We are writing to introduce a pilot course, “Education and Communication in Convergent Domains.” We believe this course may benefit your students, because it teaches students how to scaffold knowledge to communicate the value of (their/your) research to a variety of potential stakeholders with different perspectives and motivations. Students will practice this skill via three deliverables that require them to design optimal delivery of their research information to different audiences: 1) a course module, 2) a draft grant application, and 3) a job talk.
The course is a 3-credit hour Special Problems course in ME available to all majors, with scheduling flexibility. Ideal students will have research experience in a convergent domain (BID, biomaterials, biomechanics, physics of life, etc.) with academic career aspirations, though it can be tailored for students with other objectives (industry, start-ups, etc.). Students will interact with and learn from peers in other CBID labs, which will build community and networking opportunities. I am seeking 6-10 students for this pilot offering.
Please share this with the students in your labs and ask them to reach out to me if they are interested.
Cheers,
Michael Helms
Co-Director, Center for Biologically Inspired Design
Senior Research Scientist
Georgia Institute of Technology
The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
404-277-7152