Nearly 200 high school students from Richland County and beyond visited the Ohio State University at Mansfield Feb. 14 to learn about opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
Eleven groups of students gained hands-on experience from faculty who led sessions in psychology, biology, physics, art, mathematics, artificial intelligence and more.
“Students really enjoyed all of the sessions we presented today,” said Diane Kanney, director of regional campus recruitment strategies and initiatives. “Our STEAM program helps expose students to subjects they may not be exposed to in high school, and it helps put a new spin on subjects they already know.”
A big emphasis was on hands-on learning, with teamwork and interaction.
Science of photography
Students in art professor Kate Shannon’s “Light, Shadow and Love” session learned about the history and science behind photography. They explored “camera-less” photography by placing objects on light-sensitive paper, while adding a touch of Valentine’s love to each final piece.
In a session called “Making a Scene,” Theatre Professor Joe Fahey divided students into actors, directors and designers, and tasked them with the job of creating a 60-second scene from a script.
“These sessions exposed students to some things that made them a little bit uncomfortable and a little outside of their comfort zone,” said Kanney. “They had to rely on their skills and each other, as they collaborated and worked as a team.”
Bethany Rachel, career coach for Ontario schools and a program manager for Junior Achievement, said the event exceeded expectations.
“My students were engaged throughout the day,” she said. “I noticed the energy in everyone we came in contact with and students felt the energy as well. It was a good opportunity to experience campus and also experience things they wouldn’t engage in on a normal basis.”
Solving a mystery
On the science side, students got to solve a murder mystery using several science experiments, build edible DNA using candy and study the teeth and limbs of fossilized monkeys and apes.
In a session called “Fall in Love with Psychology,” psychology professor Del Lindsey walked students through the scientific factors that influence sight perception, and professor Amy Brunell led a session on exploring personality traits.
In “Engineering Cupid’s Catapults,” led by engineering professor Juan Pablo Rincon, students worked to build small-scale catapults out of basic items like popsicle sticks, rubber bands and paper tubing – which were later used to launch buckeyes and candy hearts.
