Kids can explore engineering careers through hands-on experiments

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Imagination, Innovation, Discovery and Design. Four concepts that became the foundation for the women in engineering after-school program I2D2.

"I know especially when I was younger there were no programs such as this," I2D2 team leader Theresa Scheidler said. "I think it's very important and I hear feedback especially from kids all the time saying that they didn't know an engineer would do this."

Each semester women in Purdue's engineering program spend time with students at area schools teaching kids what engineers do through hands on experiments. Scheidler said they use concepts students learn in the classroom combined with engineering terms.

"Design process, team building, obviously focusing on different engineering concepts, but also the underlying science concepts. It's a lesson that they learn, it's a fun activity and it also introduces them into different disciplines," Scheidler said about what the program highlights.

The after-school program is open for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. The purpose, Scheidler explained, is to encourage engineering as a future career choice.

I2D2 volunteers work to make sure there's something that interests everyone.
    
"We tailor it for various ages, various learning levels to really show them that there is a different aspect of engineering, or engineering related concepts that everybody can really be engaged in," Scheidler said.