2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Development and Implementation of K-12 STEM Outreach Programs in Industry and Academia: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned

Presented at Engagement in Practice Lightning Round: Engineering with and for Community Partners

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of job openings in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) occupations is projected to grow by almost 11% by 2031. To meet this projected demand, industry and academia need to implement outreach initiatives to encourage student recruitment into STEM degree fields. While most outreach initiatives typically focus on high school students, research shows that students’ career decisions are influenced at a much earlier age. Therefore, it is necessary for industry and academia to target an even younger demographic all the way to kindergarten and first grade. This presentation highlights different outreach initiatives developed by the authors in academia and industry to teach K-12 students about STEM. The primary goal of these programs is to make younger students aware and excited about career opportunities in STEM fields. These outreach initiatives utilize innovative teaching strategies and curricula to teach K-12 students about STEM, what skills are necessary to work in STEM careers, and what types of careers opportunities are available. During the presentation, a summary of each program will be shared as well as program successes, challenges, and lessons learned.

As a result of attending this session, participants will:
• understand the value of outreach programs to K-12 students and other community organizations
• learn about innovative presentation strategies and activities that could be incorporated into similar programs at other institutions and companies
• learn how to incorporate current higher education students and industry employees into outreach initiatives

Authors

Dr. Jennifer A. Warrner Ball State University [biography]

Jennifer Warrner is an assistant professor and internship coordinator in the Department of Construction Management and Interior Design at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
Dr. Joe Bradley University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign [biography]

Joe Bradley is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Bioengineering in the Grainger College of Engineering, a Health Innovation Professor and the Director of Engineering Education and Entrepreneurship in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. His research focuses primarily on engineering design/Bio Design collaboration in transdisciplinary teams. He has used and developed tools to study the alignment of products and services with organizational processes as an organization seeks to address needs and bring new products and services to the market.
Dr. Sirena C. Hargrove-Leak Elon University [biography]

Sirena Hargrove-Leak is a Professor of Engineering at Elon University. The mission and commitment of Elon University have led her to explore the scholarship of teaching and learning in engineering. More specifically, her current engineering education interests include entrepreneurial mindsets, user-centered design, project-based learning, and broadening participation in STEM − particularly for populations historically underrepresented in STEM fields. As a teacher-scholar, Dr. Hargrove-Leak is passionate about applying what she learns in her research in the classroom, while mentoring undergraduates in research projects driven by their personal and professional interests, and in service in the local community to get young people excited about STEM.
Dr. Anand Nageswaran Bharath Cummins Engine Company [biography]

Anand Nageswaran Bharath obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. His research area focuses on optimizing internal combustion engines through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to improve fuel economy and emissions. He is currently a senior engineer in Combustion Research at Cummins Inc., where in addition to his primary role in developing future engine systems, he leads a planning team of Cummins engineers in organizing an after-school STEM Outreach Program at Girls Inc. to encourage girls to pursue STEM Careers.

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