Photo By Mark Schauer | Garry Rosene, U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) Development Division Chief (right),...... read more read more
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Many times, careers are more a matter of chance and inspiration than destiny.
As such, a variety of U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) outreach efforts encourage local youngsters to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in hopes they eventually become members of the workforce.
“We’re trying to get more outreach and community engagement and expand upon our future generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators,” said Janett Rios, YPG STEM Outreach Coordinator. “We want to give these students some growth and encouragement in STEM fields.”
YPG’s outreach efforts in this area have become a model for the Army Test and Evaluation Command as a whole. In the past year, YPG has entered educational partnership agreements with Arizona Western College, the Desert Research Institute, and the University of Arizona. Through the latter, YPG officials have interacted with the Arizona Department of Education and the Yuma County School Superintendent’s Office.
“I pitched the idea of doing a pilot program to get STEM kits to high schools and, eventually, lower grades as well,” said Todd Hudson, Director of the YPG Technology and Investments Directorate. “This is our first effort to gauge interest from the local high schools: if they are interested, we hope to take the kits to classrooms at least once per quarter.”
Toward this end, YPG personnel involved in STEM outreach held a public presentation of a STEM kit for educators at the main branch of the Yuma County Library in early May.
“We’re looking for district engagement for us to make sure we are aligned with Arizona curriculum and understand what the teacher perspective is,” said Rios. “Would they prefer us to go inside the school, or would they feel comfortable taking on a kit we develop by themselves?”
Participants saw an existing kit developed by the Desert Research Institute regarding desert riparian areas, as well as components of a 3D printing kit currently being developed by YPG, which is geared toward high school sophomores. Kits for elementary students developed by YPG’s STEM outreach program are also in the works.
“The 3D printing kit more aligns with the test and evaluation community and what YPG does,” said Garry Rosene, Development Division Chief. “It is more focused on engineering design, the process of going through evaluation, and doing statistical analysis and material properties.”
Three additional kits adapted from the Army Educational Outreach Program concerning electric vehicle testing, solar energy, and a catapult design kit were also discussed.
“We want the students to actually do the experiments, get jazzed about math and science, and then do the test and evaluation spin about why it is important to the Department of Defense and why you need these skills to be a test officer, or a radar technician, or someone in financial management,” said Hudson.
The kits add to an already-robust STEM outreach program from YPG, including such well-received programs as the annual Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science summer science camps that enthrall 80 local sixth through eighth grade students each June.
“My division is the Development Division, helping YPG complete its future mission, and part of that is the future workforce,” said Rosene. “Getting more young people enthusiastic about STEM is right in line with what we should be doing.”
| Date Taken: | 05.22.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2024 09:47 |
| Story ID: | 471888 |
| Location: | YUMA , ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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