Trine event introduces more than 100 students to engineering, science careers

More than 100 students from four area high schools learned about STEM careers and took part in hands-on activities related to science and engineering at Trine University’s “Impact Your Future: Careers in Engineering and Science” event on Feb. 22.

While the inaugural event last year focused on chemistry and chemical engineering, the 2024 version included Trine’s science, biomedical engineering and chemical engineering departments.

As a result, student numbers increased from 66 to 115, representing Jonesville (Michigan), Camden-Frontier (Michigan), Central Local (Ohio) and DeKalb Central schools.

“There are so many overlaps in career options between biomedical engineering, biology, chemical engineering and chemistry, it made sense to expand the program to include all these departments,” said Amanda Malefyt, Ph.D., professor in Trine’s McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and organizer of the event.

“We wanted high school students to have the opportunity to see, through firsthand experiences, the differences between degrees in engineering and hard science and the numerous options Trine has to offer. We also wanted to build their excitement toward the possibilities their future holds.”

Students were able to pick from multiple activities, such as separation and purification processes, large-scale distillation, water pollution remediation, construction of 3D-printed kinetic hands and hip joints, virtual reality for prosthetic design, Anatomage virtual dissection, invertebrate analysis, forensic science fingerprinting and tours of biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, biology and chemistry labs.

Alexis Zeiler, a science teacher at Jonesville Community Schools, said she brought students last year and this year because it offers a great opportunity for them to see what their opportunities are after high school.

“Many high school students are focused on going to college, but not necessarily what they will do after graduation,” she said. “Trine works with so many industries and has so many opportunities for their students, that I hope it helps our high school students to think about careers in science and engineering.”

The six teachers who brought their Advanced Placement or dual credit biology or chemistry classes were able to participate in seminars and networking activities, which included a tour of Trine’s makerspace and heat pressing T-shirts.

“Growing this program not only helps us connect with more students, but also helps us build and strengthen connections with local area teachers as we work together to educate and equip the next generation of students,” said Malefyt.

The event ended with lunch and a tour of Trine’s Angola campus.

A dozen Trine faculty and more than 40 students assisted with the event.

Impact Your Future: Careers in Engineering and Science received funding from a Lilly Endowment grant.