Damascus, AK to Pyongyang, NK: Developing an entrepreneurial mindset by connecting nuclear weapons safety, chemical process safety and global politics

Abstract

In summary, our overall evaluation, including student work and student feedback, leads us to conclude that this EML module was a success. By connecting three potentially disparate topics (transient material balances, process and weapons safety, and nuclear politics) students produced surprisingly good work and seemed engaged and interested in the topics. We accomplished introducing a simple transient mass balance in a course where it is not normally taught. Student teams, on their own, investigated and wrote about chemical process safety case studies with intelligence and thoroughness. And, finally teams indicated through report writing and survey responses, an increased appreciation for and understanding of current nuclear politics and dangers. Development of the EML module was not simple and the ChE instructor realized early on that help from colleagues outside the major was needed. This transdisciplinary approach to teaching is growing at WPI and is a natural consequence of our desire to engage students in complex issues and problems that cannot be solved by one type of expertise. The approach is also typical of the philosophy of learning at the core of the KEEN framework.