Registration for MTSU summer STEM camp open until May 15

Amy Phelps, professor and interim chair for the Middle Tennessee State University Chemistry Department, addresses a group of high school students attending the 2023 College of Basic and Applied Sciences summer STEM camp in the Science Building on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Rising 10th through 12th grade students for the 2024-25 academic year are invited to attend this year’s STEM camp July 15-19. Registration is open until May 15. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For high school students entering the 10^th through 12^th grades, the Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences’ third annual summer STEM camp has a variety of educational and fun activities.

You will receive a sample of Engineering Technology, Physics, Science Education and more that are a part of STEM — science, technology, engineering and math. Students will learn about quantum computing, the chemistry of foods and more in classes and have fun in the Student Union game room, Campus Recreation Center and movie theater.

Middle Tennessee State University engineering technology assistant professor Hongbo Zhang, center, explains to College of Basic and Applied Sciences 2023 STEM summer camp participants about his ultraviolet light research in grow tents in the Voorhies Engineering Technology Building on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. More than 70 high school students attended the second-year camp June 19-23. Registration is open until May 15 for this year’s camp, to be held July 15-19 for rising 10th through 12th grade students. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt) — Middle Tennessee State University engineering technology assistant professor Hongbo Zhang, center, explains to College of Basic and Applied Sciences 2023 STEM summer camp participants about his ultraviolet light research in grow tents in the Voorhies Engineering Technology Building on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. More than 70 high school students attended the second-year camp June 19-23. Registration is open until May 15 for this year’s camp, to be held July 15-19 for rising 10^th through 12^th grade students. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

Registration remains open until May 15 or until the 70 camp slots are filled. The fee to attend is $250. To register, visit https://mtsu.edu/cbas/summercampregister.php.

Heather Green, master instructor and MTeach program coordinator — Dr. Heather Green

“This camp is an opportunity for students to interact with STEM faculty and students at MTSU while also learning some of the STEM topics and programs offered at MTSU,” said Heather Green, master instructor and MTeach program coordinator. “In addition, student groups will have an undergraduate and a graduate facilitator with them all day. Those facilitators will be able to answer questions about life as an MTSU student, STEM majors and STEM careers.”

The camp is a collaboration with the MTSU Tennessee STEM Education Center.

For more information, call 615-898-2613.

The camp schedule

Monday through Wednesday, campers will participate in three of six sessions:

• Biology — Tales of two vultures; visit the outdoor forensics facility, review camera footage of vultures at the facility and compare behavior of two vulture species.

• Chemistry — The Science of Sustenance: Experiments exploring the chemistry of foods.

• Physics — Quantum Quest: Exploring the frontiers of quantum computing/hands-on experience with quantum matter and quantum computing.

• Engineering Technology — Programmable logic controllers, robotics and experimental vehicles program/activity in vision system training.

Razan Mirghani, left, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Dylan Dennis of Nashville, Tenn., and Turner Olsen of Ooltewah, Tenn., work together to solve a chemistry problem during the second MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences STEM summer camp at Middle Tennessee State University in June 2023 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The camp, which will be held July 19-23, gives high school students a taste of biology, chemistry, math, science education, physics and engineering technology through fun activities and events with real professors in a college setting. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

• MTeach — Campers will learn how to guide inquiry-based lessons that get students engaged in STEM and also get to experience the lessons.

• Mathematics — Reading the world through mathematics: Exploring problem solving and data driven critical thinking used in math to understand the world around us, and try to stump language simulation artificial intelligence, or AI, models with math.

Afternoons will be spent in team building activities and reflection and understanding of what they learned that day.

Thursday — Students will have the opportunity to participate in three activities: concrete lab in the state-of-the-art Concrete and Construction Management Building; drones in the Aerospace program; and planetarium activity with the Physics and Astronomy Department.

Friday — Students will prepare presentations with their groups about what they learned from the camp, how STEM activities they participated in are connected and what these experiences might mean for their future career options.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)