This directory lists all projects funded by the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) during the 1997 fiscal year. It includes summaries, funding data, and contact information for a broad range of programs. Programs are grouped into the following categories: (1) research and demonstration projects; (2) rehabilitation…

Universities and colleges are a critical component of the nation's research system. The condition and availability of research facilities at these institutions influence the work of current and future scientists. Recognizing the need for information on the amount and quality of scientific and engineering (S&E) research space, Congress mandated…

This paper presents new principles and basic approaches for the curricula of engineering degree courses. The accentuated evolution of engineering, the fast technological transformations and, still, the impact provoked by government regulations in the field of education in Brazil have called attention to these issues. Following these changes, it…

The present rush to liberalize the economy in most countries, is for some people a matter of principles and, for others, the hard cost of getting rid by "elimination" of the vices derived from statism and protectionism. In many countries, that kind of economic structure had crystallized their productive systems as a consequence of…

An undergraduate capstone engineering design project now provides hydroelectric power to a remote wilderness location. Students investigated the feasibility of designing, building, and installing a 4kW hydroelectric system to satisfy the need for electric power to support the research and teaching functions of Taylor Ranch, a university facility…

The researchers are developing a learning environment in the subject area of statics that includes physical models, interactive multimedia, traditional pencil-and-paper activities, and cooperative learning in the framework of experiential learning (Kolb, 1984). They are using Authorware Professional to construct the multimedia program. The…

The ideal of the entrepreneurial spirit has played a key role in shaping the current reform of engineering education at the Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). The previous paradigm of a science-based conceptual engineer has given place to what may be termed a science-based entrepreneurial engineer. This paper discusses…

Modeling is an important step in the engineering process. In this activity, students create a model of an object of their choice using LEGOs (plastic building blocks), giving them skills and practice in techniques used by professionals. Students sketch as they build their objects. This activity facilitates a discussion on models and their…

Current trends in engineering education must accommodate the fast development of the global industrial marketplace. The well-known inertia against change in institutions of higher education will not fit for the foreseeable future. The career paths of our engineering graduates have changed and will change further, when industry moves to global…

This paper intends to bring out the experience of introducing a discipline of History of Science and Technology in an Undergraduate Course of Engineering and a proposal of transforming it so as to help future engineers deal with the challenges posed by the present moment of capitalism, usually called globalization. The discipline was lectured at…

Whether a set of predictor variables could be identified from pre-enrollment and post-enrollment data that would differentiate students who advance to a major in engineering from those who do not was studied with students at Auburn University, Alabama. Also studied was whether predictors could be isolated that would identify students likely to…

This document contains the 14th biennial science and engineering indicators report. Chapters include: (1) "Science and Technology in Times of Transition: The 1940s and 1990s" (William A. Blanpied and Jennifer Sue Bond); (2) "U.S. and International Research and Development: Funds and Alliances" (Steven Payson and John E.…

Outlines the academic premises made in traditional engineering education in comparison with the educational objectives of practice-directed curricula. Suggests that the practice-audit-study learning mode should be adopted in place of the lecture-homework-exam-grade system. (CC)

A dual degree program in engineering involving Atlanta University and Georgia Tech succeeds in attracting students who might otherwise not be drawn to engineering. The Dual Degree Program illustrates how black schools can cooperate with predominantly white ones, how liberal arts schools can work with technical and professional ones, and how…