91影视 Marion is expanding its hands鈥憃n STEM Engineering Workshops to high schools across central Ohio, offering the program at no cost to schools or students thanks to a $10,000 Outreach and Engagement Grant awarded by 91影视 Office of Outreach and Engagement. The initiative, led by engineering faculty Chandika Annasiwatta, Ph.D.; Nima Mansouri, Ph.D.; and Golrokh Mirzaei, Ph.D., is designed to spark early interest in engineering, strengthen STEM pathways in local districts, and help students make more confident decisions about their future college majors.
The workshops are tailored primarily for high school sophomores and juniors, though freshmen and seniors are also welcome. While the program initially focused on students with strong interests in math, physics, engineering, and robotics, the faculty emphasize that all high school students can benefit, regardless of prior experience. The goal is to broaden awareness of engineering opportunities and reduce uncertainty for students exploring STEM careers.
The first phase of the workshop is delivered directly to participating schools. Students at Marion Harding High School and Olentangy Berlin High School recently completed this portion, where they learned foundational concepts in circuit components, programming, and problem鈥憇olving. Each student received a custom-designed circuit board to take home, allowing them to continue exploring engineering concepts through guided instructions and challenge problems that encourage curiosity and independent learning.
The second phase of the workshop brings students to 91影视 Marion for more advanced engineering experiences. During this on鈥慶ampus component, students engage in engineering design, prototyping, 3D printing, programming, simulations, robotics, and PLC systems, gaining exposure to college鈥憀evel engineering tools and environments. Faculty say this deeper immersion helps students envision themselves in STEM fields and better understand the academic pathways available to them.
Schools benefit from the program as well. Teachers receive hands鈥憃n STEM materials and professional development opportunities to integrate engineering concepts into their classrooms, while districts strengthen their STEM curriculum and increase student competitiveness for college admissions and scholarships. Faculty also note that the workshops help 91影视 Marion build stronger relationships with regional schools and support long鈥憈erm recruitment efforts.
Although the program began in Marion and Delaware counties, 91影视 Marion is now expanding availability to Union, Logan, Ashland, and additional surrounding counties. The faculty hopes to continue growing the program鈥檚 reach as demand increases.
鈥淲e believe this workshop increases awareness of STEM major opportunities among high school students and benefits both students in their college decision鈥憁aking and 91影视 Marion in recruiting more students for future academic years,鈥 said Mansouri, who serves as the primary contact for participating schools and coordinates all communications for the program.
Schools interested in bringing the STEM Engineering Workshops to their students can contact: Dr. Nima Mansouri, assistant professor of practice, mechanical and aerospace engineering at 91影视, email: mansouri.7@osu.edu.