Fueling Passion for STEM among the Young Innovators
The annual STEM Trekkers summer program at Syracuse University is currently underway, providing a unique opportunity for Central New York students to delve into the world of engineering and computer science. This free program, which invites around 70 students from 11 local school districts to participate, is a collaboration between the Technology Alliance of Central New York and ECS faculty and students [1][3].
The program's key elements foster a strong interest in STEM fields. Students engage in hands-on, interactive learning experiences, tackling practical projects such as experiments with wind energy or engineering challenges, making abstract concepts tangible and exciting [1]. This approach encourages critical thinking and application of lessons to the science around them.
The program also emphasizes community involvement. This year, community partners include Jason Scharf, Nicole Broadnax, Monica Caves, and Lisa Piering, along with professors from Syracuse University such as Rodrick Kuate Defo, Kasey Laurent, Venkata S.S. Gandikota, Yiyang Sun, Eric Finkelstein, and Lihong Lao from the BioInspired Institute [2].
Sue Sobon, the program's organiser, highlights that STEM Trekkers is about exposure, allowing children to know if they're good at something by being exposed to it. The program connects with local businesses and agencies to demonstrate the different applications of STEM concepts in industry and the community [6].
Mentorship opportunities with research instructors are also a significant part of the program, forming a big brother/big sister type of relationship. Students observe demonstrations on aerodynamics in a water tunnel in a classroom in Link Hall, gaining first-hand insights into these complex topics [4].
Follow-up discussions tie together that day's lessons, empowering students to further their education. The goal of the program is to introduce students to STEM careers and make learning fun. By providing these engaging, accessible experiences, the STEM Trekkers summer program at Syracuse University is successfully sparking students' interest in STEM at a young age.
[1] Syracuse University. (n.d.). STEM Trekkers. Retrieved from https://www.syr.edu/academics/colleges/ecs/stemtrekkers
[2] Syracuse University. (n.d.). STEM Trekkers 2022. Retrieved from https://www.syr.edu/news/stemtrekkers-2022
[3] Central New York Business Journal. (2021, August 9). STEM Trekkers summer program at Syracuse University sparks interest in STEM fields among Central New York students. Retrieved from https://www.bizjournals.com/syracuse/news/2021/08/09/stem-trekkers-summer-program-at-syracuse.html
[4] Syracuse University. (n.d.). STEM Trekkers: Day 2. Retrieved from https://www.syr.edu/news/stemtrekkers-day-2
[5] Central New York Business Journal. (2021, August 16). STEM Trekkers summer program at Syracuse University continues to inspire local students. Retrieved from https://www.bizjournals.com/syracuse/news/2021/08/16/stem-trekkers-summer-program-at-syracuse.html
[6] Syracuse University. (n.d.). STEM Trekkers: Day 3. Retrieved from https://www.syr.edu/news/stemtrekkers-day-3
Students in the STEM Trekkers summer program at Syracuse University are actively engaged in education and self-development, delving into the world of engineering and computer science. This program, which emphasizes hands-on, interactive learning and mentorship opportunities, aims to foster a strong interest in STEM fields and make learning fun, ultimately encouraging students to further their education and pursue STEM careers.
