Abstract. Nonylphenol is the primary breakdown product of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a certa... more Abstract. Nonylphenol is the primary breakdown product of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a certain class of nonionic surfactants. Nonylphenol has been found to be toxic to aquatic organisms and has been suspected of being harmful to humans due to its xenoestrogenic properties. Although there are known releases of nonylphenol to the environment, there is a lack of data describing the extent of biodegradation. This study thus focuses on much needed information on the biodegradation kinetics of nonylphenol. Oxygen uptake, cell growth and nonylphenol removal data were collected using batch reactors in an electrolytic respirometer. Nonylphenol removal, cell growth and substrate removal rates were modeled by the Haldane, Aiba, Webb, and Yano equations. The differential equations were solved by numerical integration to simulate cell growth, substrate removal, and oxygen uptake as a function of time. All models provided similar results with the Haldane model providing the best fit. The val...
The ECT (Engineering Clinics for Teachers) Program is a partnership between Rowan University’s Co... more The ECT (Engineering Clinics for Teachers) Program is a partnership between Rowan University’s Colleges of Engineering and Education to provide an Engineering Clinic experience for middle school teachers and guidance counselors. The workshop is modeled after the unique Rowan Freshman Engineering Clinics that faculty have developed for exciting and retaining incoming freshman in our engineering programs. This is the first Rowan initiative to integrate engineering content in the middle school curriculum and train teachers regarding engineering concepts as well as the identification of students with potential to become engineers. It is also the first official effort between two Colleges instrumental in the preparation of future teachers and engineers. The ECT program is being funded by a generous grant from the Martinson Foundation. The first ECT was offered in the Summer of 2006 with successful outcome. Modifications have been also made from the 2006 assessment to improve the workshop...
Described are the cycloalkyl esters of mercaptoalkanoic acids defined according to the structure:... more Described are the cycloalkyl esters of mercaptoalkanoic acids defined according to the structure: wherein R1 represents hydrogen or methyl; R2 represents mono C1-C4 alkyl substituted or unsubstituted C5-C8 cycloalkyl; R3 represents hydrogen or methyl; and N represents 0, 1 or 2 and uses thereof in augmenting or enhancing the aroma or taste of foodstuffs.
1 Kauser Jahan, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, jahan@r... more 1 Kauser Jahan, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, [email protected] 2 Steven Chin, Associate Dean, College of Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, [email protected] Melanie Basantis, Director of Engineering Outreach, College of Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, [email protected] Abstract The College of Engineering at Rowan University has a novel curriculum in which students enroll in ‘engineering clinic” classes every semester. These classes are designed to stimulate students’ interests in multidisciplinary open-ended challenging engineering projects, which are mainly research oriented or industry sponsored. Key program features include an emphasis on interand multi-disciplinary education created through collaborative laboratory and coursework. Teamwork is stressed as the necessary framework for solving complex problems. Research experiences expose undergraduate students to the creativity of the research process an...
1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Gla... more 1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028-1701 Extended Abstract -Rowan University and a number of corporate sponsors and foundations have helped to establish a summer program to introduce middle school girls to engineering careers. The program titled AWE: Attracting Women into Engineering was initiated in the summer of 1999. The target audience is middle school girls from nearby counties. This target audience was selected, as there is evidence of changes in self-esteem of adolescent girls. In their middle school years, girls also show a drop in math and science confidence and achievement.
The College of Engineering at Rowan University has been hosting an NSF funded REU since 2001. The... more The College of Engineering at Rowan University has been hosting an NSF funded REU since 2001. The REU theme is titled Pollution Prevention and Sustainability. The project provides eleven undergraduates recruited from all over the USA to be mentored by faculty on a research project. REU activities are designed to stimulate students’ interests in open-ended challenging engineering and science projects, which are mainly related to pollution prevention for a sustainable world. Key program features of the REU include individual research activities, strengthening of communication, leadership and social skills, educational fieldtrips and seminars. Research experiences expose undergraduate students to the creativity of the research process and enable them to apply their acquired knowledge from formal coursework. Active research experience is considered one of the most effective ways to attract talented undergraduates to and retain them in careers in science and engineering, including career...
Engineers on Wheels (EOW) is a mobile engineering outreach program sponsored by Rowan University.... more Engineers on Wheels (EOW) is a mobile engineering outreach program sponsored by Rowan University. Each semester, a group of 4-6 interdisciplinary engineering students is tasked to bring lessons that cover science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to a number of elementary and middle schools in the surrounding area, focusing on students from grades 5-8. On a weekly basis for a span of approximately six weeks, visits are made to the various schools to promote continuous learning and provide a more detailed look at the various disciplines in engineering. The repeated visits also allow the EOW team members to develop a rapport with the students that they are working with to enable them to provide mentorship and guidance in advising the children on a path to a successful career within the STEM field. Each discipline is spotlighted through a traditional classroom lesson which is then paired with a creative and thoughtprovoking hands-on activities and experiments. The activit...
Design, Motivation, and Frameworks in Game-Based Learning
Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in interactive narrative-based serious games for e... more Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in interactive narrative-based serious games for education and training. A key challenge posed by educational serious games is the balance of fun and learning, so that players are motivated enough to unfold the narrative stories on their own pace while getting sufficient learning materials across. In this chapter, various design strategies that aim to tackle this challenge are presented through the development of Sustain City, an educational serious game system that engages students, particularly prospective and beginning science and engineering students, in a series of engineering design. Besides narrative-learning synthesis, supplementing the player's actions with feedback, and the development of a sufficient guidance system, the chapter also discusses the integration of rigorous assessment and personalized scaffolding. The evaluation of Sustain City deployment confirms the values of the serious games in promoting students' in...
in 1993. After completion of her graduate studies, she worked as an environmental engineer for th... more in 1993. After completion of her graduate studies, she worked as an environmental engineer for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Her research interests include bioremediation of contaminated groundwater and soils; the fate and transport of pollutants in the environment; and applied microbiology in environmental engineering. She is also actively involved in encouraging women to the engineering profession.
Rowan University has been hosting an NSF REU Site which focuses on Pollution Prevention and Susta... more Rowan University has been hosting an NSF REU Site which focuses on Pollution Prevention and Sustainability since 2004. The site has been established for three consecutive summers. The initiative is based on current global initiatives to integrate sustainability into the science and engineering curriculum. Students need to be exposed to enriching experiences that require them to have concerns for human conditions and the environment that are conservative and protective. The REU site allows eleven undergraduates to participate in pollution prevention and sustainability research activities at Rowan University for eight weeks during the summer. Engineering and science faculty participate in mentoring activities along with Rowan undergraduate and graduate students. Social building skills such as community outreach seminars, workshops, social picnics, field trips and communication strengthening exercises are also an integral part of this REU experience. Environmental ethics, diversity and community impact of engineering activities are the topics of mini workshops. All these topics have tremendous relevance to pollution prevention and sustainability but can be absent from a traditional engineering curriculum. It is anticipated that the undergraduate research experience promotes interest in pursuing graduate school and strengthens leadership skills and self esteem.
The current paper describes the development and subsequent revision of the capstone design course... more The current paper describes the development and subsequent revision of the capstone design course for civil and environmental engineering students at Rowan University. Students take the course in both the fall and spring terms of their senior year. The course challenges and allows the students to demonstrate the engineering skills they have acquired through the undergraduate curriculum. The course was developed following a review of other capstone courses described in literature. Open-ended design projects are developed with assistance from industry advisors and presented to the students at the start of the course. The students then spend two semesters preparing solutions to the problems. The first year the course was offered went much as expected based on the instructors' previous experiences. Students complained of vague instructions, too much work, and lack of experience. However, additional student concerns with fairness and inequitable workloads were expressed. Refinements to the project selection process and course administration were made to address these concerns.
The College of Engineering at Rowan University was initiated as a result of a $100 million donati... more The College of Engineering at Rowan University was initiated as a result of a $100 million donation in 1992 from the Rowan Foundation. The engineering faculty use innovative methods of teaching and learning to better prepare students for entry into a rapidly changing and highly competitive marketplace. To best meet these objectives, the four engineering programs of Chemical, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, and Mechanical Engineering have common engineering clinic classes throughout their programs of study, in which undergraduates work in teams on hands-on open-ended projects. The primary goal of Rowan University's engineering clinic classes is to involve students in multidisciplinary design/research projects that teach engineering principles in both laboratory and real-world settings. The clinics further encourage students to address environmentally conscious design and issues related to sustainable development. The Sophomore Clinic students work on a semester-long design project every year. Faculty drawn from all engineering disciplines teach the course. The design project for Fall of 2001 was to design, build and test a semi-autonomous robot that uses power provided by batteries charged up with microorganisms. This project allowed students to focus on alternate energy sources such as biofuels. Biofuels are alcohols, ethers, esters, and other chemicals made from cellulosic biomass such as herbaceous and woody plants, agricultural and forestry residues, and a large portion of municipal solid and industrial waste. The term biofuels can refer to fuels for electricity and fuels for transportation. Biofuels are good for the environment because they add fewer emissions to the atmosphere than petroleum fuels and use wastes that currently have no use. Biofuels are renewable and an inexhaustible source of fuel unlike petroleum which is non-renewable. This paper focuses on how this project encouraged engineering students to think about alternate environmentally friendly sources of energy.
A major objective of the Junior/Senior Engineering Clinics at Rowan University is to introduce st... more A major objective of the Junior/Senior Engineering Clinics at Rowan University is to introduce students to open-ended engineering projects. All engineering students from the four engineering disciplines, namely Civil, Chemical, Electrical and Mechanical share a common engineering clinic class. The Junior/Senior Engineering Clinics, part of the innovative 8-semester Engineering Clinic sequence, provides the venue for multidisciplinary student teams to engage in semester-long design and development projects. These projects are typically funded by local industry, faculty research grants or departmental budgets. The clinic projects are crucial in developing the design, problem solving and project management skills that are often absent in the traditional engineering coursework. They further reinforce communication skills both oral and written. This paper focuses on the details of successful multidisciplinary research on nondestructive evaluation using engineering undergraduates.
A two-week, EiF Foundation and Rowan University sponsored workshop designed to introduce middle s... more A two-week, EiF Foundation and Rowan University sponsored workshop designed to introduce middle school girls to engineering careers was held at Rowan University during the summer of 1999. This target audience was selected to expose young girls to the importance of focusing on mathematics and science in their middle school years. Participants from minority populations were strongly encouraged to apply. Innovative hands-on experiments in the various fields of engineering with state of the art technology were used to spark the participants' interest in engineering. Experiments required collaborative learning through teamwork. The program consisted of a two-week on-campus session at Rowan University wherein students interacted with departmental faculty, undergraduate engineering students and representatives from local industry. The workshop also experiments, field trips, workshops on engineering ethics, professionalism, gender sensitivity and computer training sessions. The impact of the workshop was very encouraging and positive. Such workshops can encourage young girls to consider engineering as a course of study and/or a career in their high school years.
Abstract. Nonylphenol is the primary breakdown product of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a certa... more Abstract. Nonylphenol is the primary breakdown product of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a certain class of nonionic surfactants. Nonylphenol has been found to be toxic to aquatic organisms and has been suspected of being harmful to humans due to its xenoestrogenic properties. Although there are known releases of nonylphenol to the environment, there is a lack of data describing the extent of biodegradation. This study thus focuses on much needed information on the biodegradation kinetics of nonylphenol. Oxygen uptake, cell growth and nonylphenol removal data were collected using batch reactors in an electrolytic respirometer. Nonylphenol removal, cell growth and substrate removal rates were modeled by the Haldane, Aiba, Webb, and Yano equations. The differential equations were solved by numerical integration to simulate cell growth, substrate removal, and oxygen uptake as a function of time. All models provided similar results with the Haldane model providing the best fit. The val...
The ECT (Engineering Clinics for Teachers) Program is a partnership between Rowan University’s Co... more The ECT (Engineering Clinics for Teachers) Program is a partnership between Rowan University’s Colleges of Engineering and Education to provide an Engineering Clinic experience for middle school teachers and guidance counselors. The workshop is modeled after the unique Rowan Freshman Engineering Clinics that faculty have developed for exciting and retaining incoming freshman in our engineering programs. This is the first Rowan initiative to integrate engineering content in the middle school curriculum and train teachers regarding engineering concepts as well as the identification of students with potential to become engineers. It is also the first official effort between two Colleges instrumental in the preparation of future teachers and engineers. The ECT program is being funded by a generous grant from the Martinson Foundation. The first ECT was offered in the Summer of 2006 with successful outcome. Modifications have been also made from the 2006 assessment to improve the workshop...
Described are the cycloalkyl esters of mercaptoalkanoic acids defined according to the structure:... more Described are the cycloalkyl esters of mercaptoalkanoic acids defined according to the structure: wherein R1 represents hydrogen or methyl; R2 represents mono C1-C4 alkyl substituted or unsubstituted C5-C8 cycloalkyl; R3 represents hydrogen or methyl; and N represents 0, 1 or 2 and uses thereof in augmenting or enhancing the aroma or taste of foodstuffs.
1 Kauser Jahan, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, jahan@r... more 1 Kauser Jahan, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, [email protected] 2 Steven Chin, Associate Dean, College of Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, [email protected] Melanie Basantis, Director of Engineering Outreach, College of Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, [email protected] Abstract The College of Engineering at Rowan University has a novel curriculum in which students enroll in ‘engineering clinic” classes every semester. These classes are designed to stimulate students’ interests in multidisciplinary open-ended challenging engineering projects, which are mainly research oriented or industry sponsored. Key program features include an emphasis on interand multi-disciplinary education created through collaborative laboratory and coursework. Teamwork is stressed as the necessary framework for solving complex problems. Research experiences expose undergraduate students to the creativity of the research process an...
1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Gla... more 1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028-1701 Extended Abstract -Rowan University and a number of corporate sponsors and foundations have helped to establish a summer program to introduce middle school girls to engineering careers. The program titled AWE: Attracting Women into Engineering was initiated in the summer of 1999. The target audience is middle school girls from nearby counties. This target audience was selected, as there is evidence of changes in self-esteem of adolescent girls. In their middle school years, girls also show a drop in math and science confidence and achievement.
The College of Engineering at Rowan University has been hosting an NSF funded REU since 2001. The... more The College of Engineering at Rowan University has been hosting an NSF funded REU since 2001. The REU theme is titled Pollution Prevention and Sustainability. The project provides eleven undergraduates recruited from all over the USA to be mentored by faculty on a research project. REU activities are designed to stimulate students’ interests in open-ended challenging engineering and science projects, which are mainly related to pollution prevention for a sustainable world. Key program features of the REU include individual research activities, strengthening of communication, leadership and social skills, educational fieldtrips and seminars. Research experiences expose undergraduate students to the creativity of the research process and enable them to apply their acquired knowledge from formal coursework. Active research experience is considered one of the most effective ways to attract talented undergraduates to and retain them in careers in science and engineering, including career...
Engineers on Wheels (EOW) is a mobile engineering outreach program sponsored by Rowan University.... more Engineers on Wheels (EOW) is a mobile engineering outreach program sponsored by Rowan University. Each semester, a group of 4-6 interdisciplinary engineering students is tasked to bring lessons that cover science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to a number of elementary and middle schools in the surrounding area, focusing on students from grades 5-8. On a weekly basis for a span of approximately six weeks, visits are made to the various schools to promote continuous learning and provide a more detailed look at the various disciplines in engineering. The repeated visits also allow the EOW team members to develop a rapport with the students that they are working with to enable them to provide mentorship and guidance in advising the children on a path to a successful career within the STEM field. Each discipline is spotlighted through a traditional classroom lesson which is then paired with a creative and thoughtprovoking hands-on activities and experiments. The activit...
Design, Motivation, and Frameworks in Game-Based Learning
Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in interactive narrative-based serious games for e... more Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in interactive narrative-based serious games for education and training. A key challenge posed by educational serious games is the balance of fun and learning, so that players are motivated enough to unfold the narrative stories on their own pace while getting sufficient learning materials across. In this chapter, various design strategies that aim to tackle this challenge are presented through the development of Sustain City, an educational serious game system that engages students, particularly prospective and beginning science and engineering students, in a series of engineering design. Besides narrative-learning synthesis, supplementing the player's actions with feedback, and the development of a sufficient guidance system, the chapter also discusses the integration of rigorous assessment and personalized scaffolding. The evaluation of Sustain City deployment confirms the values of the serious games in promoting students' in...
in 1993. After completion of her graduate studies, she worked as an environmental engineer for th... more in 1993. After completion of her graduate studies, she worked as an environmental engineer for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Her research interests include bioremediation of contaminated groundwater and soils; the fate and transport of pollutants in the environment; and applied microbiology in environmental engineering. She is also actively involved in encouraging women to the engineering profession.
Rowan University has been hosting an NSF REU Site which focuses on Pollution Prevention and Susta... more Rowan University has been hosting an NSF REU Site which focuses on Pollution Prevention and Sustainability since 2004. The site has been established for three consecutive summers. The initiative is based on current global initiatives to integrate sustainability into the science and engineering curriculum. Students need to be exposed to enriching experiences that require them to have concerns for human conditions and the environment that are conservative and protective. The REU site allows eleven undergraduates to participate in pollution prevention and sustainability research activities at Rowan University for eight weeks during the summer. Engineering and science faculty participate in mentoring activities along with Rowan undergraduate and graduate students. Social building skills such as community outreach seminars, workshops, social picnics, field trips and communication strengthening exercises are also an integral part of this REU experience. Environmental ethics, diversity and community impact of engineering activities are the topics of mini workshops. All these topics have tremendous relevance to pollution prevention and sustainability but can be absent from a traditional engineering curriculum. It is anticipated that the undergraduate research experience promotes interest in pursuing graduate school and strengthens leadership skills and self esteem.
The current paper describes the development and subsequent revision of the capstone design course... more The current paper describes the development and subsequent revision of the capstone design course for civil and environmental engineering students at Rowan University. Students take the course in both the fall and spring terms of their senior year. The course challenges and allows the students to demonstrate the engineering skills they have acquired through the undergraduate curriculum. The course was developed following a review of other capstone courses described in literature. Open-ended design projects are developed with assistance from industry advisors and presented to the students at the start of the course. The students then spend two semesters preparing solutions to the problems. The first year the course was offered went much as expected based on the instructors' previous experiences. Students complained of vague instructions, too much work, and lack of experience. However, additional student concerns with fairness and inequitable workloads were expressed. Refinements to the project selection process and course administration were made to address these concerns.
The College of Engineering at Rowan University was initiated as a result of a $100 million donati... more The College of Engineering at Rowan University was initiated as a result of a $100 million donation in 1992 from the Rowan Foundation. The engineering faculty use innovative methods of teaching and learning to better prepare students for entry into a rapidly changing and highly competitive marketplace. To best meet these objectives, the four engineering programs of Chemical, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, and Mechanical Engineering have common engineering clinic classes throughout their programs of study, in which undergraduates work in teams on hands-on open-ended projects. The primary goal of Rowan University's engineering clinic classes is to involve students in multidisciplinary design/research projects that teach engineering principles in both laboratory and real-world settings. The clinics further encourage students to address environmentally conscious design and issues related to sustainable development. The Sophomore Clinic students work on a semester-long design project every year. Faculty drawn from all engineering disciplines teach the course. The design project for Fall of 2001 was to design, build and test a semi-autonomous robot that uses power provided by batteries charged up with microorganisms. This project allowed students to focus on alternate energy sources such as biofuels. Biofuels are alcohols, ethers, esters, and other chemicals made from cellulosic biomass such as herbaceous and woody plants, agricultural and forestry residues, and a large portion of municipal solid and industrial waste. The term biofuels can refer to fuels for electricity and fuels for transportation. Biofuels are good for the environment because they add fewer emissions to the atmosphere than petroleum fuels and use wastes that currently have no use. Biofuels are renewable and an inexhaustible source of fuel unlike petroleum which is non-renewable. This paper focuses on how this project encouraged engineering students to think about alternate environmentally friendly sources of energy.
A major objective of the Junior/Senior Engineering Clinics at Rowan University is to introduce st... more A major objective of the Junior/Senior Engineering Clinics at Rowan University is to introduce students to open-ended engineering projects. All engineering students from the four engineering disciplines, namely Civil, Chemical, Electrical and Mechanical share a common engineering clinic class. The Junior/Senior Engineering Clinics, part of the innovative 8-semester Engineering Clinic sequence, provides the venue for multidisciplinary student teams to engage in semester-long design and development projects. These projects are typically funded by local industry, faculty research grants or departmental budgets. The clinic projects are crucial in developing the design, problem solving and project management skills that are often absent in the traditional engineering coursework. They further reinforce communication skills both oral and written. This paper focuses on the details of successful multidisciplinary research on nondestructive evaluation using engineering undergraduates.
A two-week, EiF Foundation and Rowan University sponsored workshop designed to introduce middle s... more A two-week, EiF Foundation and Rowan University sponsored workshop designed to introduce middle school girls to engineering careers was held at Rowan University during the summer of 1999. This target audience was selected to expose young girls to the importance of focusing on mathematics and science in their middle school years. Participants from minority populations were strongly encouraged to apply. Innovative hands-on experiments in the various fields of engineering with state of the art technology were used to spark the participants' interest in engineering. Experiments required collaborative learning through teamwork. The program consisted of a two-week on-campus session at Rowan University wherein students interacted with departmental faculty, undergraduate engineering students and representatives from local industry. The workshop also experiments, field trips, workshops on engineering ethics, professionalism, gender sensitivity and computer training sessions. The impact of the workshop was very encouraging and positive. Such workshops can encourage young girls to consider engineering as a course of study and/or a career in their high school years.
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