About the remote version of ChE126.
Do you read pop science news articles, like "This Experimental Patch Can Painlessly Check Your Glucose Levels, Scientists Say" and wonder, "Could I make something like that at home?" Do you want to be part of the science hacker movement?
After a brief introduction to creativity and design principles, you and your "lab" partner will begin to develop a concept for a product that performs safety analysis or counterfeit detection of a fast moving consumer good (FMCG) of your choice. FMCGs include products in sectors like food & beverage, personal care (e.g., skin care, cosmetics, hair care), and home health care (e.g., over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins & dietary supplements, oral care, feminine care). You will evaluate stakeholders and their needs, develop requirements for the product concept and its microfluidic test strip, and complete preliminary high-level design for the test strip.
In parallel, you'll ideate, evaluate and optimize safe-for-home, soft lithography manufacturing methods that can be used to inexpensively produce microfluidic test strips for your product concept. You'll receive a scientific care package with supplies and equipment, so that you can successfully complete the project -- no matter where you are working remotely. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to supplement these materials with additional supplies.
Finally, you'll end the term by recommending a manufacturing process for DIY microfluidics that will be used by another team of engineers in the next stage of product development, while also including your preliminary design documentation for that new group.
All course materials can be found on Canvas.