Implementation of a Biomedical Engineering Summer Program for High School Students

摘要

Abstract Implementation of a Biomedical Engineering Summer Program for Elite High School StudentsThe biomedical engineering program at xxxxxxxx recently hosted its first residential summerprogram for high school students. Objectives of this program were 1) to introduce students to thebreadth and depth of the field of biomedical engineering, 2) to introduce students to careerchoices available to persons obtaining an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, and3) to introduce students to the educational opportunities available within the biomedicalengineering program at xxxxxxxx.Participants were recruited via post card or email. Post cards were sent to rising juniors andseniors who had selected biomedical engineering as their first choice of college major on eitherthe SAT or PSAT. An email was sent to rising juniors and seniors who had expressed an interestin attending xxxxxxxx for pre-medicine. Twenty seven students from sixteen states attended theprogram.Participants spent the majority of each day performing laboratory-based experiments thatspanned the breadth of the biomedical engineering field, including experiments in biomaterials,lab-on-a-chip, sports biomechanics, robotic surgery, nanotechnology, and medical imaging.Sessions on engineering design and medical ethics were held in the evenings. A trip to a localamusement park allowed participants to measure acceleration and heart rate on a variety of rides.Success in meeting the objectives of the program was measured via pre- and post-programsurveys. Results indicate that students’ knowledge of the field of biomedical engineering,awareness of career opportunities, and awareness of the educational opportunities at xxxxxxxxincreased following the program.The biomedical engineering field attracts a small number of underrepresented students and thepercentage of female students has begun to decline in recent years. Implementation of the typeof program described here for targeted audiences may help to attract more women andunderrepresented individuals into the field. Additionally, the program may serve as a model forother universities to follow when developing their own summer activities for pre-collegestudents.