URI’s College of Engineering joined the Rhode Island Quonset Air National Guard to give high school students an innovative look at STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics).

Professor Mayrai Gindy, Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs in the College of Engineering, served as the URI coordinator for the event, working with 2nd Lt. Patricia Testa, associate athletic director for business and personnel for URI Athletics, who was the lead coordinator for the National Guard. 

Dean Gindy recruited faculty from Engineering, Pharmacy, Chemistry, and the Graduate School of Oceanography, who brought a total of 16 interactive STEM exhibits to share with the high school students 

Along with the University faculty, other organizations in attendance included URI’s Admissions, Electric Boat, WindWinRI, New England Tech, Civil Air Patrol, the Explosives Operations Division of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and Raytheon. In addition to showcasing URI’s offerings and the opportunities found at the state’s flagship public university, exhibitors at the event included NASA, Space Force, the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Civil Air Patrol, Rhode Island State Police, and the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team. 

This past year’s event drew 500 students from across Rhode Island, from Coventry to Woonsocket. Students got the chance to experiment with tools engineer students use in their field, learned to fly drones, and explored options in space with NASA as well as being given the opportunity to interact with 40 STEM exhibitors.

Dean Gindy says that events like these are critical for exposing young adults to STEM careers and the impact the field has on people’s day-to-day lives. STEM events like this give students the chance to think about what they might want to do in their own futures.

Learn more at https://stemrinationalguard.com/