Can we curtail the STEM pipeline attrition and to inspire more students to pursue electronics and microelectronics career paths?
We have carefully designed the summer program to show high school students the real-world relevance of embedded systems. The objective is to inspire these students and boost their interest in pursuing electronics/microelectronics careers. The STAM Center summer outreach program draws students from the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
This year’s program ran from June 5th to the 8th. The technical component of the program introduced high school students to microelectronics, electronics and robotics programming. The program welcomed 17 high school students, ranging from first-year students to seniors, from schools across Greater Phoenix including Desert Vista High School, BASIS Goodyear, Dobson High School and Mount Graham High School, among others.
Participating students learned about concepts including Ohm’s Law, simple electrical circuits, microcontroller input and output control and embedded programming, and constructed light-controlled robotic cars. To conclude the event, the students raced their creations to determine who developed the best robotic car.
Scott Swenson, a student from Corona del Sol High School, received first place with additional awards including Most Innovative and Best Construction awarded to Jacob Gessing of ASU Prep Digital and Carla Flores of Safford High School. Winners and participants received Sun Devils souvenir items.