Fueling Passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Among Young Learners
In the heart of Syracuse University, Link Hall is buzzing with excitement as the annual STEM Trekkers summer program kicks off. This three-day initiative, a collaboration between the Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) and Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), is designed to inspire youth towards Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.
Over the course of three action-packed days, about 70 students from 11 local school districts will immerse themselves in a world of hands-on learning, friendly competitions, and invention design and pitching.
Assistant professors from both ECS and the College of Engineering and Computer Science are volunteering for the program, including Venkata S.S. Gandikota (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), Yiyang Sun (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Rodrick Kuate Defo (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and Kasey Laurent (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering).
The program offers a diverse range of lessons, from aerodynamics in a water tunnel to plastics and polymers, nanotechnology, microplastics, microbiology, and open-source data. Students will also have the opportunity to connect with local businesses and agencies, demonstrating the practical applications of STEM concepts.
One of the highlights of the program is a friendly competition to build and fly paper airplanes. Two students managed to throw their airplanes an impressive 54 feet during the competition.
Sobon, one of the ECS faculty members, emphasizes the program's collaborative environment and the helpful follow-up discussions that tie together each day's lessons. She believes the program is about exposure, giving children the opportunity to see different applications of STEM concepts in industry and the community.
Kuate Defo, another ECS faculty member, stresses the importance of showing students examples of students who have taken a STEM career path. He believes this can make it seem possible for them. Laurent, on the other hand, highlights that the exercises in the program can help students apply lessons learned to the science around them, such as understanding bird flight.
The STEM Trekkers summer program aims to introduce students to STEM careers and spark early interest in these fields. It encourages students to feel empowered to further their education and view a STEM career as an attainable goal.
The program is open to children in grades five through nine, offering them a unique opportunity to explore the world of STEM in a fun and engaging way. As the program continues, we can expect to see a new generation of STEM enthusiasts emerging, ready to take on the challenges of the future.
[1] Syracuse University News. (2022). Syracuse University and TACNY launch STEM Trekkers summer program. [online] Available at: https://news.syr.edu/2022/06/13/syracuse-university-and-tacny-launch-stem-trekkers-summer-program/
[2] Syracuse University News. (2022). Syracuse University and TACNY announce STEM Trekkers summer program. [online] Available at: https://news.syr.edu/2022/05/31/syracuse-university-and-tacny-announce-stem-trekkers-summer-program/
[5] Syracuse University News. (2022). Syracuse University and TACNY team up for STEM Trekkers summer program. [online] Available at: https://news.syr.edu/2022/05/16/syracuse-university-and-tacny-team-up-for-stem-trekkers-summer-program/
- The STEM Trekkers summer program, run by Syracuse University and TACNY, offers students an immersive experience in education and self-development, focusing on STEM subjects such as aerodynamics, nanotechnology, and microbiology.
- Throughout the program, students have opportunities to learn through hands-on activities, friendly competitions, and connections with local businesses, aiming to inspire in them a passion for STEM education and a belief that a career in STEM is attainable.
