Monday began an adventure for twenty Detroit high school students, exploring careers in natural resources, environmental science and engineering, forestry, environmental, civil and mechanical engineering and more. Thanks to donations from numerous Michigan Tech departments and offices, students have received free transportation, food and lodging in Wadsworth Residence Hall and an exciting program.
The students are in grades 9-12 and come from eight different Detroit high schools. They successfully applied for this program (first of its kind), which was made possible by the efforts of many people—from help with recruitment in Detroit, to the multiple experts volunteering their time to present to these youth.
Students arrived eager to visit Michigan Tech’s campus, explore future careers and gain new experiences. They began their week participating in a Great Lakes investigation aboard Michigan Tech’s Agassiz research vessel in Lake Superior. They have a full schedule for the rest of the week with various activities including identifying trees, measuring forest plots, inventorying invasive earthworms, visiting the underground rhyzotron, assessing the health of local streams, manipulating underwater autonomous remotely operated vehicles, visiting labs, conducting insect and wetland inventories and exploring nearby state and county parks in the beautiful Keweenaw and Upper Peninsula.
This program was coordinated by Joan Chadde, director of the Michigan Center for Science & Environmental Outreach in collaboration with Detroit colleagues at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo and US Forest Service Urban Connections Program.
The program was made possible with funding from the Michigan Tech School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science, Michigan Tech College of Engineering, Michigan Tech Housing & Residence Life, Michigan Tech Admissions, Department of Civil & Engineering, Pre-College Outreach Initiative, Michigan Tech Transportation Institute and the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.
Tech tour
Detroit students explore high-tech careers
HOUGHTON – Twenty high school students from Detroit are at Michigan Technological University this week to learn about careers in natural resources, environmental science and engineering.
Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Garrett Neese (subscription required).