DURHAM ─ STEM for Kids, Gilero Biomedical and Kenan Fellow Justin Osterstrom developed a camp for fourth through eighth grade students on Aug. 4 and 7, 2014 at the Gilero Biomedical facility in Durham.
Working in small teams, the campers brainstormed ideas to improve a product, conducted mock user interviews, implemented their concepts using 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software, built prototypes with 3-D printing technology, and tested their designs in Gilero’s lab.
Through this process, the students learned about prototype fabrication equipment, building customized keepsake trinkets and using their newly-designed prototype to enjoy ice cream at the end program.
“Young children are natural engineers because of their curiosity and their desire to explore and experiment,” said Ted Mosler, Co-Founder, President & CTO of Gilero Biomedical. “What better way to support the U.S.’s and local community’s growing need for future engineers than to show our kids how fun and exciting our profession really is.”
Programs such as this make STEM fun and real for kids, program organizers said.
“Working hands-on with engineers using engineering systems ─ STEM doesn’t get any more real,” said, Moni Singh, Founder and CEO of STEM For Kids. “Through this program, Gilero Biomedical and its leadership team are setting a phenomenal example of how industry can facilitate real-life making and STEM experiences for the young minds.”
Osterstrom, a 2010-11 Kenan Fellow, said providing this type of learning environment for students is a dream for students and teachers.
“What an incredible learning experience these students received in two days at the STEM for Kids camp at Gilero Biomedical,” he said. “They were fully immersed into a real-world task that challenged them to think, act, and work together as engineers. These are experiences every teacher hopes to create in their classroom on a daily basis.”
News 14 featured the camp in a news story. Watch the video.
**Photo Credit: STEM for Kids