Bridging the Gap Between Education and Research through Pre-College Engineering Systems (PCES) Outreach Program

该项目的目的是开发一个面向全国11年级和12年级学生的住宅暑期研究和教育科学技术工程和数学（STEM）外展计划。该计划将通过研究和教育的结合，为学生在工程领域的职业生涯做好准备。该计划的学生将学习高等数学和物理、化学、预科学术能力测试、大学先修课程等主题的讲座，并将接触工程课程的基础知识和电气和计算机工程的专题，如人工智能、通信、纳米技术、光子学、能源系统和智能电网技术。这些课程将为学生在能源管理、安全关键基础设施的自动化功能、基于传感器的系统和安全环境方面的研究工作做好准备和激励。通过实践活动获得的背景和接触将使未来的多元化劳动力（未被充分代表的群体和女性）有能力从事工程职业。大学预科工程系统项目的研究工作将包括工程和科学的各个领域，用于帮助学生在进行工程项目、过程和系统中理解创造力、分析和实践工作的作用。研究工作将涉及需求评估、约束、问题制定和算法设计、在不同情况下的实施、测试和验证。项目创意的主要领域包括通信和信号处理、光子学/电子学、纳米技术、材料、能源和电力系统，每个领域都有自己的一套具体项目。在通信和信号处理方面，具体项目包括太阳能包、智能手机、新型集成显示板等。在光子学/电子学方面，具体工作包括电力电子和智能显示器的移动诊断。纳米技术和材料项目包括纳米牙膏、纳米滑冰靴和儿童纳米三轮车的设计。在能源和电力系统领域，使用可再生能源的智慧城市设计和具有自动驾驶特性的电动汽车是具体的项目领域。此外，将在计算机工程项目中进行无线传感器，用于健康监测的手工手表和自动风扇控制。学生们将以小组形式进行研究，最终成果将在每年项目结束时展示给由教师、家长和资助机构美国国家科学基金会（NSF）代表组成的观众。在项目期间和之后（在学年期间）将提供指导，以跟踪学生在以工程为载体的终身追求方面的持续进步。吸取的经验教训将与其他工程学院分享，这样国家将从国家科学基金会在霍华德大学预科学生的教育和研究活动上的投资中受益。

The purpose of the project is to develop a residential summer research and education Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) outreach program targeted at 11th and 12th graders from across the country. The program will advance students' preparation for careers in engineering through integration of research and education. The students in the program will undertake lectures on topics such as advanced mathematics and physics, chemistry, preparatory scholastic aptitude testing, advanced placement courses, and will be exposed to fundamentals of engineering courses and special topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering such as artificial intelligence, communications, nanotechnology, photonics, energy systems and smart grid technologies. These courses will prepare and motivate students for research work in energy management, automation functions for secured critical infrastructures, sensor based systems and safe environment. The background achieved and exposure through hands-on activities will capacity for a future diverse workforce of underrepresented groups and women to pursue careers in engineering.The research work in the pre-college engineering systems program will include various fields of engineering and science used to help students to appreciate the role of creativity, analytical and hands-on work in conducting engineering projects, processes and systems. The research work will involve needs assessment, constraints, problem formulation and design of algorithms, implementation, testing and validation under different scenarios. The major areas for project ideas include communication and signal processing, photonics/electronics, nanotechnology, materials and energy and power systems, with each area having its own set of specific projects. Under communication and signal processing, specific projects include the solar bag, smart phones, new integrated display board, and others. In photonics/electronics, the specific works include mobile diagnostics for power electronics and smart displays. Nanotechnology and materials projects include design of nano toothpaste, nano skating boots, and a nano tricycle for kids. In the area of energy and power systems, smart city design using renewable energy resources and electric vehicles with self driving properties are specific project areas. Furthermore, wireless sensors, a handmade wristwatch for health monitoring, and automatic fan control will be pursued within the computer engineering projects. Students will work in teams and final products will be presented at the end of the program each year to an audience of faculty, parents and a representative of the funding agency, the National Science Foundation (NSF). Mentoring during and after the program (during the school year) will be in place to track students' continued progress toward life-long pursuit of engineering as a carrier. Lessons learned will be shared with other engineering schools so that the country will benefit from the NSF investment in education and research activities for pre-college students at Howard University.