TechPREP — a STEM program for middle school students on Long Island — has received a $20,000 grant from the Long Island Community Foundation. TechPREP is a collaborative effort that includes Stony Brook University’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, Department of Technology and Society, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Research Technologies and Innovation, along with local school districts. The grant will provide funding and facilitators for a one-week summer STEM program, which will serve as many as 100 students from high-need school districts.
This award will provide for the eighth year of TechPREP to keep young women engaged in educational and experiential learning in the areas of biochemistry, mathematics and physics, and engineering and innovation at Stony Brook University. In addition, TechPREP will host a Women in Engineering Day — a one-day outreach event to engage young women from underserved school districts in interactive innovation, engineering, mentoring and leadership workshops.
“The grant from the Long Island Community Foundation will allow the Women in Science and Engineering Program (WISE) to continue TechPREP,” said Carrie-Ann Miller, co-director of the STEM Collaborative, which serves as an umbrella for TechPREP and STEM Tech. “TechPrep’s goals include developing opportunities for students to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics in fun and engaged ways. The program provides a variety of role models from the community, industry and the University. The students learn first-hand about innovation, project development and what potential they can have to impact the future.”
“The Innovation team is excited to participate in the summer TechPREP program in collaboration with the Stony Brook community,” said David Ecker, director of Research Technologies and Innovation. “Our mission is to inspire minds to think, create and innovate, and this opportunity will allow us to give students exposure to emerging technologies and innovative culture they don’t normally have. This program will give theses middle school students an experience that will inspire them to pursue further knowledge and involvement in STEM.”
“The Mechanical Engineering Department is pleased to partner with the WISE program to offer Long Island middle school girls a glimpse into a university science and engineering program through a design innovation and robotics workshop,” said Anurag Purwar, research associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “The TechPREP program generously funded by the LICF seeks to address the gender imbalance in engineering, and the Women in Engineering Day will introduce students to the art, practice and excitement of doing engineering design and ultimately help them make better career choices.”
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