An algae-based curriculum is being used to teach engineering fundamentals and concepts from the humanities such as ethics, gender and racial biases, discrimination, and public policy. The project involves hands on experiments with algae that relate to core concepts in engineering such as materials, energy, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, water treatment, and green engineering. Each experiment requires data collection, analyses, and interpretation. Technical and reflective writings along with oral presentations are integrated with the course. Students are exposed to case studies through movies, readings, and documentaries that allow them to learn about ethics, race and gender issues, and public policy. The experiments of the curriculum give students the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to tackle some of the world's most challenging issues and encourage interest in solving them. They also give students a broad knowledge base of humanities and global issues that are commonly not included in typical engineering courses.
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