The Steelpan as a tool to incite interest in engineering education

Abstract

There is an economic imperative to increase the level of innovative activities in developed and developing countries. Universities have been encouraged to increase the number of science and technology graduates. One of the approaches used by universities is the encouragement of minority students, in particular, Black African-American and African-Caribbean students into undergraduate engineering. However, to realize the potential of these students, programs need to build understanding of engineering principles in a manner that appeal to multiple learning styles. The steelpan, a percussion instrument invented in Trinidad and Tobago, can provide a possible solution. The steelpan also known as the pan or steel drum is produced by creatively deforming metal sheet. The pan is a unique musical device and offers an opportunity to teach engineering concepts using an instrument that is a part of the cultural heritage of some of these students. The technology of the steelpan is multidisciplinary and requires knowledge in the areas of materials science, production processes, acoustics, vibrations and music. By decomposing the production of the instrument into these underlying bodies of knowledge, it provides an ideal opportunity to explain and demonstrate engineering principles at low cost. This presentation demonstrates options for courses that use the steelpan to encourage elementary and high school students into the engineering profession.