Students at AMS took part in a full day of interactive STEM learning as RPI’s Engineer Ambassadors visited classrooms to share how engineers solve real-world problems. Through a mix of presentations and hands-on design challenges, students explored several fields of engineering and tested their own creative solutions.
Sessions included learning how engineers respond to forest fires by improving fire trucks, protective gear and fire-suppressing chemicals. Students then worked within a mock budget to design insulation that could protect a piece of chocolate from the heat of a hair dryer, reinforcing concepts of heat transfer and materials science. Other activities focused on tissue engineering and artificial organs, where students built model organs, and bioplastics in fashion, where they experimented with flour-based mixtures to create stronger, more biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastics.
Students also explored how mechanical engineers address rising sea levels by using different materials to protect a model home from simulated flooding. The visit concluded with guidance from team supervisor Michelle, who has partnered with AMS since 2018, as she spoke with students about planning high school courses and preparing early for college and engineering careers.
