Fostering Inclusion, Innovation and Creativity: A National Design Competition in Rehabilitation and Assistive Devices

该项目的目标是为本科工程设计团队和残疾学员提供一个独特的机会，包括那些来自历史上黑人学院和大学，主要是本科院校，展示他们在康复和辅助设备方面的产品创新。这一目标将通过为期两年的承诺来实现，以支持在夏季生物力学，生物运输和生物工程会议（SB3C）等既定场地举办的全国设计竞赛，来自全国各地的本科团队可以提交他们的设计。摘要将由教师专家审查，前六名的团队将被邀请参加会场，并在一个特别的讲台上介绍他们的工作。每位入围者将获得3000美元的旅行和原型开发费用。今年讲台会议的一个创新因素是邀请了一位残疾人参加。作为一个榜样，这位演讲者将启动会议，同时介绍他们在促进康复工程或辅助技术设备设计领域的学术贡献。未来两年比赛的稳定性使组织者能够更早地招募，并能够在提交截止日期之前与团队确认资金将用于旅行和原型制作。这次比赛将为全国各地的教师提供一个机会，将其作为培养创造力过程中的一个激励因素。参加会议的本科生通过参与比赛将学习生物固体力学，生物流体力学，设备设计，康复，细胞和分子力学，功能组织工程，生物传热传质和生物工程教育。许多讲台会议，海报会议，研讨会和全体会议旨在吸引和激发与会者，包括本科生设计竞赛的会议。本科生设计竞赛将扩大激励的组成部分的好处，其他本科生和他们的教师导师在全国各地。此外，作为该项目的一部分开发的材料将与参与之前和未来比赛的所有教师导师共享。这项比赛为团队提供了一个全国性的场地（有许多国际参与者），以展示他们在康复和辅助设备领域的创新，并与同行竞争。参加会议的本科生将参加一个研究驱动的活动，由在设备设计，康复，残疾和许多其他领域拥有专业知识的教师，临床医生和工业代表举办技术会议，研讨会和演讲。此外，资金将使旅行的学生谁否则可能不会参加学术会议成为可能。出席会议为学生提供了宝贵的交流机会，包括研究生院和就业的联系。在会议中加入竞赛也使与会者能够了解针对残疾人或正在康复的人的需求的创新解决方案。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The objective of this project is to provide a unique opportunity for undergraduate engineering design teams and trainees with a disability, including those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and primarily undergraduate institutions, to showcase their product innovations in rehabilitation and assistive devices. This objective will be accomplished through a two-year commitment to support a national design competition to be hosted at an established venue such as the Summer Biomechanics, Biotransport and Bioengineering Conference (SB3C) where undergraduate teams from across the country can submit their designs. The abstracts will be reviewed by faculty experts and the top six teams will be invited to attend the venue and present their work in a special podium session. Each of the finalists will receive $3000 for travel and prototype development. An innovative element of this year’s podium session is the inclusion of an invited motivational with a disability. As a role model, this speaker will kick off the session while presenting their scholarly contribution in areas that promote device design in rehabilitation engineering or assistive technologies. The stability of the competition for the next two years allows the organizer to recruit earlier and be able to confirm with teams that funds will be available for travel and prototyping in advance of the submission deadlines. This competition will provide an opportunity for faculty across the country to use it as a motivational component in the process of fostering creativity. Undergraduate students attending the conference through their involvement in the competition will learn about bio-solid mechanics, bio-fluid mechanics, device design, rehabilitation, cellular and molecular mechanics, functional tissue engineering, bio-heat and mass transfer, and bioengineering education. Numerous podium sessions, poster sessions, workshops and plenary talks are designed to engage and excite the attendees including the session for the undergraduate design competition.The undergraduate design competition will broaden the benefits of the component of motivation to other undergraduate students and their faculty mentors across the country. Further, the materials developed as part of this project will be shared with all faculty mentors involved in prior and future competitions. This competition provides a national venue (with many international attendees) for teams to showcase their innovations in the areas of rehabilitation and assistive devices and compete with their peers. Undergraduate students attending the conference will participate in a research-driven event with technical sessions, workshops and presentations by faculty, clinicians, and industrial representatives who have expertise in device design, rehabilitation, disabilities, and numerous other areas. Also, funding will make travel possible for students who otherwise might not attend an academic conference. Attendance at the conference provides valuable networking opportunities for the students, including contacts for graduate school and employment. The inclusion of the competition at the conference also exposes attendees to innovative solutions for the needs of individuals with disabilities, or those undergoing rehabilitation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.