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This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Undergraduate

  • Assignment 3 – Observe a Public Meeting

    Attend a public meeting in the Boston area, take careful notes on the event, and report back in a succinct, well-organized informational memo. Be sure to also collect any materials distributed at the event for reference. Your memo should describe the organization, discuss where its power originates, identify the purpose of the meeting, explain the structure of the deliberative process used to collect input, and discuss what, if any, outcome resulted.

    Read more: Assignment 3 – Observe a Public Meeting

  • Assignment 2 – EPA Open Docket on Pesticides

    The EPA has opened docket ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0844 to review neonicotinoids, pesticides that may have an adverse effect on pollinators, including bees. You have been asked by your client to review the EPA primary and supporting documents and provide a 2-page memo of comments to the EPA stating your position. You may choose your client. Decide who you will represent—an advocacy group, a state environmental protection agency, a farmer, etc.

    Read more: Assignment 2 – EPA Open Docket on Pesticides

  • Assignment 1 – Hometown Analysis

    A critical part of creating policy is the data gathering process. What data can you find quickly and analyze? What do the data mean? What story can you tell using reliable data? What data do you need?

    Using your hometown as the subject of your investigation, assume that you are a policy analyst and you work for the new mayor or the new town or city council.

    What data can you use to tell a story about your hometown? Where is it located? How many people live there? What does it provide in terms of resources to the state?

    Read more: Assignment 1 – Hometown Analysis

  • Laboratory

    Part of the exploration of the materials and engineering aspects of each case study will be accomplished through hands-on laboratory experience with the materials in question: glass, copper and its alloys, and rubber.

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  • Written Assignments

    Each student will be responsible for two short papers on the material from the two units not included in his/her presentation. For example, if a student makes a presentation on metallurgy, the two papers will be on glass and rubber; if the presentation is on rubber processing, the papers will be on metallurgy and glass.

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  • Group Presentations

    Students will be assigned to choose one material represented by each of the three case study groups: glass, metal, or rubber. Each group will research one aspect of the chosen material and make a group presentation at the end of the corresponding unit.

    Read more: Group Presentations

  • Labs

    A list of labs and their associated directions for the course Exploring Sea, Space & Earth: Fundamentals of Engineering Design

    Read more: Labs

  • Technical Reports

    Both of these reports should be well-structured, with introductions, body and conclusions. 

    1. Technical report 1 (PDF): This TR will detail the data obtained from testing the motors. Highlight the pros/cons of the motor/prop combination and present your data for thrust, etc.
    2. Technical report 2: This TR will detail your data collected in the Charles River Basin and Boston Harbor areas.
    Read more: Technical Reports

  • Oral Presentation

    Your team will make a presentation to the class on your design ideas and how you plan to construct your vehicle. This presentation should be made in Powerpoint (MAC/Windows) or Keynote (MAC OS) and a PDF should be printed and posted to the course Web site. Each team member should present some aspect of the design.

    Read more: Oral Presentation

  • CI Reports

    Both of these reports should be well-structured, with introductions, body and conclusions. 

    • Review of a current (major) engineering challenge and why it’s important to society today. Stories taken from current news and events, and popular magazines (Popular Science, Science, Nature, Scientific American, New Scientist, Time, US News and World Reports, etc) related to major engineering challenges facing society today. 
    • Ethics position paper (PDF). This position paper will convey your personal opinion relating to the ethical dilemma presented in an assigned reading. You will not be graded on your opinion, but how you convince the reader that your opinion is valid and should be considered. This should be approximately 2 pages
    Read more: CI Reports

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