REU Site: Bio-inspired Materials and Systems

REU 网站：仿生材料和系统

• 批准号: 1559708
• 负责人: Gary Wnek
• 金额: $ 35.84万
• 依托单位: Case Western Reserve University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-01 至 2019-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1559708&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: REU; Site; Bio; inspired; Materials

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Nature provides innumerable lessons for scientists and engineers to inspire the design of next-generation materials and integrated systems, which have outstanding performance properties along with improved energy efficiency during manufacturing coupled with minimal environmental impact. Bio-inspired design is a rapidly-growing global trend, and it is imperative for young scientists and engineers to be exposed to its principles and viewpoints. This ten-week summer research experience offers a unique opportunity to train undergraduate students in interdisciplinary research, technical communication, community engagement, and career development. This bio-inspired framework connects to the life sciences and has implications for positive societal impact, including health care, homeland security, and infrastructure. This project will emphasize not only cutting-edge research, but also a holistic educational experience that will encourage students and faculty to consider pathways for translation of research discoveries to applications with societal benefits via a bio-inspired approach. Strategic recruitment activities are planned to involve students from primarily undergraduate institutions and both women and underrepresented minorities.TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Bridging the 7 academic departments within the Case School of Engineering, the project's intellectual focus is to utilize biological systems to inspire the development of new synthetic materials and systems. One example activity is the design of sea cucumber dermis-inspired adaptive composites for long-term stability of electrode interfaces for neural implants. These cutting-edge thrusts showcase the connection between discovery science, applied engineering, and translational opportunities to address global science and engineering challenges. Key themes of these projects include maximization of mechanical strength and toughness, autonomous mobility, and novel sensing systems. This project's primary goals are: 1) advancement of the number of American students who will be leaders in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce with strategic recruitment of women and underrepresented minorities and those from primarily undergraduate institutions, 2) development of undergraduate students' understanding of STEM pathways through exposure to cutting-edge research in Bio-inspired Materials and Systems, education/career opportunities, and professional development/networking activities, and 3) tracking and reporting long-term REU outcomes. Project evaluation and assessment will be conducted using three learning objectives: 1) increasing student interest, understanding, and expertise in all functions and components of the STEM research enterprise, including ethics, safety, team science, intellectual property and innovation; 2) transitioning students to ibe ndependent, critical thinkers with confidence and aptitude in approaching STEM-related problem solving and knowledge creation; and 3) enabling students to effectively communicate scientific concepts and their societal impact. This REU site has the potential to not only enhance the undergraduate experience via an interdisciplinary research experience, but also catalyze internal research activities among faculty researchers. Supplemental mentoring and community engagement activities are also planned to complement the research portfolio. This site is supported by the Department of Defense in partnership with the NSF REU program.

非技术描述：自然界为科学家和工程师提供了无数的课程，以激发下一代材料和集成系统的设计，它们具有出色的性能性能，并提高了制造过程中的能源效率，再加上最小的环境影响。生物启发的设计是一种快速增长的全球趋势，年轻的科学家和工程师必须接受其原理和观点。 这项为期十周的夏季研究经验为培训本科生跨学科研究，技术沟通，社区参与和职业发展提供了独特的机会。这个受生物启发的框架与生命科学联系起来，并对包括医疗保健，国土安全和基础设施在内的积极社会影响有影响。 该项目将不仅强调尖端的研究，还强调整体教育经验，该研究将鼓励学生和教职员工通过以生物启发的方法将研究发现转化为具有社会利益的应用的途径。 战略招聘活动计划与主要是本科机构以及妇女和代表性不足的少数民族的学生有关。技术描述：桥接工程案例中的7个学术部门材料和系统。一个例子的活动是设计由皮肤真皮启发的自适应复合材料设计，用于神经植入物的电极界面的长期稳定性。这些尖端的推力展示了发现科学，应用工程学以及应对全球科学和工程挑战的转化机会之间的联系。这些项目的关键主题包括最大化机械强度和韧性，自动启动性和新型传感系统。该项目的主要目标是：1）将成为科学，技术，工程和数学领导者（STEM）劳动力的美国学生人数的进步，并以战略招募妇女和代表性不足的少数群体以及主要是本科机构的人数，2）通过暴露于生物启发的材料和系统，教育/职业机会以及专业发展/网络活动以及3）跟踪和报告长期REU成果，从而发展本科生对STEM途径的理解。项目评估和评估将使用三个学习目标进行：1）在STEM研究企业的所有功能和组成部分，包括道德，安全，团队科学，知识产权和创新方面增加学生的兴趣，理解和专业知识； 2）在接近与STEM相关的问题解决和知识创造方面过渡到伊比特的依赖，批判性的思想家； 3）使学生能够有效地传达科学概念及其社会影响。 这个REU网站不仅有可能通过跨学科的研究经验来增强本科经验，还可以促进教师研究人员之间的内部研究活动。还计划对研究组合进行补充指导和社区参与活动。 该站点由国防部与NSF REU计划合作支持。