Every year we host one day events for elementary and middle girls, in the fall, and high school girls, in the spring, to learn and get excited about a career in STEM.
Our event includes the following activities:
- Fun experiments
- Laboratory tours & demos
- Presentations on various engineering majors
- Insight for parents about the field of engineering & the University of Tennessee Tickle College of Engineering
At the fall 2022 Tomorrow’s Engineers Today, 40 middle and high school girls came to the Tickle College of Engineering campus to learn what it is like to be an engineer. They performed a variety of group oriented science experiments that challenged them to problem solve.
Middle Schoolers worked together to build bridges made out of popsicle sticks, plastic straws, tape, string, and rubber bands. Middle Schoolers also built roller coasters made of paper. High Schoolers worked together to build aluminum boats to study buoyancy. Additionally, high schoolers built hydraulic elevators made out of popsicle sticks, wooden skewers, and tubing.
Students also went on various tours around the Zeanah Engineering Complex as well as heard presentations from YNOT Robotics, Biomedical Engineering Society, and Systers: Women in EECS.
Overall, it was a great event and our SWE volunteers enjoyed inspiring the future generation of women engineers.
On a weekly basis, we work with Pond Gap Elementary School here in Knoxville where we lead the engineering club after school one day a week. Here we perform experiments with students in grades Kindergarten through Second Grade to encourage them to think about STEM in a fun, interactive way. Each of experiments is meant to highlight different areas of engineering and STEM.
Experiments include:
- Paper Roller Coasters
- Hoop Gliders
- Oobleck
- Binary Code Bracelets
- Ping Pong Catapult
The University of Tennessee showcases the Tickle College of Engineering to high school students around the area. We often volunteer at Women in Engineering events to help inform and encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM!
Every semester, SWE offers a multitude of volunteering opportunities for our members!
Our Past Volunteering Events include:
- Volunteering with UT Gardens
- Volunteering with Young Williams Animal Center
- Volunteering with Keep Knoxville Beautiful
- Volunteering with Beardsley Farm
- Creating cards for Hospitalized children
