Education, technology and industry 4.0: Developing a multidisciplinary subject with mini reactors

Abstract

This work describes the initial actions of a line of research entitled: Education, Technology and Industry 4.0. The project, developed over three years, focuses on the integration of secondary and higher education systems, working in areas called STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Thus, the main objective was to integrate three areas of Engineering – Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical, and to allow high school and higher education students to interact in the development of projects and in the common use of instruments and laboratories. The methodology considered PBL (Project-Based Learning), the transfer of knowledge, the formation of multidisciplinary teams and the construction of prototypes. Relevant criteria were the use of safe reagents and the development of clean technologies. The first simulated, designed, produced and tested product was mini bioreactors. This project involved 3 undergraduate students and a high school student transitioning to graduation; these students evaluated this experience as positive, having presented several articles in national congresses.