Advancing Biological-inspiration for Creative Development in Education
Abstract
We propose the development of a Southern-California based bio-inspired STEM outreach program and coalition. This program will enable graduate and undergraduate students to create educational modules and exhibits based on the current and future research projects related to impact resistant and multifunctional biological materials. This would help facilitate the adoption of effective bio-based STEM outreach programs that are applicable to the core math and science curriculum at the 4-8th grade levels. In addition, the implementation of these outreach programs would connect graduate and undergraduate students with schools, allowing them to empower, educate, and elevate the local community which would also be used in fostering connections that will help increase applications to university-higher level education and invigorate STEM workforce development. The foundation of this outreach development stems from research involving a broad array of bioinspired materials that are light-weight, energy-efficient, and mechanically robust. Biologically materials explored in the proposed research program, crustaceans to mollusks and even plants, have evolved to withstand and utilize harsh environments and extreme conditions. By understanding biological material components, their architectures and subsequent structure-function relationships, we aim to discover new materials and provide the blueprints for the design and development of future, advanced materials. This proposal will focus on (i) understanding fundamental mechanisms by which biological constructs mitigate structural damage due to extreme mechanical, thermal and radiative stresses, (ii) developing additive manufacturing pathways for scalable implementation of these architectures as multifunctional and robust impact resistant structures and (iii) utilizing this research as a vehicle to develop educational modules and inspire creativity in our youth. It is understood that any developmental items and specially designed parts, components, accessories and attachments generated under this Defense Department agreement are being developed for both civil and military applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2025
- Source ID
- FA95502410283
Entities
People
- David J Kisailus
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of California, Irvine