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

该项目的目标是为本科生工程设计团队和残疾实习生提供一个独特的机会，展示他们在康复和辅助设备方面的产品创新，其中包括来自历史上的黑人学院和大学以及主要是本科生院校的学生。这一目标将通过一项为期两年的承诺来实现，即支持在夏季生物力学、生物运输和生物工程会议(SB3C)等既定地点举办的全国设计竞赛，来自全国各地的本科生团队可以在那里提交他们的设计。摘要将由教师专家评审，排名前六的团队将被邀请出席会议，并在特别讲台上介绍他们的工作。每名入围者将获得3000美元的旅费和原型开发费用。今年的讲台会议的一个创新因素是纳入了一位受邀的残疾励志人士。作为榜样，这位演讲者将在会议开始时介绍他们在促进康复工程或辅助技术中的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将有资金用于旅行和原型制作。这项比赛将为全国各地的教职员工提供一个机会，让他们在培养创造力的过程中将其作为激励因素。参加会议的本科生将通过参赛学习生物固体力学、生物流体力学、器械设计、康复、细胞和分子力学、功能组织工程、生物热质传递和生物工程教育等方面的知识。无数的讲台会议、海报会议、研讨会和全体演讲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成分的好处，惠及全国各地的其他本科生和他们的教师导师。此外，作为这个项目的一部分开发的材料将与所有参与之前和未来比赛的教师导师共享。本次大赛提供了一个全国性的场地(有许多国际参赛者)，让团队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以研究为导向的活动，包括技术会议、研讨会和由在设备设计、康复、残疾和许多其他领域拥有专业知识的教师、临床医生和行业代表进行的演讲。此外，资金将使原本可能无法参加学术会议的学生有可能旅行。参加会议为学生提供了宝贵的人脉机会，包括研究生和就业方面的联系。大会上的比赛也让与会者了解到了针对残疾人或正在接受康复治疗的人的需求的创新解决方案。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.