This project was our final one of sophomore year in STEM. In the project, we had to find a world problem and solve it using biotech solutions. To create our solution, we followed the engineering design process, which includes identifying a problem, researching the problem, designing possible solutions, selecting a viable solution, prototyping it, evaluating the prototype, and improving the design as needed. My group decided to tackle the issue of global warming. Our solution to this is to create an artificial chloroplast, in order to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The project was split into six components, each correlating to a step in the engineering design process. This allowed us to plan how we could get our work done, splitting it up into various sections to complete over a certain time period. After completing all these steps, we then presented our idea to the class.
The project was split into six components, each correlating to a step in the engineering design process. This allowed us to plan how we could get our work done, splitting it up into various sections to complete over a certain time period. After completing all these steps, we then presented our idea to the class.
Content
Engineering Design Process - Series of steps including identifying a problem, researching the problem, designing possible solutions, selecting a viable solution, prototyping it, evaluating the prototype, and improving the design as needed; used to design something or to solve a problem. In this project, we used the Engineering Design Process to lay out our project and to come up with our solution.
Photosynthesis - Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy. For the process to work, organisms take in carbon and water and through light energy produces sugars and oxygen. We used the basic concept of photosynthesis, taking carbon and producing oxygen, as the function of our product.
Chloroplast - An organelle in plant and algae cells. The main role of chloroplasts is to conduct photosynthesis, where the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures sunlight and uses it to create usable electrons for the cell. Our product is an artificial chloroplast.
Global Warming - The increase in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere caused by the greenhouse effect, which in turn is caused by certain gases, mainly carbon dioxide, being released into the atmosphere. This is important to our project because the main goal of our product is to help reduce global warming's effects
Electrolysis - Process of chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.
Engineering Design Process - Series of steps including identifying a problem, researching the problem, designing possible solutions, selecting a viable solution, prototyping it, evaluating the prototype, and improving the design as needed; used to design something or to solve a problem. In this project, we used the Engineering Design Process to lay out our project and to come up with our solution.
Photosynthesis - Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy. For the process to work, organisms take in carbon and water and through light energy produces sugars and oxygen. We used the basic concept of photosynthesis, taking carbon and producing oxygen, as the function of our product.
Chloroplast - An organelle in plant and algae cells. The main role of chloroplasts is to conduct photosynthesis, where the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures sunlight and uses it to create usable electrons for the cell. Our product is an artificial chloroplast.
Global Warming - The increase in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere caused by the greenhouse effect, which in turn is caused by certain gases, mainly carbon dioxide, being released into the atmosphere. This is important to our project because the main goal of our product is to help reduce global warming's effects
Electrolysis - Process of chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.
Reflection
In this project, the group I worked in excelled in 2 areas. One area in which my group did well on was finishing all the mini parts of the process everyday. Having this constant progress towards the final goal removed pressure from us since we did not need to do a lot of work on the last day. Another subject we excelled in was collaboration. My group was able to communicate clearly, allowing us to work hard and achieve progress. Working well in groups is an essential skill to have because it allows more productivity. On the other hand though, an area where my group could have improved on was having a better work ethic. Although we made progress every day, my group could have stayed on task more instead of getting distracted. Another area in which we could have improved was presenting. When we presented, my group did not practice enough, so some people slipped up in presenting. Practicing our presentation more next time will allow us to get our ideas across to people more easily.
In this project, the group I worked in excelled in 2 areas. One area in which my group did well on was finishing all the mini parts of the process everyday. Having this constant progress towards the final goal removed pressure from us since we did not need to do a lot of work on the last day. Another subject we excelled in was collaboration. My group was able to communicate clearly, allowing us to work hard and achieve progress. Working well in groups is an essential skill to have because it allows more productivity. On the other hand though, an area where my group could have improved on was having a better work ethic. Although we made progress every day, my group could have stayed on task more instead of getting distracted. Another area in which we could have improved was presenting. When we presented, my group did not practice enough, so some people slipped up in presenting. Practicing our presentation more next time will allow us to get our ideas across to people more easily.