To understand climate change, scientists, and engineers study wetlands’ methane flux, which indicates the amount of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere. To calculate methane flux, engineers design, build, and maintain a “flux tower”, which is essentially a tall metal structure that holds different sensors and computers. This tower is solar powered and often breaks down during storms, causing long gaps in the data. Although engineers can use computer modeling to fill in gaps, it is better to get as much accurate data in the first place.
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.
There is also a PowerPoint presentation available that was used in the original design challenge implementation.