The Engineering Creativity Lab
The Engineering Creativity Laboratory (ECL) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) has been established by Professor Mohammad Harb in 2022. In order to make engineering education more efficient in a way that contributes to the future workforce, Professor Harb gives his students the means to get creative in their courses, using the concepts of Human-centered Design as a core motivator. Students could ideate and prototype in this space, and could also benefit from the available makerspace at AUB, The Red Room, established in 2017. The ongoing research focuses on sustainability of 3D printed structures, and recycling plays a pivotal role in formulating and creating new 3D printing materials.
The Core Concept
Human-centered design (HCD) is an emerging technique in problem solving and product design, where designs are built based on people’s needs and perspectives. When incorporated into engineering education, HCD allows students to better understand the needs of sustainability and therefore design more practical and ethical approaches into problem solving.
Current Projects
Sustainable 3D Printing
Eco-friendly 3D Printing Earth Materials
Four final year project (FYP) students are conducting research to create 3D printing filaments from earth materials. Such eco-friendly materials would revolutionize the sustainability of 3D printing.
Recycling 3D Printing Wastes
Enthusiastic undergraduate mechanical engineering students are recycling wastes from 3D printing by creating new filaments. They are testing them to ensure if material properties are retained after the new extrusion, and looking for ways to enhance them.
Recycling Fishing Nets
A post-doctoral researcher and an undergraduate mechanical engineering student are investigating the recycling techniques of fishing nets. These will be used to obtain sustainable 3D printing filaments.
Composites Research
Recycled Carbon Fiber Composites for Sustainable 3D Printing
A group of enthusiastic Tomorrow’s Leaders Program (TLP) scholarship holders are working on recycling Carbon Fiber to integrate it into 3D printing. Their work is outstanding as they could enhance existing materials by incorporating Carbon Fiber.
Damage Imaging
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Curing Composites
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