Megan Ennes

Show your students how amazing it can be to just “see what will happen” when they blend biology, engineering, and serendipity. Focusing on innovations sparked by accidental or unexpected observations, the case studies in this resource are a lively way to integrate engineering and experimentation into your biology classes. Middle and high school students will learn fundamental science processes while using their natural curiosity to explore ideas for new applications and products. They’ll also find out that small, plant-eating mammals called pikas helped scientists find new ways to survive extreme weather events and that algae can be used as airplane fuel.The book’s 20 easy-to-use investigations help you do the following:Use real-world case studies to bring accidental inspirations to life. Each investigation starts with an actual scientific discovery that students explore through primary documents or historical accounts.Let students be the innovators. The investigations task your classes to investigate biological concepts, do research, examine data, create models, and use their own personal ideas to design new products or problem-solving applications.Apply the material in flexible, interesting ways. You can implement the investigations in part or as a whole, and you can use them to teach one or more science concepts while exposing students to the unpredictable nature of science. Students will be intrigued by investigations with titles such as “Vindicating Venom: Using Biological Mechanisms to Treat Diseases and Disorders” and “Revealing Repeats: The Accidental Discovery of DNA Fingerprinting.”Discovery Engineering in Biology is not only ideal for the classroom. It’s also perfect for informal education at STEM camps, science centers, and more. You’ll help your students see that just as there is no one way to do science, there are many paths that lead to innovations in engineering. And who knows what might happen? Maybe your students will engineer the next amazing survival product inspired by pikas!

Who knew that gecko feet inspired scientists to develop a stickier adhesive or that cockleburs in dog fur led to the invention of Velcro? Discovery Engineering uses these and other surprising cases of innovations sparked by accidental observations to teach about the amazing role of serendipity in science. The case studies in this new resource are a lively way to integrate engineering into your physical science classes. Middle and high school students will learn to understand fundamental science processes while trying out their own ideas for unexpected applications. Each of the book’s 22 investigations starts with a real case of accidental inspiration that students explore through primary documents or historical accounts. Then it’s time for the students to become the innovators. They’re tasked to do research, examine data and physical materials, and use their own creativity to design new products or problem-solving applications. The investigations are easy to implement and flexible enough to use in part or as a whole. Students will learn one or more science concepts as they’re exposed to background on the unpredictable nature of science. And they’ll be intrigued by investigations with titles such as “By the Teeth of Your Skin: Shark Skin and Bacteria” and “The Slinky: From Ship to Staircase.” Try this book and see what happens! The result may be more engaged students—and more great ideas about how gecko feet can inspire solutions to everyday problems.