UTK Research Centers Host Summer Camp for Local Middle Schoolers
During the week of July 10-14, the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS), the Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE), the Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT), and the University of Tennessee (UT) collaborated to host “Adventures in STEM,” where middle school students learned concepts related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through fun, hands-on activities, teamwork, and field trips, while engaging with scientists and engineers.
The camp, designed for rising 7-9 grade students, focused on ecology, biodiversity, electric circuitry, renewable energy, solar and wind power, and more. Generous financial support came from Emerson Electric and EmersonProcess Management, Knoxville, with additional support from NIMBioS.
The week kicked off with ice breakers and outdoor activities that used observations, inferences, and data collection to help students draw conclusions about the world around them using circuits, magnetism, and electric motors in hands-on activities.
This collaboration between academic, industry, and community partners, including educators, STEM graduate students, public school teachers, and field experts, allowed campers to learn about real world applications and how science and technology could shape their future. Campers talked with engineers and current undergraduate and graduate students to learn about their paths to a career in environmental engineering.
To wrap up the week, campers visited Ijams Nature Center and learned about clean energy access from ClearLoop, a Nashville based solar company, to know more about how solar energy impacts our lives.
NIMBioS project manager, Kristen Mecke, and Dr. Chien-fei Chen organized this camp with support from two middle school educators, Miller Callaway and Erin Canter.
“Camps allow time for kids to investigate questions and explore subjects without the pressure of being graded so things can be more “go with the flow,” and we can really tailor the experience to individuals rather than a strictcurriculum. I am excited to see what types of activities spark interest in students throughout the week,” Mecke said.
Callaway taught the engineering and technology portion of the camp. “It’s summer camp, so we try to keep it as lightand as interactive as possible, so I am sure they are happy to not be taking notes and not have an exam at the end of the day. They do seem to be genuinely excited about the possibilities this week.”
“Science can relate to a lot more things than I thought, like going outside and seeing the biodiversity of ecosystems,but also getting to learn more about the engineering and building part. The camp helped me expand my definition of science,” Kevin, a rising 8th grader said.
CURENT and NIMBioS have worked together on hosting Adventures in STEM from 2013-2018, with additional support from ISSE this year, striving to reach more boys and girls from local communities. There was lots ofexcitement from staff, educators, and parents as the camp was relaunched after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Chen-Fei Chen said, “I think it is critical to expose children to these types of opportunities when they are stillyoung, especially middle school aged students. Early exposure to STEM education is the key to getting the childreninterested. I wish I had this opportunity when I was young,” she said. She emphasized the gender imbalance in engineering and other science fields; “engineering and math are not just for boys. It is for women and anyone else who might be interested.”