Design Fusion: Exploring Interdisciplinary Connections with Projects in the Classroom

Have your students ever asked why they have to study biology and chemistry in school? Ditch the mundane textbooks and laboratory experiments, these subjects come alive for students when applied to real-world challenges.

In a product design class, students get an incredible lesson in biology and chemistry, not only was it more engaging but also led to innovative solutions that benefit the environment.

The backstory:

It all started when university students wanted to use anodized aluminum for their product design but discovered the environmental impact of the anodizing process.

Anodizing aluminum has?gotten a bit of a bad rap in the environmentally conscious community. It’s not the process per se, but rather the by-product of the cleaning method that is the culprit. The emulsified slurry of greasy buildup and detergent typically needs to be hauled off and dumped by the ton daily in many manufacturing facilities. That’s where Timothy Calhoun, CEO of BioClean USA?in Bridgeport, CT, his students, and his miraculous microbes stepped up to the plate and took a bite (literally) out of pollution.

To achieve a top-notch anodizing job, you need one thing – squeaky clean aluminum. As Timothy Calhoun aptly puts it, "A good anodizing job requires three qualities of the metal: clean, clean, and clean." Achieving this level of cleanliness often involves subjecting aluminum parts to soapy hot baths in potent detergents or highly alkaline (and risky) solutions, resulting in a toxic sludge that's anything but environmentally friendly.

But Timothy Calhoun, armed with a grant from Connecticut Innovations and the support of U Conn doctoral students in environmental studies, decided to tackle this problem head-on. What did they do? They developed a 10,000-gallon machine and system that operates much like a brewery, creating the perfect environment for special bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas (sudo-monas) bacteria, which have an insatiable appetite for deliciously greasy, oily sludge. Essentially, he's given these microorganisms a standing reservation at their favorite fast food joint.

The impact of this innovation is astounding. When provided with the ideal environment within his machine, Calhoun’s bacteria devour tons of sludge, transforming it into harmless by-products. This not only saves companies a significant amount of money by eliminating disposal costs but also conserves thousands of gallons of fresh water while mitigating pollution.

So, what does this mean for students in material science and engineering/product design classes? It means that the classroom becomes a launchpad for solving real-world problems. Here's how we can make the most of this opportunity:

1. Interdisciplinary Exploration: Encourage collaboration between siloed subjects like biology, chemistry, math and engineering departments. Students can work together to explore crossdiscplinary solutions to pressing environmental challenges.
2. Elevate Environmental Consciousness: Raise students' awareness about the environmental consequences of standard manufacturing processes. Show them the potential for creating sustainable alternatives.
3. Hands-On Learning: Bring the concepts to life through hands-on experiences. Let students conduct experiments and research projects that allow them to apply their knowledge to tangible problems.
4. Nurture Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Inspire students to think outside the box and develop entrepreneurial skills. Encourage them to envision and create innovative solutions for environmental issues. Give them a pathway to expand their ideas and create true impact.

BioClean USA story serves as a powerful example of how the fusion of different disciplines can lead to groundbreaking solutions. By empowering the next generation of environmentally conscious designers and engineers, we're not just preparing them for a brighter future but also fostering a greener one for us all

?How do you incorporate real-world applications into your teaching and how do you think it impacts their learning?