UA to Host Summer STEM, Language Academies

Akron, Ohio, Feb. 27, 2008 ― The University of Akron will participate in three Ohio Board of Regents-sponsored academies for high school juniors and seniors this summer ― two in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and one for modern languages.

UA and Ohio State will conduct two-week summer academies in computational science and engineering. Each university will teach computer modeling and simulation skills to 20 Ohio high school students and five teachers. UA professors Edward Evans and Julie Zhao from the College of Engineering will oversee program preparation and instruction.

The program will include lectures, project assignments, experiments and data gathering, and a group project. Participants will solve real-world problems using skills they have learned, much like Project Lead the Way students do around the state and the country.

The other STEM-focused program is for biology, wetlands and streams, part of the Igniting Streams of Learning in Science program. Overseeing the program for UA is Sajit Zachariah, assistant dean, administration and strategic initiatives, and associate professor in education. Other institutions participating are Kent State and Hiram College.

The third program is the Regents' modern languages academy in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Hindi. The UA contact for this program is Christopher Eustis, department chair and professor of modern languages. Other participants are Kent and Bowling Green state universities, Oberlin College and the Summit County Educational Service Center.

The two STEM-focused programs are aligned with other efforts to increase teacher capacity in STEM and provide opportunities for more high school students, particularly those who might not be planning to attend college or enter STEM careers, to participate in advanced learning opportunities for college and high school credit in those disciplines.

“We're pleased to have been chosen for these significant initiatives that recognize our strengths in engineering, science and modern languages and our commitment to outreach in STEM and other disciplines,” says UA's Elizabeth Stroble, senior vice president and provost, and chief operating officer. “Programs like these help prepare Ohio students for professions that build a bright future for themselves and our communities.”

One example of computational science is weather forecasting, in which vast amounts of data are combined with sets of mathematical formulas in a computer program called a weather model to develop forecasts that are far more accurate and timely. Another is using computer models to simulate and test new products prior to manufacturing to eliminate the slow and expensive process of building and testing prototypes.

The summer program will continue through the academic year with mentoring and additional project work, and two sessions focusing on more sophisticated approaches to modeling and simulation. Students will receive three semester hours of undergraduate college credit and at least a half credit from their high schools. Application forms for the computer academy will be available in March at www.rrscs.org.

Teachers will learn how to integrate modeling and simulation into their classrooms and work with academy students during the summer and the follow-up year. They will receive three semester hours of graduate credit for their participation.

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