College of Engineering and Physical Sciences logo and student photos

K-14 STEM EDUCATION OUTREACH OFFICE

CEPS K-12 Outreach Highlights

Engineers Week 2022

ENGINEERS MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE WITH WYOMING’S LEARNERS 

Over 3000 third graders across Wyoming learned hand in hand with professional engineers as part of the nationwide DiscoverE Engineers Week (EWeek) February 21-25, 2022.  Since Wyoming’s EWeek began in 2015, the event has become a highlight in elementary classrooms.  EWeek 2022 mathced over 100 professional engineers with over 3000 of Wyoming’s 3rd grade students. During the event, professional engineers guide hands on activities which engage students in learning opportunities that teach fundamental engineering principles while inspiring problem solving and innovative thinking. 

Governor Gordon recognized the event on February 16, 2022 by signing the Professional Engineers Week Proclamation. The Proclamation states, “Professional Engineers are encouraging our young math and science students to realize the practical power of their knowledge.”    

EWeek Wyoming is a collaborative effort with the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (UWCEPS), Wyoming Engineering Society, Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, the DiscoverE organization, and Union Wireless.

None of this would be possible without the generous sponsorship of Andy and Kim Krieger, UW Alumni, and Union Telephone of Wyoming. The CEPS wishes to extend our sincerest appreciation for supporting this important outreach effort and helping to inspire the next generation of engineers.  

Governor Gordon with The EWeek Team

Governor Gordon recognizes WY's PEs

Governor holding proclamation

WY State EWeek Proclamation

Image of Proclamation

Sunset Elementary

Cody

students working on mint mobile

Monroe Elementary

Green River

students working on bridge

Pig Piney Elementary

students working with engineer

Hobbs Elementary

Cheyenne

Engineer helping student

Jackson Elementary

Riverton

Students working on project

Fort Caspar Academy

Casper

students testing mint mobile

Arp Elementary

Cheyenne

Group Photo

Arp Elementary

Cheyenne

Engineer Working with Students

Moorcroft K-8

Students presenting poster

Mountain View Elementary

Students working in groups

Urie Elementary

Group photo of students with catapults

Dry Creek Elementary

Gillette

engineer teaching small group

Northpark Elementary

Rock Springs

Engineer working with small group

Cloud Peak Elementary

Buffalo

Engineers Teaching Engineering design process

Cloud Peak Elementary

Buffalo

students working on turtle bridges

Cloud Peak

Engineer working with students

Pine Bluffs

students building turtle bridge

St. Mary's

Cheyenne

Group photo of class and engineer

St. Mary's

Cheyenne

small student group conferring

Ralph Witters

Thermopolis

Students testing mint mobiles

LSRV

Baggs

Students smiling for picture with project

Laramie Montessori

Students working at table

Thank You, Union!

Union Logo

The Science Zone and professionals from WWC Engineering on Casper Mountain

The Science Zone in Casper held their Map It! Code It! Camp from June 14-18. Collaboration among the UW CEPS, the Science Zone, WWC Engineering, and Code Ninjas resulted in a fantastic experience for a group of 11-15 year old students. Students participated in authentic and hands-on learning during which they learned about mental maps, the purposes of maps, how to create scale drawings, understanding how to read topographic maps, and how GPS/GIS has changed the way we make maps.  Paul Heintz and Steven Cowley from WWC Engineering and Colleen Burridge, director of the Science Zone, worked with students on Casper mountain in the mornings to use GPS/GIS equipment to map Bear Trap Meadow. In the afternoons, Thea True and the Code Sensei at Code Ninjas helped campers use those measurements to code a video game and create the background and setting. 

Steven Cowley with WWC Engineering

An engineer talks to campers about maps

Mapping Casper Mountain

Campers work with a geographist to learn about latitude and longitude.

Latitude and Longitude

Geographist shows lines of latitude and longitude on a glove

Cool Tools!

Professional Land Surveying tool between two students.

Let's Map It!

Group draws lines of latitude on a large paper.

Back to Casper to Code

Campers work together to discuss their mountain measurements from the morning.

Video Game World Created from Maps

student works at computer

Code Sensei

Teachers lead a coding activity

Engineering Summer Program (ESP) 2021

The CEPS ESP for rising high school seniors took place June 21-24. What an amazing, insightful, and enthusiastic group! Kuddos for your hard work and can-do attitude to make this virtual camp so successful. Participants had fun while learning about combustion, the sustainable built environment, electronics, and bridges, water, and the world! Huge thanks to our instructors: Shawn Griffiths, Liping Wang, Bob Kubichek, and Erica Belmont. Also, thanks to David Mukai, David Bagley, Cam Wright, and Tyler Grabner for promoting the opportunities the CEPS has to offer. Finally, much appreciation to Brian Romero in the financial aid office and Kade Russow in the admissions office for taking the time to support the program. 

Virtual ESP 2021

Group on Zoom meeting

Earthquakes, Bridges, Water, and the World

Bridge made from straws with sandbag weights to test

Earthquakes, Bridges, Water, and the World

bridge made with straws tested by an amplifier

Making things with Electronics

An arduino hooked up with lights

Making things with Electronics

A computer screen with code

Combustion, Flames, and Measurements

a breadboard with a computer screen behind it

Combustion, Flames, and Measurements

a tealight candle burning

Combustion, Flames, and Measurements

a breadboard with wires and a computer screen

The Sustainable Built Environment

Light and sound meter on a table

The Science Zone Casper visits UW and the CEAS

On Thursday, July 22, 8 students participating in a week-long mountain biking camp with the Science Zone in Casper stopped by UW to play in the 3D Cave at the Energy Innovation Center and tour the EERB. Students had a blast in the cave while touring the human brain, walking on Mars, visiting faraway places on Google Earth, learning about density, and so much more. Thanks to Jared and Jerry for your knowledge and guidance in the 3D Visualization Center! Following that, the students visited the EERB where they saw some labs at work and toured the maker space. Their schedule didn't allow a more in-depth exploration of the CEPS has to offer, and they wanted to see more. Plans for a future visit are underway! Thank you, Science Zone Casper, for visiting UW! 

Thanks Jerry and Jared!

Jared teaches students how to use the 3D Cave

Exploring Mars

student uses VR goggles to explore mars

The human brain

student exploring human brain in 3D cave

The human brain

director in the 3D Cave exploring the human brain

What is Density?

Jared teaching students about water and oil molecules

Water molecules

student in 3D Cave

Oil molecules

student in 3D Cave

Space between molecules

Students reaching out for molecules in the 3D Cave

Teleporting on Mars

student teleporting in VR on Mars

Painting in VR

student uses VR to paint

Google Earth in VR

students using google earth in VR

Playing with DNA

students in goggles with 3D DNA

Thank you Science Zone Casper!

Group photo of the Science Zone group

Machine Learning for High School Teachers (ML4HST)

The very first session of the ML4HST teacher development workshop was a huge success! ECE professor, Dr. Suresh, and his team hosted this week long professional development opportunity for math, science, and technology high school teachers. Two high school students joined the sessions as well and provided valuable insight into how these concepts can best be used in the high school classroom. During this workshop, participants learned how to incorporate machine learning concepts into their classroom curriculum. The teachers and their high school student partners each received a NVIDIA Jetson Nano to take back to the classroom. Participating teachers and students came from Albany County SD1, Teton County SD1, Fremont County SD1, Fremont County SD 14, Uinta County SD 1, St. Stephens, and Johnson County SD1. 

Testing, testing.

High school teachers watch the Nano run a track

HS Students offer perspective

A teacher works to code with a high school student

The race is on

Nano on track

A few more changes.

Teacher codes nano

Did it work?

Teachers watch Nano race.

Dr. Suresh instructs and guides.

Dr. Suresh speaks to participants

Thank you for visiting!

The University president and dean of the college of education visit

Let me explain.

Teacher talks to group

A lot of work.

students working on nanos with track.

And the winners are.

group of teachers stand in the front of the class

Fun equipment

Equipment including laptop and Jestson Nano

Woo Hoo!

teachers celebrating

Wyoming Air National Guard STEM Day

The air national guard invited the CEPS to partner with them for their first annual STEM day for high school students. We all had a great time visiting with high school students from Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska. Dr. Suresh and his students represented the CEPS impressively with many interactive demos. 

The CSS Team

Students places autonomous vehicle on track

Augmented Reality HoloLens

autonomous vehicles on tracks

Autonomous Vehicles

vehicle on track

Autonomous flying drone for 3D spatial mapping

students holds drone

Raspberry Pi controlling robotic arm

raspberry pi controlling robotic arm

Even the adults had to play

service man in augmented reality glasses

Robot that teaches itself how to walk

spider robot and two students

Dr. Suresh from ECE getting ready

professor and student programing computer

CEAS Ambassador, Allison, leads the way

student leading others

Dr. Suresh's students ROCK

student explains AR to high school learners

Recruiting Opp

Recruiter speaks with student
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