A Freshman Design Experience: Multidisciplinary Design of a Potable Water Treatment Plant

Authors

  • Amber Barritt University of Florida
  • Jack Drwiega University of Florida
  • Rufus Carter University of Florida
  • David Mazyck University of Florida
  • Anuj Chauhan University of Florida

Abstract

To increase the retention of engineering freshmen and to provide them a design experience in their first year, we developed a course that focused on a multidisciplinary design of a water treatment plant. An existing course, Introduction to Engineering, served as the course foundation. Overall, the students scored the class as a positive learning experience, successfully built and operated a pilot plant, and the retention rate is 62%, which represents a significant improvement in retention. 

Author Biographies

Amber Barritt, University of Florida

Amber M. Barritt is a project engineer with COM in West Palm Beach, Fla. A member of the America Water Works Association and the Florida Water Environment Association, she received her B.S. and M.E. degrees from the University of Florida.

Jack Drwiega, University of Florida

Jack Drwiega is a project engineer with Jones, Edmunds, and Associates, Inc., in Tampa, Fla. Jack received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Florida.

Rufus Carter, University of Florida

Rufus Carter did his Ph.D. in educational research and testing in the Department of Educational Psychology, University of Florida. He received a B.S. in psychology and sociology from the University of Virginia, Wise. His research interests involve test and survey validation, generalizability of high-stakes performance exams, classroom and project assessment and evaluation, and methodologies for setting performance standards. Currently, he is a lecturer in psychology at Marymount University, Va.

David Mazyck, University of Florida

David Mazyck is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida. He received his Ph.D. from Penn State University (2000). Currently, he and his graduate students research sorption (e.g. , activated carbon and silica) and photocatalysis.

Anuj Chauhan, University of Florida

Anuj Chauhan is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Florida. He is a graduate of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India (8 . Tech, 1993) and the City University of New York (Ph.D., 1998). He pursued postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1998 to 2000. His research interests include transport in biological systems, microfluidics, and interfacial phenomena.

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Published

2005-09-01

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 4 (2005): Fall 2005

Section

Manuscripts