Derek Anderson, Landon Barnett, Laura Burke, Alexa Cook, Beau Ivie, Braydon Roberts, Jason Roberts, and Kyler Stilson from Emery High School were among the 255 students excelling in math and science who attended Utah State University’s 23rd Annual Engineering State program in Logan June 8-11. The intensive four-day program introduces high school students throughout the region to the engineering profession and is sponsored by USU engineering alumni, school district foundations, engineering firms, and businesses. Students participate in a variety of Challenge Sessions taught during the week.
Among the 19 hands-on, competitive exercises called Challenge Sessions, students will create and explore simple 3D worlds with virtual reality headsets and write “intelligent” code which can solve puzzles unsolvable by humans; learn about testing waterwheel designs for the best efficiency producing hydroelectric power, how to build filters to clean up waste water, and how to find the size of a mountain using surveying equipment. They will also learn about spectrometers and how they are used for complex applications such as identifying bacteria and detecting cancer in biomedical photonics; check microbial biosynthetic genes and observe the production of a natural blue pigment in an engineering Escherichia coli strain.
The students will also obtain hands-on experience setting up a process to extract protein from algae in order to make health products for people and feed for animals and test the mechanical properties of bones by performing 3-point bending and compression testing. They will also build personal speakers; utilize computer modeling for a visual understanding of composition and microstructure of selected materials; melt chocolate to re-solidify into crystallization of a different structure; and participate in challenges to include the Oreo Tower, Ping-Pong Target, and the infamous Egg Drop.
Engineering professors at USU donate their time to introduce students to their profession and challenge them in exercises which use math and science to solve physical problems. The Engineering State program at USU has been instrumental in attracting top students to engineering departments at universities across the state. Since many students receive little exposure to engineering in the high school setting, attendees to Engineering State receive a hands-on introduction to engineering. Besides an outstanding orientation program for engineering, attendees experience the university environment and receive information about the financial resources available for students who seek higher education.
For more information about the Engineering State program, contact Kathy Phippen, Program Coordinator, at (435) 797-2843.
Recognition: Engineering program
"Alexa Cook"