Activities

1. Anatomy and Physiology lab- Heart in a Box Challenge by Penny Kelly

How do chambers, vessels, and valves work together in a heart to maintain constant blood flow? Applying engineering principles to biological systems has led to the creation of numerous life-saving medical devices. In this STEM Challenge, you will integrate your understanding of the circulatory system with hands-on engineering practices to construct increasingly complex models of multi-chambered hearts.

2. Forensics lab- Criminal Investigation – Blood Typing by Penny Kelly

Blood typing is a method of classifying blood based on the presence or absence of specific proteins, called antigens, on the surface of red blood cells. Blood type, an inherited characteristic, is valuable to know in that it affects medical procedures, such as surgery and transfusions, paternity testing, as well as serving as evidence in criminal investigations. Determining blood type can help provide supporting evidence or eliminate a possible suspect’s involvement in a crime. During this activity we will learn how to do blood typing and apply the information to a forensics investigation.

3. Learn to Build a Computer! by Jamie Lang

In this hands-on session, you will learn to identify the hardware components of a computer, practice assembling a computer of your own, and learn how to budget for and eventually build your own desktop.

4. Learn to Create a Mobile App by Melissa Fearrington

Come learn how to create a mobile app! We will use App Inventor for Android to create a fun and interactive app that will be fun for all ages. No experience necessary. Devices will be provided, but feel free to bring your own Android device if you have one.

5. Paper Chromatography:

Elaborate drug-detection kits commonly used for substance-screening in places like the airports stem from basic substance-separation technique known as chromatography. The simplest version of this technique is paper chromatography which is used for the separation and identification of pigments and molecules from extracts that contain a complex mixture of molecules. In this workshop students will be given the opportunity of separating and identifying pigments from spinach leaves and aligning their findings with photosynthesis and seasonal leaf color changes as observed during fall.

6. Additive Manufacturing – 3d Printing by Josh Madore

We will explore the world of Additive Manufacturing with an emphasis on Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) desktop 3d printing. We will learn about the design and manufacturing process from 3d model to finished prototype and will identify pitfalls to avoid. Our design work will utilize the Autodesk Inventor CAD platform and the Repetier printer control software. Machine components, safety concerns, and setup procedures will be reviewed.

7. Subtractive Manufacturing - CNC Milling by Josh Madore

We will explore the world of Subtractive Manufacturing with an emphasis on CNC Milling using a HAAS TM-2P. We will learn about the design and manufacturing process from model to finished part. Our design work will utilize the Autodesk Inventor CAD platform and the Autodesk HSM CAM platform. Machine components, safety concerns, and setup procedures will be reviewed.

8. Vex IQ Clawbot Challenges

Participants will program some Vex IQ robots using RobotC Graphical. Teams of two will program the robot to do a variety of challenges. No experience is necessary.