Presenting Microsoft YouthSpark "Science for Success" at the Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center

Today (Feb. 21st),  I presented Science for Success at the Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center's Engineer the Future Day. The Science for Success booth featured a "STEM Connection" to provide information to young, middle school, and high school children of the opportunities available to them in the Pittsburgh area or nationally. My engineering friends and I answered questions including: what it is like to study engineering, occupations of engineers in our fields, and how we became interested in the sciences. Through our booth, we also featured Microsoft YouthSpark's free national programs and gave kids cool light up YouthSpark bracelets. 

In the morning my friends and I set out on our adventure. Set-up times for the event were between 8am and 10am; we left our dorm to board the bus around 8:30am. Our bus ride went smoothly to downtown Pittsburgh but, while taking the train to the Carnegie Science Center from downtown, we accidentally boarded in wrong direction. After the confusion, we rebounded in the correct direction, finally reaching the Carnegie Science Center. 

Once at the Carnegie Science Center, we eagerly set up the Science for Success/Microsoft YouthSpark booth. 

As the Center opened, children energetically poured in to explore. It was exciting for us to share information about fun opportunities in STEM and discuss the fields of engineering we are studying as college students. 

A little about my friends and their fields:

This is Aeriel, she is studying Industrial Engineering. Industrial Engineers improve processes, engineering systems to improve quality and production in workplaces.

Abby is studying Computer Engineering with a Software Engineering concentration. Computer Engineers focus on programming (software) and hardware to build computer-based systems in found in cars, phones, electronics, medical and other devices.

My friend Marium is studying Chemical Engineering. Chemical Engineers work to understand and design chemical processes to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and other products.

Talking with children about science and engineering was awesome and we enjoyed exhibiting!

The Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center is a fun place for children to experiment and learn. As exhibitors, we had an opportunity to discover the museum. RoboWorld is my favorite exhibit. 

In the afternoon, our floor Resident Assistant (RA), Evan, joined our booth as a volunteer. His enthusiasm and great connection with kids was much appreciated! 

I am very thankful for my friends who volunteered with me, helping make the Science for Success exhibit possible, Elisa Willman with the Microsoft YouthSpark team for sending swag and YouthSpark material, and Microsoft for funding my initiative.