renewable energy source is wind energy, produced on large wind farms from wind turbines.  The problem is that these turbines are ugly and noisy, and most people don't want to live close to one. The mayor of a major city wants to install wind-turbines that can withstand high winds and are also works of art. Your mission is to design an artistic kinetic wind sculpture prototype that is at least 12 inches tall and can withstand strong winds.
Week 5: Clean Water for Everyone -  Water pollution is a huge problem all over the world. Our oceans are filling up with plastics and other trash, rivers and streams are taking run-off filled with pesticides from farms, and other industries sometime allow waste material to flow into fresh water resources.  In this challenge you will design a water filtration system that will clean water that is polluted with various types of trash, using materials you have available at home.
Week 6: Get That Thing Out of Here! -  Many ecosystems are being damaged by the introduction of species that are
not native to the area. Recently, the Cuban Tree Frog has been spotted in some areas of Florida. They compete with native species for food and can be a nuisance for people. The Florida Wildlife Preservation Society has asked your firm to create a way to trap and remove these frogs without harm so they can be relocated to their native habitat.