A New Pilot Course: Biology And Chemistry Applications For Engineers

A new pilot course, Biology and Chemistry Applications for Engineers, was developed for first-year engineering students. The fundamental concept of this course was to provide these students with a basic background in focused areas of biology and chemistry as it applies to engineering. The emphasis of the course was a hands-on experience with biology and chemistry applications in engineering. Applications in the areas of bioengineering, material science, nanotechnology, medicine, energy, and the environment could be selected, depending on faculty expertise, and appropriate biology and chemistry content taught in support. Topics for this pilot course included microbial processes, cell chemistry and biology, rates of reaction, chemical equilibria, acid-base chemistry, and reduction-oxidation reactions. These topics were demonstrated using fresh-water aquarium microcosms and field studies in the La Ballona Wetlands as a focus. The engineering content at this level served to broaden engineering student understanding of science, stimulate interest in technical careers, and attract underrepresented populations into technical fields. It is expected that the course will ultimately become part of the science sequence for all first-year engineering students.