(539c) Increasing Chemical Engineering K-14 Outreach By Tackling Water Conservation Using Human-Centered Design

How much water does the average person use at home per day? The U.S. Geological Survey reports that old showers may use up to 5 gallons of water per minute and water-saving shower heads produce about 2 gallons per minute. The agency recommends that taking a shorter shower using a low-flow showerhead saves lots of water. Even if an individual invests in a low-flow showerhead, they still need to figure for how long they are showering. A water consumption sensor that relatively anyone can install in their shower head can help to solve this problem. In addition, global market research reported that the environmental sensor market was valued at USD 1.22 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 2.19 billion by 2023.

The use of sensors in the K-14 classroom has shown to be of significant educational value because they can help address societies problems while integrating many disciplines such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, civics, among others. Exposure to the use of sensors to solve real problems can encourage students to follow career paths in Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), particularly for underrepresented communities. The primary objective of this pilot project is to create a water consumption sensor that is easy to use, and cost-effective for the everyday individual. The integrated sensor system uses simple electrical equipment including photo-resistors, light sources, waterproof cabling, Legos, 3D printed parts, and Arduino. Ideally, this work will become an instructional module that can be used to increase the interest of K-14 students into the chemical engineering field by tackling environmental problems using a human-centered design approach where the needs and wants of the user are paramount for the designer.