The intersection between art and engineering

A girl gets some hands-on experience in the art of origami during the Discovery Space's day camp focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics for girls. (Photo credit: Curtis Chan)

A girl gets some hands-on experience in the art of origami during the Discovery Space’s day camp focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics for girls. (Photo credit: Curtis Chan)

So what does origami have to do with engineering?

That’s the question posed to girls ages 6 through 8 during this week’s Exciting Endeavors day camp hosted by Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania.

The half-day camp is designed to expose girls to career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The camp’s unit on origami was led by Mary Frecker, professor of mechanical engineering, and Rebecca Strzelec, professor of visual arts at Penn State Altoona, with help from college and high school student volunteers.

For the girls, it was an eye-opening lesson on the intersection of art and engineering. They learned how engineers use origami’s folding principles to design everything from stents that are inserted into the body to help open a blocked blood vessel to tires for Mars rovers that can greatly expand and contract, making it easier for the vehicle to explore planetary surfaces.

The point, Frecker said, is to show the girls how engineers team with artists to solve problems and develop designs.

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Engineering Leadership students’ outreach promotes STEM fields

by Joe Harford

A team of three students in the Engineering 408 Leadership Principles class chose a semester project this year that would help promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) field awareness in the local community.

The students, Arti Patel, Rui Yang, and Joe Harford, were able to form a partnership with a Bellefonte, PA-based business, Actuated Medical, Inc., to brainstorm ideas to promote STEM education in the local community and to work on future project ideas.

Bellefonte (PA) School District hosts Science Night

The collaboration effort yielded an opportunity for the student team to participate in the Bellefonte School District Science Night on November 14, 2013. Approximately 500 community members attended the event, with the focus on engaging elementary school-aged children.

With the encouragement of school district coordinator Julie Coder, the team hopes to continue to build the relationship with Bellefonte School District through more interactive exercises at future events and classroom presentations during the school day.

As the semester winds down there are plenty of ideas for the next student team, guided by Walter L. Robb Director of Engineering Leadership Development Mike Erdmann, to explore in growing this learning opportunity. It is hoped that this activity will flourish and expand to other school districts in the Centre Region.

Joe Harford is a PhD student in the Workforce Education and Development Program in the College of Education. He is an entrepreneur who owns a technology firm in Blair County, PA, called Reclamere. He is focusing his dissertation research of identifying solutions to reduce the failure rate of start up companies in Pennsylvania. Joe enrolled in the Engineering Leadership Principles class because he believes that leadership is a crucial component for successful entrepreneurs and to witness aspiring entrepreneurs in the classroom.

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SHPE Penn State Hosts Activities for Reading (PA) Families

SHPE Penn State members stand in front of Reading High School

SHPE Penn State members stand in front of Reading High School

by Julia Abreu

Recently, representatives from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Penn State hosted Noche de Ciencias at Reading High School, Reading, PA.

Approximately 24 attendees – students from grades K-12 and their parents – talked to us, as well as professionals working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries, and asked questions about the STEM fields.

SHPE Penn State members engaged in two hands-on activities with the students: a newspaper tower and a glider plane.

While students were busy with these activities, their parents attended several workshops, conducted in Spanish and English, on financial aid, scholarships and one called Understanding College Options.

This event is just one of many outreach activities organized by members of SHPE Penn State to create awareness about STEM-related educational opportunities, especially among the Hispanic population. Next semester, we will host another Noche de Ciencias. We are also organizing a spring High School Leadership Conference, during which 40 high school students from Hispanic backgrounds visit Penn State for a weekend and enjoy numerous activities, including an extreme engineering challenge and visits to Beaver Stadium.

 

SHPE Penn State member Jeremick Agudelo poses with a glider plane

SHPE Penn State member Jeremick Agudelo poses with a glider plane

Julia Abreu, is studying energy, business and finance with a minor in engineering leadership development. She is the public relations chair of SHPE Penn State. 

Adriyel Nieves, SHPE Penn State president and electrical engineering major, spending time with a family at Noche de Ciencias

Adriyel Nieves, SHPE Penn State president and electrical engineering major, spending time with a family at Noche de Ciencias

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