The campers were also shown how engineering impacts everyday challenges that most Americans and people from other first-world countries never face. Thomas Baginski, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, presented student-made, low-cost water purifiers that prevent water-borne diseases in impoverished locations. Today, more than five countries, most recently India, are reaping the benefits of these one-of-a-kind purifiers. Baginksi explained how a pinch of salt and specially coated electrodes work together to produce chlorine compounds that sanitize the water to make it potable.

Cheryl Seals, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, taught an introduction to computer programming class throughout the week. Campers were introduced to computing concepts, personal productivity tools, web page development and visual programming using the program Alice 3D. Lessons were put into action by having the students create a web page or interactive game about themselves, which they presented to the group.

Participants also received a tour of the automotive manufacturing systems laboratory, or the “Lego Lab,” from LuAnn Sims, graduate program coordinator and instructor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. In this lab, students use Legos to design and build vehicles at a rate of 70 cars per hour. Students produce three types of Lego vehicles: a 278-piece speedster, 254-piece SUV and 231-piece Baja car. The process requires 18 students, 15 for assembly operations and three for material delivery.

Christine Schnittka, a joint assistant professor in the College of Engineering and College of Education, gave an introduction to electrical generation and energy transformations by appealing to the students’ love of pets. In many regions, coal is the primary source of energy which ultimately harms the environment. By examining indicator species, such as amphibians and snails, scientists can see the effects of burning coal for energy. In her “Save the Snails” curriculum, Schnittka explained how to create electricity by capturing the energy from gravity, and in turn, limiting the use of coal.

Schnittka developed the snail teaching curriculum to portray engineering as a real-world situation to helping animals. “They have empathy for animals and want to develop ways to help them,” she says.

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