REU Site: Bio-inspired Materials and Systems

非技术描述：大自然为科学家和工程师提供了无数的经验教训，以激发下一代材料和集成系统的设计，这些材料和系统具有出色的性能特性，沿着提高了制造过程中的能源效率，同时对环境的影响最小。生物灵感设计是一个快速增长的全球趋势，年轻的科学家和工程师必须接触到它的原理和观点。 这个为期十周的夏季研究经验提供了一个独特的机会，培养本科生在跨学科研究，技术交流，社区参与和职业发展。这个生物启发的框架与生命科学相联系，并对积极的社会影响产生影响，包括医疗保健，国土安全和基础设施。 该项目不仅强调前沿研究，还强调整体教育体验，鼓励学生和教师考虑通过生物启发方法将研究发现转化为具有社会效益的应用的途径。 战略招聘活动计划涉及主要是本科院校的学生和妇女和代表性不足的少数民族。技术说明：桥接工程的凯斯学院内的7个学术部门，该项目的智力重点是利用生物系统，激发新的合成材料和系统的发展。一个示例活动是海参真皮启发的自适应复合材料的设计，用于神经植入物的电极界面的长期稳定性。这些尖端的推动力展示了发现科学，应用工程和转化机会之间的联系，以应对全球科学和工程挑战。这些项目的关键主题包括机械强度和韧性的最大化、自主移动性和新型传感系统。该项目的主要目标是：1）通过战略性招聘女性和代表性不足的少数民族以及主要来自本科院校的学生，提高美国学生成为科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）劳动力领导者的人数，2）通过接触生物启发材料和系统的前沿研究，发展本科生对STEM途径的理解，教育/职业机会和专业发展/网络活动，以及3）跟踪和报告长期REU成果。项目评估和评估将根据三个学习目标进行：1）提高学生对STEM研究企业的所有功能和组成部分的兴趣，理解和专业知识，包括道德，安全，团队科学，知识产权和创新; 2）将学生转变为独立的批判性思想家，在解决STEM相关问题和知识创造方面有信心和能力;（3）使学生能够有效地传播科学概念及其社会影响。 这个REU网站有潜力，不仅通过跨学科的研究经验，提高本科生的经验，但也促进教师研究人员之间的内部研究活动。还计划开展补充辅导和社区参与活动，以补充研究组合。 该网站由国防部与NSF REU计划合作支持。

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.