Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has launched a variety of hands-on outreach programs to engage K-12 students’ interest in science and engineering. 

Susan Feinberg

“We teach polymers and give students a chance to do experiments,” says Annette Jacobsen, a professor of chemical engineering and director of the Colloids, Polymers and Surfaces (CPS) Program at CMU. “We want them to experience the real-life work that scientists and engineers do.” 

The idea is to show students that science is a dynamic, inventive process, rather than just theory. “We try to show that scientists observe and understand concepts, then come up with products and ideas,” says Jacobsen.  

Jacobsen, who acts as a guest speaker for CMU’s outreach programs, often begins a presentation by introducing students to the concept of macromolecules. She compares small, simple molecules to large ones. She explains that there are different kinds of macromolecules - the synthetic type created by scientists and engineers in industry and those found in nature.  

Then she guides the students in a series of simple experiments to illustrate the concept. “These cool, quick experiments are fun.  They also connect students to the work that scientists do and products they invent,” says Jacobsen. 

CMU offers a variety of outreach programs to about 1,500 students every year including: 

• National Chemistry Week Celebration  
• National Engineer’s Week 
• Engineering Your Future for middle school and high school girls. 
• High School Day for female students in 10-12^th grades. 
• Moving 4^th into Engineering - polymers used in toys and food. 
• Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics
• The Summer Academy for Math and Science 

For eight years, Jacobsen has been presenting polymer and colloid experiments to students at Fairview Elementary, Fox Chapel, in Pittsburgh, PA. According to Fairview teacher Jean Stoehr, CMU's efforts are developing future scientists. Stoehr and her class visit Jacobsen’s CMU lab and participate in experiments.