Grant to Fund Summer STEM Program for Underserved Teens
The AMETEK Foundation has awarded the Boston University College of Engineering $20,000 to host a summer program aimed at empowering underserved teenagers with exposure to engineering concepts and experience. Assistant Dean for Outreach & Diversity Wynter Duncanson visited the Wilmington, Mass., headquarters of AMETEK in December to accept a check on behalf of ENG.
“It was exciting to see the engineering design process being put to use,” Duncanson said. “Looking around the lab helped me identify some of the building blocks we can emphasize in our summer program to show students a true societal impact of engineering.”
Duncanson runs the Technology Innovation Scholars Program (TISP) with a mission to inspire, excite, and prepare the next generation of engineers. A diverse group of ENG students serve as TISP Inspiration Ambassadors, visiting urban schools and guiding hands-on engineering activities.
This summer, with the support of the AMETEK Foundation and in partnership with the Calculus Project, TISP Inspiration Ambassadors will lead 20 Black and Hispanic high school juniors and seniors through a weeklong program of research, learning and projects that incorporate biotechnology, cybersecurity, robotics, 3D printing, synthetic biology, microfluidics, and more.
On one day of the program, the students will visit the Wilmington facility of AMETEK, a leading manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. The teens will get their first up-close look at engineers in action—in this case, those engaged in aviation, aerospace and defense projects—and have an opportunity to ask them questions about their work.
“AMETEK understands the importance of supporting the next generation of innovators,” says Elaine O’Neil (’92), AMETEK’s vice president for sensor and fluid management systems. “The sustainability and technological advancement of aviation depends on high quality education, accessible to more people throughout the world. Our partnership with BU and the TISP program helps us to achieve our mission to help at-risk and underserved students to better prepare for careers in STEM fields.”