Full STEAM Ahead on Pi Day: Engaging Middle School Students in Materials Science

The Harvard MRSEC collaborates with local schools in Boston and Cambridge to introduce middle school students to materials science and engineering. Now in its third year, Full STEAM Ahead on Pi Day brought 200 8th grade students and teachers from Boston Public Schools to Harvard for a day of hands-on engineering experiments. The students participated in interactive projects led by MRSEC students and faculty, where they learned about the crystal structure of chocolate, boba tea and microfluidic encapsulation, energy materials, and soft robotics. A panel led by MRSEC graduate students and post-baccalaureate students gave advice on how to prepare for college, as these 8th graders transition to high school, including their coursework, extracurricular activities, and potential scholarship opportunities for college.

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Sweet, sweet Pi science
MRSEC hosts Pi Day program for local middle schoolers