The STEM Outreach Program of the Volgenau School of Engineering is hosting its third annual Engineering Youth Conference on the Fairfax Campus on Sunday, February 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Middle school and high school students can learn about different engineering disciplines to help them figure out which one might be the best fit for them.
Middle school and high school students can watch a drone demonstration, make water jump, test biomedical devices, and learn about the technology behind virtual reality at the free Engineering Youth Conference Sunday, February 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The STEM Outreach Program of the Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE) is hosting its third annual Engineering Youth Conference on the Fairfax Campus as the kickoff event for Engineers Week, a national week dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.
The youth conference features engaging speakers, hands-on workshops, an exhibit hall, and networking opportunities.
The events—sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation and Fairfax County Public Schools—are designed to give the next generation of STEM professionals a chance "to live a life of an engineer for a day" and to help them see the spectrum of STEM careers and opportunities, says Kamaljeet Sanghera, executive director of STEM Outreach. “This is a chance for students to do activities in the engineering and technology fields,” she says.
Students will learn about different engineering disciplines to help them figure out which one might be the best fit for them. Professors, student organizations, and VSE industry partners will offer activities in the fields of civil engineering, computer science and technology, systems engineering, bioengineering, electrical engineering, and cybersecurity.
Attendees will able to examine exhibits on robotics, drones, and engineering video games as well as meet industry representatives and university faculty.
Guest speakers include Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni; Amazon Web Services Vice President Worldwide Public Sector Teresa Carlson; Northrop Grumman’s Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Michael L. Papay, and Director of Engineering Education for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Aisha Lawrey.
The event presenters include experts with VSE, Amazon Web Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, The George Washington University, Cisco, Fairfax County Government Office, and Hack Club.
More than 2,000 people participated in the event in the last two years.
Sign up here for the youth conference.