Collaborative Research: Molecular Biology for Environmental Engineers

该项目的目标是改编和实施辛辛那提大学（DUE 0127279）开发的先前成功的CCLI试点项目，该项目使用动手实验室模块和多媒体课程材料向本科生团队介绍分子生物学，作为跟踪环境中微生物的筛选工具。试点项目将在四个对等机构复制，在当地进行评估，并作为项目的一个整体组成部分进行“元评估”。由两年制和四年制本科院校、HBCU和国家工程院代表组成的咨询委员会将向该团队提供独立的反馈。该项目的预期成果包括：另外四所院校提供以探究为基础的课程，由本科生组成的跨学科团队按照“全周期16S rRNA方法”合作完成开放式小组项目；由国家认可的出版社出版的教材；并通过在会议上的演讲和同行评议的工程教育文献中的出版物广泛传播。该项目将成功地弥合环境工程研究与本科教学之间的差距，将分子生物学工具整合到环境工程的日常实践中。一所两年制和四年制大学以及一所HBCU将参与该项目。

The objective of this project is to adapt and implement a prior successful CCLI pilot project developed at the University of Cincinnati (DUE 0127279) where hands-on laboratory modules and multi-media course materials have been used to introduce teams of undergraduate engineering students to molecular biology as a screening tool to track microorganisms in the environment. The pilot project will be reproduced at four peer institutions with assessment performed both locally and a "meta-assessment" performed as an overall component of the project. An advisory board with representatives from two- and four-year undergraduate institutions, an HBCU, and the National Academy of Engineering will provide independent feedback to the team. Expected outcomes of the project include: four additional institutions offering an inquiry-based course where interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate students collaborate on open-ended group projects following the "full-cycle 16S rRNA approach"; a text book to be published by a nationally-recognized publishing house; and broad dissemination through presentations at conferences and publications in the peer-review engineering education literature. The project will include successfully bridging the gap between environmental engineering research and undergraduate instruction to integrate molecular biology tools into the day-to-day practice of environmental engineering. A two- and four-year institutions and an HBCU will participate in this project.