“ChemE Connect” Engages Over 60 High School Students in STEM Careers

More than 60 high school students from the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland participated in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering’s (CHBE) “ChemE Connect” program, a first of its kind initiative in this department that introduced STEM majors to prospective students.

The effort, which was proposed by the CHBE Strategic Initiatives Committee and supported by the A. James Clark School of Engineering’s “Increasing STEM Interest from High School Students” grant, featured a full day of programming that introduced participants to chemical and biomolecular engineering, career and mentorship opportunities, resources to ensure success and a current student perspective.

The participating institutions, College Park Academy and the DC International School, were introduced to the chemical and biomolecular field, welcomed into faculty laboratories and presented with the opportunity to connect and ask questions to current students.

"Hosting the ChemE Connect program has been an inspiring experience for our department. We are committed to sparking curiosity and passion for STEM in young students,” said Peter Kofinas, chair of the department. “By providing them with hands-on experiences and direct interaction with our faculty and current students, we hope to empower them to pursue careers that will drive innovation and address global challenges."

Here are some of the highlights of ChemE Connect. Photos of the event can be found on this Flickr album.

	Welcome, introduction to CHBE and the Clark School: Associate Dean for Diversity and Equity and CHBE Professor Akua Asa-Awuku, began the program with an overview of CHBE, career pathways in the industry and research opportunities, among others. Preceding the professor, Erin Wessell, the Director of Recruitment and Outreach Programs, presented an introduction to the Clark School’s programs and academic resources, as well as application deadlines and tips.
	Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering (CMSE): Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator Abeku Abercrombie from CMSE, kicked off an introduction to DEI programs, student groups, mentorship and professional development opportunities available at the Clark School. Members of the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Black Engineers Society (BES) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) introduced themselves as well.
	Laboratory tours: which exposed the students to real-world research challenges, took them to the Bio-Inspired Drug Delivery Laboratory, Functional Macromolecular Laboratory, Complex Fluids and Nanomaterials Group, and the Machine Intelligence Accelerated Materials Innovation (MIAMI) Laboratory. The students learned about innovations in drug delivery for women’s health, polymer treatments for post-surgical conditions, materials discovery using AI, and hydrogels.
	Undergraduate student panel: in which students discussed the academic transition from high school, career paths, making a college decision, work and life balance, choosing the right major, on-campus student organizations and residential life, among other topics. Speakers of this panel included five current Clark School students.

CHBE’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

The department’s mission is to “foster a system that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion as morally right and educationally sound, and that centers the wellbeing of individuals, communities and the environment.” Learn more about resources available.

Published October 11, 2024