Outreach Projects to Broaden STEM Participation: Designed by Undergraduate Students at an Aerospace Engineering REU Site
- Conference
- Location
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Minneapolis, MN
- Publication Date
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August 23, 2022
- Start Date
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June 26, 2022
- End Date
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June 29, 2022
- Conference Session
- Page Count
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13
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--41816
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/41816
- Download Count
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256
Paper Authors
Benjamin Ahn Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Benjamin Ahn is an associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University. His research interests include (1) engineering workforce development, (2) student mentoring and diversity, and (3) teaching and learning mechanisms. Benjamin received a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University, an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, and a B.E. in Aerospace Engineering with first class honors from the University of New South Wales (Australia). Prior to joining Iowa State University, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
MacKenzie Reber Grove City College
I am a recent graduate from Grove City College (May 2022). I graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Chemical Engineering. I will be working as an applications engineer for ThermalTech in Pittsburgh, PA in August. My current research interests revolve around engineering education and employee proactive actions.
Abstract
This paper presents information about outreach projects completed by 13 students in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program offered in an aerospace engineering department at a U.S. midwestern university during summer 2021. The outreach project was a component of the REU program. This paper provides a detailed description of the outreach project goals and procedures and explores the project's impact on the students. Anonymous responses to open-ended questions show the positive impact the projects had on the students, including the satisfaction they received from designing and completing the projects from start to finish and potentially helping to broaden the participation of underrepresented students in STEM. Using an open-coding data analysis method, four themes based on student responses were identified. These themes include students' positive response towards the outreach project, their increased understanding of others' diverse walks of life, feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar situations, and gaining more confidence in pursuing their chosen degree. The paper concludes by presenting recommendations for other engineering REU sites considering similar outreach projects for their students.
Ahn, B., & Reber, M. (2022, August), Outreach Projects to Broaden STEM Participation: Designed by Undergraduate Students at an Aerospace Engineering REU Site Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41816
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