A Novel Approach to Intro Engineering

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The new first edition of “Discovering Engineering Design in the 21st Century: An Activities-Based Approach” is a practical and applied introduction to the engineering needs of today’s world. By integrating practical activities, sustainability principles, and cross-disciplinary insights, this companion guide prepares students to think critically and creatively about the challenges they will face as engineers in the modern era.

A Hands-On Approach to Learning

Research shows that engineering students learn best when they can connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications. Written by Professor Brad Striebig of James Madison University, this curriculum-based intro engineering text bridges the gap between foundational knowledge, traditional engineering skills, and hands-on experiential learning. The author focuses on applying engineering principles to real-world design and problem analysis. It includes specific step-by-step examples and case studies for solving complex conceptual and design problems in several different engineering fields.

This textbook applies the principles of sustainable design with real-world issues in both developed and developing countries, serving as a companion guide for students as they embark on their exploration into the engineering profession. It emphasizes key steps in engineering solutions, including translating societal needs into infrastructures, products, practices, and processes. It also communicates the long-term impacts of these solutions to society and works to prepare the next generation of engineers with the breadth of skills needed to address complex environmental problems.

Through integrative analysis and sustainable design methods, students will engage with these essential concepts chapter by chapter, as they engage with the pressing issues facing this generation of engineers.

 

Meet the Author

Professor Brad Striebig, Professor of Engineering, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Dr. Striebig earned his PhD from Pennsylvania State University. He is a founding professor of the engineering program at James Madison University and previously taught engineering at Gonzaga University and Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Striebig has served as editor on major journals in environmental engineering and sustainable development. He has led major, funded, award-winning research activities focused on working with developing communities and natural treatment systems. He has published two textbooks on sustainability and engineering and has authored over 100 technical publications, including several book chapters, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, and peer-reviewed conference proceedings.

 

Contributing Authors

The collaborative effort behind this text features contributions from esteemed colleagues at James Madison University. Together, these authors bring a multidisciplinary perspective, ensuring that the text addresses the diverse and interconnected challenges facing today’s engineers.

Daniel Castaneda, Assistant Professor of Engineering: focuses on the sustainable use of infrastructure materials within diverse societal contexts.

Jason Forsyth, Associate Professor of Engineering: specializes in wearable computing and safety systems that continuously monitor and protect human life.

Shraddha Joshi, Assistant Professor of Engineering: explores engineering design, education, and the development of connected products and systems.

 

Preview Brad Striebig’s first edition intro engineering textbook, “Discovering Engineering Design in the 21st Century: An Activities-Based Approach,” in the Cengage Instructor Center.