Christian Brothers University (CBU) has a strong School of Engineering (600 East Parkway South, Memphis 38104). The university continues to promote an interest in the field in young people through the workshops and programs it offers throughout the year. This summer, CBU is holding the Aspiring Engineers Workshop that is geared towards rising freshman through rising senior high school students. The three-day hands-on program is for students who have a strong interest in math and science.
There are four engineering majors offered through CBU’s School of Engineering; Chemical/Biochemical, Electrical/Computer, Civil/Environmental and Mechanical. Workshop participants will learn about each of those areas from guest speakers in the fields and through hands-on engineering experiments. The tentative schedule for the week is the following:

Picture courtesy of CBU.
Mechanical Engineering
Monday, July 11
Instructor: Dr. Paul Shiue
8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Intro to Mechanical Engineering
9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Propeller Demonstration
10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Thermodynamics and Fluids
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lunch and Guest Speaker
Chemical Engineering
Instructor: Dr. Randel Price
12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Intro to Chemical Engineering
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Process Safety
1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m. Smiles and Stoichiometry
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Snack and Guest Speaker

Picture courtesy of CBU.
Tuesday, July 12
Electrical/Computer Engineering
Instructor: Dr. Divya Choudary
8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Intro to Electrical/Computer Engineering
9 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Robot Car
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lunch and Guest Speaker
Civil Engineering
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Assadollahi
12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Intro to Civil Engineering
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. K’NEX Activity
1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m. Lab Demonstrations
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Snack and Guest Speaker
Wednesday, July 13
Engineering Wrap-up
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. CBU Campus Tour
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Student Panel Discussion
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cookout and Swimming Party

Picture courtesy of CBU.
Dr. Paul Shiue, Department of Mechanical Engineering, e-mail , (901) 321-3424
Dr. Divya Choudhary, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, e-mail, (901) 321-3427
Dr. Randel Price, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, e-mail, (901) 321-3412
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©2015-2016 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
CBU Offers Spring S.T.E.M. Workshop for Girls
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapter on the Christian Brothers University (CBU) campus is offering a free spring S.T.E.M. workshop for girls in sixth through twelfth grades. The focus will be on Electrical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and give girls a better understanding of S.T.E.M. programs and careers in those fields. The organization hosted a fall workshop last year that was student-led by CBU SWE, undergraduate sophomores Yuliana Luna and Georgina Johns. Both students are involved again with the spring workshop that will be held on Thursday, February 25 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the campus.
Although Yuliana and Georgina both knew they had an interest in engineering, they agree that girls attending the workshop do not have to be already interested in the field. The workshop will provide an opportunity for girls to learn more about both areas of engineering that offer so many possibilities and are often not pursued by females. Their goal is to encourage girls to consider engineering, or any S.T.E.M. program, when it comes to choosing a course of study and career.
Two workshops will be held on the day, with one for sixth through eighth graders and a second for ninth through twelfth graders. There will be discussions, demonstrations and hands-on opportunities. Let your S.T.E.M. confident daughter learn more about her area of interest. Also, encourage your daughter who may not have any interest in the S.T.E.M. areas to attend the workshop, so she may learn more about what “she knows she already doesn’t like”. After the workshop, she will definitely know either way.
You may register online. E-mail Yuliana Luna or e-mail Georgina Johns for more information.
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©2016 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
SWE at CBU to offer S.T.E.M. workshop for girls
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapter on the Christian Brothers University (CBU) campus in Memphis is sending a “shout out” to all girls who may or may not have, ever considered pursuing a degree in a S.T.E.M. field. The organization has previously hosted spring and summer workshops presented by CBU administrators, but this is the first time a student-led workshop has been presented. The SWE Fall Workshop will be held on Saturday, November 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
As workshop co-chairs of the CBU SWE, undergraduate sophomores Yuliana Luna and Georgina Johns have created the free workshop for middle and high school girls to introduce them to S.T.E.M. career opportunities. Their goal is to encourage girls to consider engineering, or any S.T.E.M. program, when it comes to choosing a career.
“When I was younger, I knew I was good at science and math, but I was more interested in the performing arts,” said Luna who is majoring in Civil Engineering, with a minor in Packaging Engineering. “I liked math in high school, but I did not have this passion. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized I was really good at math. I like science and physics and that is how I decided to get into engineering.”
Johns knew early on she wanted to study engineering.
“I was pretty good in math and I figured engineering would be the right way to go,” said Johns. “I am more of a visual person, so I’m studying Structural Engineering. To see structures built up by calculations is pretty cool to me.”
The women have benefitted from their membership with SWE in many areas like tutoring; association with a number of professional female engineers; mentoring support and resume assistance. Luna and Johns both graduated from schools in the Mid-South area; Luna, from Cordova High School and Johns, from Houston High School. They want to encourage other girls as they have been supported.
“There are not enough women in this field and it would be great to have more,” said Luna.
There will be a morning session from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for sixth through eighth graders and an afternoon session from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for ninth through twelfth graders. The focus will be on Civil and Mechanical Engineering. There will be discussions, demonstrations and hands-on opportunities. The workshops will be taught by a CBU professor and an upper-class senior from the engineering department.
“Some of the activities include working with math, physics and different types of sciences,” said Johns. “In the Civil Engineering workshop, there will be bridge building using K’NEX . The same engineering will be covered in both workshops, but the older level will be a little more advanced.”
Luna and Johns have great expectations for the day and shared girls are already responding to “the call” and have registered for the workshops. Both women agreed the engineering field is growing and will continue to be a part of the future. They want to see more women involved.
“Engineering is going to grow and we need diversity, meaning females in the field, to get a different perspective than males,” said Johns. “I think, over time, females will hopefully rule over the engineering profession.”
E-mail e-mailing Yuliana Luna or Georgina Johns to register for the workshop.
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©2015 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.