PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (November 17, 2020) – As fall weather sweeps into Texas and kids continue their studies at school – whether they are attending in person or virtually this year – professors from Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) who hosted a STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) camp over the summer are hoping that their students will keep dreaming big.
Students who attended the Nuclear Power Summer Institute (NPSI) at PVAMU got hands-on experience with physics, chemistry, math, nuclear science, space, and so much more. Their teachers are hoping a little of that sticks – for their next school year, or even into a career in STEM someday as they continue their educational journeys.
“The summer camp resulted from a proposal by Dr. Osborne-Lee, Dr. Kirby, and Dr. Wilkins,” said Merlyn Pulikkathara, Ph.D., a tenure-track assistant professor of physics at PVAMU, and a strong supporter of STEM education being incorporated for all students – regardless of their background, gender, or experience. “I helped to organize it. As a team, we were successful for our students.”
Irvin Osborne-Lee, Ph.D. is a professor of chemical engineering at PVAMU; Kelvin Kirby, D.Eng., is a professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Richard Wilkins, Ph.D., is the director of the NASA Center for Radiation Engineering and Science for Space Exploration, Center for Applied Radiation Research, and a professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. They worked alongside NASA Research Scientist Leader Brad Gersey, Ph.D., and community advocate Tierashia Adair, the founder of A Message of Love (AMOL), to present the week-long virtual camp.
“We are a team of passionate scientists, engineers, and community leaders. We are driven by the sincere wish to improve the involvement of girls and minorities into STEM-related fields,” Dr. Pulikkathara said. “We hope to continue to do this for our students to come to our beloved PVAMU.
“Even though the camp was virtual, our team put together a kit for each camper that emphasized hands-on activities and learned to take measurements of real physical phenomena,” said Dr. Wilkins. “By doing these things, the campers were learning what real scientists and engineers do to make a living.”
The camp included opportunities for local high school students to learn about nuclear power, physics, chemistry, math, radiation, and various career options. It also included demonstrations, competitions, and speakers, including NASA Astronaut Stephen G. Bowen.
As educators, the team is aware of a shortage of students entering the STEM field following graduation – but this camp proved to students that an exciting world exists in the STEM industry and offered them a valuable experience they may not have otherwise had.
“Nuclear science is not something that the average person is aware of or even interested in,” said Ms. Adair, who invited 38 students to the camp, a majority of whom were girls. “As for the students who participated in the Day of Science, their excitement and interest in the hands-on materials and the demonstrations led by Dr. Richard Wilkins was contagious. The discussion and experiment with the irradiated beads was truly jaw-dropping. The girls squealing over what they witnessed was priceless.”
For each of the professors involved, some of the greatest highlights were the students’ reactions.
“This camp was a career highlight for me,” Dr. Wilkins said. “The campers were engaged, creative, curious, and honest. Campers stayed with the program throughout the week. I was very impressed and inspired by their consistent participation and efforts in the camp’s activities.”
The camp also offered students opportunities for leadership and involvement, as they got to educate each other and share what they learned through videos. For both Dr. Wilkins and Ms. Adair, it was a joy to watch from the sidelines as their students responded enthusiastically. Dr. Wilkins remembered that not only had they learned something, but the joy of STEM had been passed along from teacher to student.
“Because we have been an organization in the Waller County community for years and, in recent years, have expanded our reach beyond the county, we have built relationships with the girls and families we serve,” Ms. Adair said. “One of the greatest highlights for me was the younger students getting the opportunity to judge the videos that the high school students had created. The high school students were so creative and demonstrated a great understanding of what was learned during the week at the NPSI. After working with the team for this event, I learned so much and was in awe at some of the amazing information that was shared and demonstrated. You could see their faces and hear the enthusiasm in their voices.”
“We, the entire NPSI team, are currently seeking financial assistance to continue this program to encourage women and underrepresented minorities to participate in STEM disciplines,” Dr. Pulikkathara said.
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By Meredith Mohr