Ever wanted to build a model bridge with popsicle sticks, program a mobile mini-robot, or make an "asphalt" cookie? A cohort of 27 middle school and high school students did just that and more through a wide range of hands-on STEM-based activities related to the transportation field at the U of M this summer.
CTS sponsored the seventh annual National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) from July 18-29, 2022. The free program attracts a diverse range of students entering grades 7–9 and provides interactive educational experiences for potential careers in transportation, engineering, and related fields. The 2022 cohort included students from across the Twin Cities, but also those visiting from as far away as Duluth and New Jersey.
Activities included a connected and automated vehicles showcase organized by The PLUM Catalyst; a visit with Great Plains Institute and ISD 112 staff about electric vehicles, including an all-electric school bus; a campus tour including the University Bike Center; and virtual experiences with a tour of an Amazon Fulfillment Center and a traffic control game. Students visited with—and learned from—faculty, graduate students, research fellows, engineers, and other professionals in an immersive campus experience at several University buildings and facilities.
Campers were also busy off-campus with interactive field trips at:
