The PAWES planning grant is working with schools across all age groups and levels of education to help establish an integrated approach to engineering education that will teach students about community engagement, policy development, and science communications. This will include development of classroom courses and distance learning to increase accessibility and ensure availability to all students, as well as experiential learning activities such as internships and funded undergraduate research opportunities.
Team members from the University of Tennessee will develop educational initiatives that build on and expand existing engineering outreach programs, such as PIPES (Possibilities in Postsecondary Education and Science), ASPIRE (Appalachian Students Promoting the Integration of Research in Education), STEM summer camps, LEGO League challenges, and active extension programs to ensure training, mobility, and success for higher-education and employment opportunities in engineering fields. Team members at the University of Puerto Rico will offer unique engineering research opportunities to offer K-12 and undergraduate students to contribute to creative solutions for wastewater treatment and testing.