December 18, 2024

Creative lesson helps engineering students roll into finals

Quinn Gossett, a junior construction management major, rolls his ball down the lane with enthusiasm during the Concrete Bowling Competition in the Kiewit Hall Basement on Dec. 11.
Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing

Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing
Quinn Gossett, a junior construction management major, rolls his ball down the lane with enthusiasm during the Concrete Bowling Competition in the Kiewit Hall Basement on Dec. 11.

A class of Nebraska Engineering students closed out the semester on a roll, celebrating strikes and ending up in the gutter.

As part of a lesson in a Construction and Materials Testing course led by Emmeline Watson, the students spent the last few weeks of the semester designing, crafting and testing concrete bowling balls. The project aimed to give students hands-on experience with fiber-reinforced concrete, while also sparking creativity in engineering design and testing.

“Through this project, I’m trying to introduce more hands-on learning, connecting what we do in the classroom with real life,” said Watson, an assistant professor of practice. “Based on the competition today, I’m pretty sure they’ll never forget about our lessons on concrete — which will benefit those who go into the industry.”

Students were graded on both their bowling performance and the strength and construction of their concrete balls. The top three students received prizes for their innovative designs.

Click the video below to learn more and see the future engineers hitting the lane.