Traditionally, the discipline of chemical engineering has focused on the development of manufacturing processes from bench-scale chemistry to large scales: i.e. scale-up. Trends towards miniaturization, particularly in the life sciences, have driven chemical engineers to consider the inverse problem, scale-down. Microfluidic devices are systems for manipulating fluids in micrometer sized channels and wells. Microfluidic systems can be designed to obtain and process measurements from small volumes of complex fluids with efficiency and speed, and without the need for an expert operator (P. Yager et al. Nature 442 (412) 2006). We have developed an integrative design experience based on microfluidic technologies using the top-down manufacturing scheme known as soft lithography (D. Duffy et al. Anal. Chem. 70 (4974) 1998). Students are presented with motivations for production of microfluidic devices, including the devices' potential role as diagnostic technologies for global public health. In addition, the centrality of an engineering approach in the design of such devices is developed by discussion. Students are introduced to the process of photolithography and soft lithography and are given the opportunity to fabricate a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip as well as assemble and flow test their device. There are various learning objectives associated with the microfluidic device presentation and laboratory. The first is to motivate students to understand that in order to change the scale of a system while preserving its inherent functions, it is important to understand the fundamental physics that govern system behavior. The presentation and hands-on experience are also intended to stimulate intellectual curiosity in emerging microfluidic technologies. A final goal of the project is to introduce a meaningful design experience into the freshman chemical engineering curriculum. A discussion of the assessment of these outcomes from the perspective of the students will be presented.

Extended Abstract Status: Not Uploaded