High school students invited to experience STEM in action at Spring Tech Day

Roving robots. Buzzing drones. Steel forging competitions. Blasting demonstrations. Life-like nursing simulations, and cadaver experiences. Deep dives into artificial intelligence and video game creation. There is no better place for high school students to get hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) than Montana Technological University’s Spring Tech Day. This year’s event takes place on Friday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tech Day is a one-of-a-kind, hands-on college visit experience for prospective students. Students are invited to the main university campus in historic Uptown Butte, Montana, to experience a day of interactive laboratory breakout sessions, campus tours, and a chance to explore academic areas of interest.

Students who attend Tech Day can choose to participate in a variety of breakout sessions to get a full day of hands-on activities.

Associate Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering Dr. Douglas Galarus hosts a session called “From Games to Autonomous Vehicles,” which incorporates machine learning, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicle design.

Galarus starts the session with a game called “Beat the Bot.” Students begin with 21 coins, 20 quarters, and a penny. Students are allowed to take 1, 2, or 3 coins per turn and they may choose to go first or second. The winner of the game is the one to take the penny on the last turn.

“If you go first, you have a bit of an advantage,” Galarus said. “Still, for the most part, nobody wins at first. They don’t beat it. They can take the game home and try it. It gives them something to think about.”

Galarus tries to get the students to recognize possible patterns in the game.

“The game is very simple, but it is hard to beat,” Galarus said.

The students then learn how technology has advanced from computers beating the first checkers world champion in 1994, to beating the chess world champion in 1997, to the creation of “Watson,” the computer program that beat Ken Jennings at Jeopardy in 2011.

Students are then able to discuss how machine learning technology has advanced to the point where there are autonomous vehicles, but engineers are needed to help overcome problems like being able to disable them with something as simple as a cone on the hood, and programming in ethical or moral considerations that might arise on the road.

“There is lots of work yet to be done and many issues to be addressed,” Galarus said. “We are looking for students who have a good work ethic.”

For students who enjoy a bit more of a physical challenge, the Department of Safety, Health and Industrial Hygiene will have a hand strength test, floor slip test, radiation detection, and fall protection lab.

“Students get to see a variety of hands-on equipment used in the Safety, Health, & Industrial Hygiene programs,” said Associate Professor Lorri Birkenbuel. “Students can also put on a harness and hang from an anchor point while practicing one method to reduce strain on the body.”

Those interested in engineering, computer science, or math will want to sign up for the Mathematical Sciences Department’s session on tensegrity structures. In this interactive session, participants will work on constructing two tensegrity models using material that will be provided.

“Tensegrity structures are a particular type of structure used in structural engineering and architecture, and showcase how mathematics has very ‘real world’ applications,” Instructor Erika Asano said. “The mathematics behind designing such structures is a part of Linear Algebra, which is taught here at Montana Tech and is taken by majors in mathematics, computer science, and several streams of engineering.”

In addition to academic sessions, there will be optional campus tours at 8:30 a.m. Optional residence hall tours will take place from 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm.

All academic sessions offered include:

• Business & Information Technology (BIT): Learn how to use Microsoft Power BI, one of the world's leading business intelligence apps, and win prizes playing BIT-themed Jeopardy. 
• Cadaver Dissection Lab: Witness and interact with human cadavers and participate in a hands-on dissection of various animal organs in or Cadaver Lab session. Students will be able to learn more about our Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Exercise & Health Science programs. Limited to 20 students. 
• Chemistry: Join faculty as they run a chemistry of coloring metals, fluid art, and acidic patterns. Limited to 20 students. 
• Computer Science/Software Engineering: Students will see how a classic game leads to discussion for more advanced games, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and the ethical and moral dilemmas that can come from the AI applications. 
• Electrical Engineering: Put your skills to the test as you learn binary code and program a robot to follow a line on the floor. Students interested in electrical engineering, robotics, and computer science are encouraged to join!
• Environmental Engineering: Explore drone-based remote sensing data collection in water resources, engineering, and mine waste remediation projects. 
• Mathematical Sciences: Discover how building tensegrity models can be fun and learn how they can occur in nature alongside our Mathematical Sciences department. 
• Metallurgical & Materials Engineering: Learn how materials can be manipulated with casting and thermite welding demos, and a steel forging competition.
• Mining Engineering: Get to see what happens when chemical energy is released, and learn about the importance of safety in mining through a virtual reality (VR) experience. 
• Nursing Simulation: The Sherry Lesar School of Nursing will demonstrate the use of computerized mannequins that perform human functions to create a realistic clinical environment and give students an opportunity to explore a variety of healthcare scenarios. Limited to 30 students.  
• Safety, Health & Industrial Hygiene: Exploring the diverse world of occupational safety and industrial hygiene. OSH is a highly employable health science field with jobs in numerous industries worldwide. Limited to 20 students. 
• Petroleum Engineering: Join the Petroleum Department as they spin through our state-of-the-art laboratories with demonstrations. 
• Highlands College Campus Tour: Interested in one of our associate or certificate programs? This tour will give you a peek into the incredible hands-on lab spaces at Highlands College. Attendees must have transportation to 25 Basin Creek Rd. 

Prospective students can sign up at https://iam.mtech.edu/techdaydigital. If you have questions, please reach out to the Admissions Office at Montana Tech at admissions@mtech.edu or (406) 496-4754.