Duke University’s engineering department has made significant strides this summer in community engagement through various outreach programs. These initiatives, led by the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Sciences (MEMS), aim to inspire both college and middle school students by providing hands-on experiences in research and STEM fields.
Engineering Opportunities for Undergraduates
One standout initiative is the collaboration between Duke Engineering and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). This program pairs NCCU students with Duke labs for a nine-week research experience. As NCCU lacks an engineering school, this partnership offers valuable insights into engineering careers. The inaugural Pratt-NCCU cohort, guided by program director Carmen Rawls, fosters a sense of community among participants.
Students participated in activities that included communal lunches and social events, which helped them bond over shared experiences. “One conversation the students and I had early on was about how their experiments were not going right on the first try,” said Rawls, who serves as the assistant dean for advising and outreach at Duke Engineering. “By talking with other students, the scholars learned that they were all going through the same thing. They realized that setbacks are a natural part of research.”
Among the participants, Jayvon Butler, a senior from NCCU studying physics with an engineering focus, collaborated with MEMS professor Christine Payne. Butler’s research involved exploring nanoparticles for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery. “This experience not only broadened my technical skill set but also helped me grow in a professional research environment,” Butler stated, expressing gratitude for the mentorship he received.
Rawls envisions growth for the program in future summers, highlighting its role in guiding undergraduates toward engineering careers. “Building these connections between schools could also open doors for future collaborations as these students apply to grad school or otherwise decide what their next step will be,” she added.
Engaging Middle Schoolers in Mathematics
The summer outreach efforts also extended to younger students through the Girls Exploring Math (GEM) program, which engages middle schoolers in interactive math activities. Open to all rising seventh- to ninth-graders in Durham Public Schools, the two-week workshop encourages students, regardless of their comfort level with math, to explore the subject creatively.
Activities included hands-on puzzles that introduced concepts such as fractals and topology using paper crafts and bagel slicing. “We want to show students that math can be fun,” explained Sophia Santillan, a MEMS associate professor and one of the program’s directors. “You don’t always have to do things in a formulaic way: you can build creative solutions.”
Along with Santillan, co-directors Tori Akin and Lauren Valentino have received positive feedback from participants and their families. Valentino, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted the importance of changing students’ perceptions of STEM fields. “We know from social science research that there’s a stereotype of STEM jobs being solitary jobs where you can’t help other people, and this can drive students away from pursuing those paths,” she said.
The GEM program has thrived since its inception in 2018, with plans to expand its reach to more communities and create a curriculum that can be replicated by other educators.
Robotics and Outreach at the Library
In another innovative outreach effort, Duke Engineering partnered with the Durham Public Library to introduce robotics to children. This one-day event featured interactive stations designed primarily for K-6th graders, although visitors of all ages were welcome. Activities included a color-sensing Lego car and a pneumatic robot arm, allowing children to engage actively with technology.
Graduate student Gabriela Morales, who designed the stations, recalled the excitement from the children. “At one point, a child who had never had any coding experience wanted to see what the code for the color-sensing Lego car looked like,” she shared. “One hour later, that kid was playing with the actual code on my laptop.”
The event not only benefited the children but also provided Duke students with opportunities to enhance their science communication skills. Siobhan Oca, director of MEMS Master’s Studies, emphasized the motivational aspect of such outreach. “It’s awesome to get outside the lab once in a while and see a kid’s eyes light up because they understood something for the first time,” she remarked.
Oca expressed a desire for these robotics events to become regular occurrences at the library, potentially introducing educational takeaway kits for children to continue their learning at home.
Duke Engineering’s outreach efforts this summer have made a tangible impact, inspiring the next generation of innovators in both engineering and mathematics. With continued support and expansion, these programs promise to foster curiosity and creativity among students in the years to come.
