More than 60 high school students and seven teachers got a first-hand look at Engineering research labs at the Nov. 15 National Science Foundation (NSF) STEM Teachers Workshop at the College of Engineering. Designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world engineering practice, the event included faculty presentations and a tour of six research areas: the Tribology and Surface Engineering Lab, the Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop, the Mechanical Engineering Heat Transfer Lab, the Mechanical Behavior Lab, the Manufacturing Lab and the Electron Microscopy Lab.
“The energy and curiosity in the labs were palpable,” Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Pradeep Menezes said. “It’s one thing to learn about friction in a classroom; it’s another to see the instruments that measure it and understand its role in designing longer-lasting, more efficient machines. This is how we spark a lifelong passion for STEM.”
Menezes discussed his NSF-funded research. Engineering Dean Tom Weller also addressed the group, along with Associate Dean Indira Chatterjee and Mechanical Engineering Department Chair Petros Voulgaris. The event concluded with a networking session.
