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Design and Computer Simulation
June 16 – July 2, 2008
 Background Information
A new, innovative STEM academy focused on engineering design and computer modeling/simulation has been created by the Ohio Supercomputer Center, the University of Akron and The Ohio State University. With funding from the Ohio Board of Regents and the Ralph Regula School of Computational Science, the STEM Academy in Computational Science and Engineering is seeking 40 talented high school students and 10 enthusiastic teachers interested in learning how modeling and simulation is used in engineering design.
Innovative companies today use the power of modeling and simulation – computational science – to design new products and processes, to test designs without the building of costly prototypes, and to bring better products to market faster and more cheaply. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company uses computer modeling and simulation to design new tires, and Procter & Gamble uses similar methods to produce Pringles that won't fly off the conveyor belt. Other examples of large-scale projects using computational science include the design of the Toyota Avalon and the Boeing 787.
Our STEM Academy curriculum meets the requirements of the Ohio Project Lead the Way Computational Science and Engineering elective course and also meets many of the requirements for freshman engineering students at The Ohio State University and the University of Akron. Students will receive college and high school credit for successfully completing the course, while teachers will receive graduate credit and certification to teach the course in Ohio PLTW classes.
The STEM Academy is a thirteen-day, non-residential workshop focusing on computational science and engineering, held from June 16 – July 2, 2008. Students and teachers will learn how to build, use, and test computer models of many interesting phenomena – from the descent of a skydiver jumping from a plane, to the strength of a steel beam holding up a structure, to the transport of heat through a system, to the growth of an aquatic population. The program continues through the academic year with mentoring and additional work on projects, as well as two Saturday events focusing on more sophisticated approaches and improvements in the student's own projects.
All participants will learn how physical phenomena are represented in mathematical models and translated into computer simulations. They will also learn how to test the accuracy of those models against data from experiments and how to visualize the results of their modeling through graphs and simple animations. Students will build a portfolio of their projects that can become part of their college application materials. Teachers will learn how to guide students through projects and evaluate project-based work.
The academy will operate at two sites – Columbus and Akron – inviting students and teachers from the surrounding areas to apply. At the Columbus site, professors from the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University will oversee the program preparation and instruction for 20 students and five teachers. Professors from the College of Engineering at The University of Akron will do the same for the northeast Ohio site.
We are seeking Ohio 11th- and 12th-grade students from who are able to commute to one of the university host sites. Students from current Project Lead The Way programs will be given preference, but we will accept other students with a strong interest in these areas as well. We also are seeking high school teachers interested in implementing a computational science and engineering course in their schools, especially those from schools with current or prospective PLTW programs. All accepted participants are expected to attend a two-hour, pre-academy orientation evening session May 17, 2008, in addition to Saturday workshops November 8, 2008, and February 21, 2009.
For students:
- Opportunity to engage in science and engineering work using the same tools as professional engineers
- Experience in applying mathematics and computer modeling to solve interesting practical problems
- Demonstrated ability in science and engineering by:
- Earning college and high school credits
- Building a portfolio of modeling projects
- Receiving a $500 stipend
- Receiving a laptop computer
For teachers:
- Opportunity to explore science and engineering principles with the students
- Experience in using project-based learning on applied problems to teach interdisciplinary-oriented science, math, and engineering materials
- Experience working with experts and students on practical problems
- Qualifications to apply your expertise by:
- Earning graduate credits
- Receiving a $1500 stipend
- Certification to teach this course in your high school
- Receiving a laptop computer
Application Materials
The application deadline for summer 2008 has passed. Please check back next year for updated materials.
Download the application below and send the completed form by email to stem-academy@osc.edu or by mail to:
STEM Academy
Ohio Supercomputer Center
1224 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212
For student or teachers applications to be considered, they must be received by April 29, 2008. Students and teachers selected for enrollment in the Academy will be notified by May 14, 2008.
Contact Information
For program questions please contact Kathleen Crooks at the University of Akron (ksc16@uakron.edu, 330-972-2479) or Leslie Southern at the Ohio Supercomputer Center (leslie@osc.edu, 614-292-9367).
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