| Abstract Scope |
One of the most impactful contributions to a field of knowledge is inspiring new minds to pursue that field, especially at the youth level. It is crucial that students are given the opportunity to discover a passion for STEM fields, such as materials science engineering at earlier ages to solidify pursuing fields that truly inspire them; and from the big picture perspective, continues to help diversify these STEM fields. Vice versa, the participation of engineering professionals and collegiate level engineering students in STEM outreach helps to create stronger foundations in understanding concepts, communication, and bridging the gap in cohorts: advanced/expert specialist, science/engineering students currently obtaining more knowledge, and the everyday person of society with basic knowledge. To that effect, outreach, education, and inspiration can be derived from a program focusing on exploration of glass science. Glass science is uniquely positioned between an accessible ease of understanding, and an engaging depth of content for students of all ages (elementary to high school) to explore. These concepts can be demonstrated to students both through hands-on demonstrations and active learning modules. Herein, we will discuss the merits of an engaging hands-on workshop performed in collaboration with Arupe Jesuit High School for middle school students from underrepresented areas of Denver Metro. We will also discuss the insights garnered by the execution of an outreach module on the Colorado School of Mines campus to expose students to Materials Science Engineering, as well as review areas of improvement for future modules. |