Community

Generation Next Scholars

While engineering students and professors at colleges and universities are busy crunching code, running experiments, fabricating sub-50nm IC features, and creating frontier technologies, the communities around them are sometimes left behind. The Particle Flow & Tribology Laboratory knows that they cannot change the world but we are working to standardize a methodology to positively affect change within the local school system with a reasonable time commitment from the PFTL students and collaborators (see Messner and LeDuc). A newsletter article was written about some of our collaborative community work with Prof. Messner and LeDuc (turn to pg.10 of ME newsletter).

All of this is the vision that was written (in July 2004) for the "runners" in the PFTL.

Prof. Higgs issues a "Think Outside of the Box" challenge to Generation Next candidates.		Prof. Higgs gives solution to PFTL $2 challenge. While most groups were 90% finished, one finished!

We have identified a Pittsburgh Pubic High School as a haven of hope that would greatly benefit from exposure to cutting-edge engineering and science technology. We have decided that the best approach is to start with a 9th grade class and perform work that provides the following:

• Workshops on nanotechnology and the future of engineering;
• Motivational workshops about science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and “attending college”;
• Targeted mentoring for select students who we call "Generation Next" (see the bottom of page).

Mark demonstrates granular flow lubrication in the PFTL. (Not shown: Venkata Jasti who conducts the GKL modeling and experimentation using this rig)		Jon teaches nanoindentation in the PFTL

Elon challenges the students to develop a particle dynamics model before testing the model in a simulation in the PFTL.		Emmanuel discusses solid lubrication. Prof. Messner spearheads effort to bring Pittsburgh HS to visit the PFTL (and labs of Profs. Anna and LeDuc).

The project serves to awaken the talent and enthusiasm of the entire pre-college class, as the PFTL believes that being the so-called “best and brightest” is primarily a function of exposure. When the class completes their senior year of high school, the PFTL will begin a new cycle with the incoming 9th grade class. The pilot effort for a longer term model will also be created for laboratories at other universities who are conducting frontier research, but desire to transform the community around them without an inordinate time commitment-- maximum results with a practical time commitment. A measurable outcome would be the enthusiasm of the GN scholars, and their successful matriculation to college. Hopefully, they will major in science or engineering!

PFTL administers a problem solving challenge at Westinghouse HS		Pittsburgh's Westinghouse HS working hard to complete the analytical exercises administered by the PFTL family.

Activities are conducted by Professor Higgs and the PFTL personnel from Carnegie Mellon University. From these students, the teachers and the PFTL have identified several “Generation Next” (GN) scholars that would be allowed to:

• Attend the Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE) program at Tennessee State University (TSU) for two weeks.
• Take field trips to engineering sites and events,
• Take field trips to CMU laboratories, events, and various pre-college engineering initiatives.

The 1st "Generation-Next" (GN) Scholars have been selected. From left to right, they are Eugene (11th ), Nathaniel (9th), Justin (9th), Cedale (11th), Draquan (9th), and Terrance (10th). Most of the GN scholars were peak performers in the "Thinking Outside of the Box" workshops at Westinghouse High School-- a Pittsburgh public high school. The GN scholar have been dubbed as high-potential and represent the best and the brightest of the next generation of engineers and scientists from Pittsburgh. The PFTL in conjunction with its volunteer partners (Urban League of Pittsburgh, Westinghouse High School, Tennessee State University College of Engineering, and Carnegie Mellon's Office of Admissions) will offer mentorship, personal & professional development training, and academic/social enrichment experiences that prepare them to fill the pipeline to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. It is our hope that 100% of them earn scholarships to college and that 50% of then obtain PhDs. After all, they are Generation-Next!