Two Resources in Support of Interdisciplinary Engineering Education

1. Two Resources in Support of Interdisciplinary Engineering Education Joan Gosink Colorado School of Mines ASME International Mechanical Engineering Education Conference March 30, 2009

2. Resources for Interdisciplinary engineering programs • ASEE Multidisciplinary Engineering Division • ABET accreditation • NSF funding

3. 1) Multidisciplinary Engineering Programs Previously called non-traditional 66 programs Engineering, engineering physics, engineering science Most with “concentrations” or “options”  opportunity to introduce interdisciplinary programs in emerging areas ASEE lead society

4. ASEE as lead society for Multidisciplinary Engineering Programs ASEE leaders Achieved 2005 ABET leaders 66 programs http://www.asee.org/about/Accreditation-Committee.cfm

5. Makeup and rationale for multidisciplinary engineering programs Older, traditional emphasis: Dartmouth, Swarthmore, Harvard… Large universities (flexibility): MIT, CO State, U. IL Urbana-Champaign… Focused engineering schools: CSM, Stevens, Harvey Mudd, Olin… Small colleges (resources): Mercer, Hope, Lafayette, Trinity…

6. Strengths of multidisciplinary programs Flexibility: start-ups, spin off discipline-specific programs, emerging areas of emphasis Minimal interference: no discipline requirements for ABET or (often) state commissions Attractive to funding sources; 8 Career awards, IGERT, GAAN, 5 MRIs, CO Prog. Of Excellence

7. Drawbacks of multidisciplinary programs Lack of recognition: by students, recruiters, campus power structure Challenge to be truly multidisciplinary: creative courseware, coverage of options

8. Challenges and problems for interdisciplinary engineering program and courses Faculty training: co-teaching, just-time teaching, and multidisciplinary teaching (http://www.ucalgary.ca/~egallery/goetz.html) (ASME, 2008, “2028 Vision for Mechanical Engineering”) (AIChE, 2001, “2020 Vision: Reaction Engineering Roadmap”) Textbook selection: write your own? Administrative and external support Financial resources Released time Scheduling adjustments

9. ASEE Multidisciplinary Engineering Division • Purpose: promotion and development of multidisciplinary Engineering education. • sponsors papers, presentations, and panel discussions. • assists Multi. Eng. programs with regard to accreditation. • > 1200 members in 4 years

10. 2) NSF Funding History • Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) • NSF: engineeringandinterdisciplinary • Number of grants vs. year • Average grant amount • Number of grants in directorates

11. Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) Partial list: ADVANCE Cyber-enabled discovery & innovation EPSCOR CAREER GOALI I/UCRC IGERT MRI http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=OIA

12. Number of NSF OIA grants by year

13. Average $$s for OIA grants

14. NSF search for engineeringandinterdisciplinary Download spreadsheet from http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ using keywords interdisciplinary and engineering

15. Number of NSF grants with “interdisciplinary” and “engineering” in the title or abstract * * 2008: CBET 69; CMMI 59; DMR 49

16. Average $$s for NSF grants with “interdisciplinary” and “engineering” in the title or abstract 2000 Major research centers 2003 IGERTs & “Nanos”

17. Number of “inter” and “eng” NSF grants in directorates

18. Summary Multidisciplinary engineering/ASEE: new home for innovative interdisciplinary engineering programs NSF funding: OIA  named, specific programs Other directorates  alternative interdisciplinary route