{"681215":{"#nid":"681215","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Bringing Miniaturization Science to the Classroom","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the movies, Ant-Man can shrink down to the size of an insect to carry out his superhero missions. It makes for fun cinema, but of course, it is impossible. For starters, biological systems can\u2019t scale up or down and stay proportional. The hero would die before throwing his first teeny, tiny punch.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s miniaturization science for you. It\u2019s the study of how materials and systems behave at microscopic scales, and it\u2019s transforming biomedical engineering. And though it has led to breakthroughs in diagnostics and treatments, \u201cteaching students about the subject is really challenging,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/david-myers-phd\u0022\u003EDavid Myers\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s because the behavior of fluids and materials at such small scales defies intuition, and you can\u2019t really observe what\u2019s going on,\u201d added Myers, who understands the instructional challenge well \u2014 he teaches a graduate level course focused on translational microsystems, which is heavily integrated with his \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sensors.bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Elab\u2019s research\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecognizing the limitations of traditional coursework, Myers and his collaborators have developed a different approach. In Myers\u2019 class, students build and test and observe the workings of microfluidic devices, a hallmark of miniaturization science \u2014 microfluidics is the manipulation of tiny volumes of fluids in miniaturized devices.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir new approach has made all the difference, even earning Myers a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/news\/best-georgia-tech-teachers-bme-students-choose-david-myers-and-bala-pai\u0022\u003ECIOS Award\u003C\/a\u003E for teaching excellence. But Myers is quick to emphasize that this was a team effort. He and his lab developed a hands-on activity to help students learn device construction (and the underlying technical concepts).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen he reached out to Todd Fernandez, senior lecturer and Coulter BME\u2019s director of learning innovation. Together they optimized the activity to maximize students\u2019 learning. That has evolved into an ongoing partnership between technical and educational research faculty in the department, resulting in an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubs.rsc.org\/en\/content\/articlelanding\/2024\/lc\/d3lc00912b\u0022\u003Earticle in the journal \u003Cem\u003ELab on a Chip\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022In other microfluidics courses, you walk through the step-by-step process of fabrication, but actually seeing the device come together in front of you provides such valuable insight into the underlying concepts and manufacturing techniques,\u201d explained Priscilla Delgado, a fifth-year graduate student in Myers\u2019 lab and lead author of the published study. \u201cThat hands-on experience is crucial for truly understanding this technology.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBridging Critical Gaps\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMyers\u2019 course bridges several critical gaps, including the high cost of advanced learning activities. It also addresses student misconceptions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe primary objective isn\u2019t just the successful construction of devices, but a deeper conceptual understanding of miniaturization science and design principles,\u201d said Myers, whose approach emphasizes conceptual change.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents often come into the course with misunderstandings about microscale phenomena, \u201cassuming that fluid flow at this scale behaves the same way as in larger systems,\u201d Myers said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDelgado added, \u201cbut it\u2019s wild how fluid behavior changes at the microscale. If you mix two colored liquids in a regular cup, you get a third color. But in microfluidics, the laminar flow and reliance on diffusion can keep those streams separate \u2014 it really challenges your intuition about mixing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe class allows students to build and test microfluidic kits \u2014 mixers, valves, and bubble generators, using inexpensive, widely available materials. This activity is structured to help students encounter misunderstandings and work through them. Rather than simply presenting correct information, instructors guide students through a learning cycle in which they identify errors, reflect on their mistakes, and refine their understanding.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou can see their brains just sizzle,\u201d said Myers. \u201cThen you kind of add a little bit of structure. You ask, \u2018Are you sure you have all the layers there that you\u2019re thinking about?\u2019 And then they\u2019ll go back, count, and realize\u2014oh, there\u2019s this missing middle layer.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe layer-by-layer assembly technique uses laser-cut adhesive films to construct microfluidic devices. Because the devices are assembled from transparent layers, students can see how their designs function and they can troubleshoot any errors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the best things about these sticker-based microfluidic devices is how easy they are to prototype,\u201d said Delgado. \u201cI can literally have a new design laser-cut and assembled within an hour, rather than waiting months using traditional methods. The accessibility and speed of iteration is a game-changer.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpanding the Possibilities\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond its accessibility, the sticker-based microfluidic approach also expands the possibilities for innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe really cool thing is, this is a sticker,\u201d Myers said. \u201cYou can place it on your skin. You can place it on the table. You can place it on the wall, if you really felt like it. And when you integrate it with high-end instrumentation like advanced sensors, suddenly you have a resource that traditional microfluidics can\u2019t easily replicate.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis kind of flexibility enables students to explore microfluidics in new ways. The study involved 57 students, some of whom took their designs beyond the classroom.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI cannot say enough how much I love how accessible it is and the portability of it,\u201d Delgado said. \u201cYou can do this anywhere. You could do this at home. We\u2019ve done it at science fairs for high school students to really challenge the way they think about mixing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe impact of the work has also influenced the direction Delgado wants to take in her career. She\u2019s found herself drawn deeper into the field, inspired by microfluidic design.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe first time I laid eyes on that microfluidic device I had just built, I was captivated,\u201d she said. \u201cI remember thinking, \u2018This is so cool; I have to dive deeper into this field.\u2019 That\u2019s when I knew a PhD was in my future, even though I had initially planned otherwise.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis approach to teaching miniaturization science not only enhances learning but also democratizes access to innovation, according to Myers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe really cool thing that I love about this activity is that you\u2019re sharing knowledge and power with the people using the technology,\u201d he said. \u201cInstead of them receiving technology from some high-resource institution, they\u2019re able to look at the problems and start addressing them themselves.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiniaturization science plays a crucial role in developing point-of-care medical devices and other low-cost diagnostic tools, particularly in resource-limited settings. Equipping students around the world with the ability to create microfluidic systems could help empower future researchers and engineers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFernandez believes this hands-on approach represents a shift in how miniaturization science will be taught.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBy focusing on student-driven exploration and conceptual understanding rather than rote device assembly, educators can better prepare the next generation of engineers and scientists to navigate and contribute to the ever-expanding world of microsystems,\u201d he said. \u201c And what\u2019s really cool is, you let them play, and they learn more. They discover things that we didn\u2019t even have time to teach them.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDavid Myers\u0027 hands-on microfluidics course lets students build sticker-based devices, enhancing understanding of miniaturization science through active learning.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"David Myers\u0027 hands-on microfluidics course lets students build sticker-based devices, enhancing understanding of miniaturization science through active learning."}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2025-03-18 19:30:18","changed_gmt":"2025-03-28 14:08:59","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676579":{"id":"676579","type":"image","title":"Miniaturization science photo","body":"\u003Cp\u003EStudents in David Myers\u0027 class on translational microsystems build and test microfluidics kits. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/xdubZHQOPDI\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWatch a video on how they do it.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1742325803","gmt_created":"2025-03-18 19:23:23","changed":"1742325885","gmt_changed":"2025-03-18 19:24:45","alt":"Making microfluidic devices","file":{"fid":"260383","name":"Coverphoto_LoC.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/18\/Coverphoto_LoC.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/18\/Coverphoto_LoC.png","mime":"image\/png","size":6957110,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/18\/Coverphoto_LoC.png?itok=foKeu1Op"}}},"media_ids":["676579"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[{"id":"175264","name":"microfludics"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jerry.grillo@bme.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@bme.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}