Course-Based Research Experience to Introduce Engineering Students to Research Aimed at Innovation in Early Years

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) increase research exposure and may exert a strong influence on students’ academic and career paths. However, very few CUREs are documented within the entry years of the engineering curricula. In this work, we describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of a CURE-based introductory-level engineering elective, to introduce second-year chemical and petroleum engineering students not only to research but more importantly to the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. In contrast to more traditional CUREs, this course focuses on the innovation pathway, using concepts from engineering design and from scientific research as tools to solve real-world scientific problems. This innovation-focused CURE has proven to be an effective way to expand research experiences, in particular for engineering students who typically have limited opportunities to participate in hypothesis-driven research aimed at innovation during the introductory years of their undergraduate education.