Low-Cost Bioreactors from 3D Printing – Criteria-Driven Development and Process Analysis for Integrating Biotechnology, Microcontrollers, and 3D Printing in Teacher Education (BioR3D)
German title: Low-Cost-Bioreaktoren aus dem 3D-Drucker – Kriteriengeleitete Entwicklung und Verfahrungsanalyse zur Integration von Biotechnologie, Microcontrollern und 3D-Druck im Lehramtsstudium (BioR3D)
Funding: Joachim Herz Stiftung
Project Duration: February 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024 (23 months)
Leaders: Prof. Dr. Benedikt Heuckmann, Dr. Alexander Pusch
Background and Project Overview
The BioR3D project, a collaborative initiative between biology and physics education, aims to integrate the fields of "bioreactors," "3D printing," and "microcontrollers" into teacher education for biology and physics. The use of 3D printers has led to extensive changes in production, science, and medicine over the past few years. Alongside microcontrollers, which are increasingly used in various devices, 3D printing is a key technology poised to transform many industries and sectors. Schools and universities need to prepare learners for the opportunities and potential of these modern technologies. However, there is still a lack of interdisciplinary projects that effectively integrate these technologies into learning processes, enabling learners to acquire comprehensive digital competencies.
Biotechnological processes within bioreactors hold significant importance in the life sciences (e.g., brewing beer, producing "superfood" through algae cultivation for nutrient extraction, and white biotechnology for industrial microbial production). However, due to the high cost of bioreactors (usually several hundred euros), they are rarely used in school contexts. Yet, bioreactors are particularly suitable for promoting the acquisition of subject-specific and process-related competencies in scientific knowledge acquisition.
Customized 3D-printed products (e.g., lids, mounts, stirrers) can make existing laboratory equipment like beakers suitable for low-cost bioreactors. This approach is sustainable, cost-effective, and demonstrates the broad application of 3D printing in research and teaching. Using a microcontroller, the reactor is controlled, and the parameters of microbial investigations are electronically regulated and visualized. This allows learners to engage in inquiry-based experimental investigations with suitable microorganisms.
In addition to developing a functional low-cost bioreactor, the project seeks to explore to what extent 3D printing can support the integration and application of bioreactors in science education. This includes incorporating the topic into didactic courses and providing training for teachers with appropriate teaching and learning materials.
The BioR3D Team
Biology Eduation Lead Prof. Dr. Benedikt Heuckmann, Center for Biology Education
Email: benedikt.heuckmann@uni-muenster.de
Physics Education Lead Dr. Alexander Pusch, Institute for Physics Didactics
Email: alexander.pusch@uni-muenster.de
Scientific Advisor in Biology Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schmid, Institute for Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
Email: jochen.schmid@uni-muenster.de
Project Staff
Sebastian Linnartz, Kaya Elverisli, Student Assistants at the Center for Biology Didactics
Michael Röhrig, Student Assistant at the Institute for Physics Didactics