The engineering community (faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students) will draw upon the diverse and creative talents within the college of engineering to collaborate across disciplines in an effort to communicate to the broader community the impact, value and contribution that engineers make to our society.
Engineering Outreach Programs for K-12
Young Scientists of America® promotes an interest in science, math, and technology in young people ages 8-18 through hands-on experience in scientific or technical areas with the interaction of sponsors, mentors or instructors. A series of activity project/levels are available in each of the following areas:
- (1) metalworking,
- (2) woods shop,
- (3) electrical and electronic,
- (4) physical science/discovery,
- (5) plastics injection molding.
Activities in these areas are designed to motivate and stimulate the Young Scientist.
Programs and activities are extremely flexible, particularly designed for practicality and fun.
- SAFETY: Activity projects that take place in equipment laboratories follow rigorous safety guidelines.
- ENROLLEES: Young scientists and mentors/trainers.
- UNIVERSITY STUDENT MENTORS: Important roles for students are available. Please see the volunteer form.
Every year students attend these outreach programs to explore the different types of engineering and to recruit future engineers, including women and minority students. These students not only get to observe demonstrations, but they also get to participate. The outreach programs are designed to educate and to expose K-12 students to different fields of engineering disciplines.
The College of Engineering has a long tradition of developing and coordinating outreach programs for students in grades K-12. Many staff, faculty and engineering students participate in ongoing programs, including creating the program content and handouts along with the actual instruction. While attending these sessions students use a variety of computers and software applications.
"Four important and enduring reasons underscore the need for our children to achieve competency in mathematics and science:
- (1) the rapid pace of change in both the increasingly interdependent global economy and in the American workplace demands widespread mathematics-and science-related knowledge and abilities;
- (2) our citizens need both mathematics and science for their everyday decision-making;
- (3) mathematics and science are inextricably linked to the nation's security interests; and
- (4) the deeper, intrinsic value of mathematical and scientific knowledge shape and define our common life, history, and culture.
Mathematics and science are primary sources of lifelong learning and the progress of our civilization." — from "Before It's Too Late": A Report of the Nation from The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century.
An early outreach program funded through the UW-Madison College of Engineering and the Tanghe Foundation for Women in Science is The Lilith Computer Group, which held its first annual Computer Fair in May 2000.