L.LEA 195 – Engineering, Science, and Robotics

Overview: This conference is a ten-day immersion in Engineering, Science and Robotics for highly-motivated high school students. Through classroom lecturing, high-profile guest speakers, interactive small-group work, and a final engineering and robotics simulation, students will be exposed to a broad array of current issues relating to many dimensions of science and engineering. In addition, students are taken through LeadAmerica’s leadership curriculum, which is designed to enhance their ability to lead in their personal, academic, and professional lives. Students who complete the course earn one college credit from Loras College (with a second credit option). Lecturing is performed by college-level lecturers and engineering professionals with the assistance of Team Leaders, who are typically recent college graduates and undergraduate upperclassmen.

Course Content: Some or all of the topics listed below will be covered in the Engineering, Science & Robotics conference.

Readings: Students will be given approximately 80 pages of collegiate-level background reading assignments in science and engineering. In addition, they will be given approximately 20 additional pages of material to read for the Engineering and Robotics simulation.

Simulation: Throughout the course of the program, students will design, manage, and partially construct a self-propelled robotic vehicle capable of performing tasks devoid of immediate human interaction.

Classroom Activities: In addition to lecture and discussion, students will:

          • Build and launch a rocket simulate overcoming gravitational constraints
          • Compete in engineering and design challenges
          • Meet prominent professionals in engineering fields
          • Explore the ethical issues raised by rapidly developing technologies
          • Learn how engineering has impacted the history of mankind and vise-versa

Off-site experiences: In addition to field trips intended to expose students to the city in which the conference is held, conference participants take trips to some or all of the following: scientific museums, research laboratories, and university engineering departments.