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Engaging High School Students in University Research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2011

Kathleen M. Davis  and
Joseph J. Muskin
Kathleen M. Davis
Affiliation:
Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, U.S.A.
Joseph J. Muskin
Affiliation:
Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, U.S.A.
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Abstract

The absence of engineering from K-12 curricula and mainstream media often causes students to refer back to historical stereotypes regarding what engineers look like and the type of work they do. Such misconceptions may prevent high school students from pursuing engineering as a field of study and increase the need for engineering educational programs [1]. Nano-Challenge is an outreach program that orients high school students to engineering through a one-year research internship. The program is held at the Center for Nanoscale Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical Manufacturing Systems (Nano-CEMMS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A major focus of the program is to involve students from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields and inform them about engineering earlier in their careers. An external program evaluation provides anecdotal information about the students’ experiences and gives feedback to inform program improvement.

Keywords

deviceseducationfluidics
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1320: Symposium XX Materials Education Development and Outreach—From K-Grad , 2011 , mrsf10-1320-xx02-10
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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