MEDIA ADVISORY: Explore Engineering to give high school students a taste of the field

Who: About 30 area high school rising juniors and seniors interested in science, technology, math and engineering

What: Explore Engineering, a daylong event sponsored by Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science.

The community outreach event allows students to work with Washington University Engineering faculty and students and get hands-on experience in engineering projects to promote critical thinking.


Students will creating a prosthetic hand from funnels, Popsicle sticks and other everyday items, build a wind turbine and use computer programming software to build robots that battle each other.

Participants also will find out about what it takes to get a degree in engineering, what it’s like to be an engineering student and what kinds of careers are available.

Where: Washington University in St. Louis School of Engineering & Applied Science classrooms

When: Thursday, June 6, 2013

Interview/Photo opportunities: Students and faculty will be available for interviews and photographs during the hands-on activities between 9:30-11 a.m.; 12:40-2:10 p.m.; and 3-4:30 p.m.

Background: Explore Engineering, now in its third year, focuses on students who like math and science but may not be exposed to engineers through school, family or friends. The goal at the end of the day is to give students an experience that confirms to them what an engineer is and does and shows them the opportunities an engineering degree presents.