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LITE and AIM expose students to science and engineering

By Dawn Hibbard

LITE

Analyzing car crashes in a salvage yard, isolating fat proteins in a Chemistry lab, performing simulated knee surgery and discussing the ethics of green business practices is a great way to spend your summer – at least that’s what more than 40 high school-aged girls thought when they signed up for one of Kettering’s pre-college programs.

Suturing a hot dog’s incision may not seem too challenging, but wait until you’re the one in the gloves, gown and goggles! LITE participants got a real taste of surgery in the Bioengineering class.
They came to campus for two weeks to learn about academic programs and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at the Lives Improve Through Engineering (LITE) program. The seven year-old program gave high school seniors hands-on experiences in Bio-Engineering, Bio-Chemistry, Structural Design, Crash Test Safety and Green Engineering.

LITE introduces young women to various fields and career opportunities in engineering and highlights the importance of math and science in preparing for college. “It is important to keep girls engaged in math and science during junior high and high school so they are academically prepared to pursue engineering in college,” said Betsy Homsher, associate dean of Student Affairs and interim associate provost.

“Only 14 percent of all professional engineers are women,” added Dr. Patrick Atkinson ‘91, professor of Mechanical Engineering. “Pre-college programs like LITE give young women a chance to find out what engineering is all about and find their niche in the field of engineering,” he said.

In addition to labs and lectures, LITE participants had an opportunity to meet women engineers and scientists, and learn about how engineers improve people's lives by applying math, science and technology to human problems.

Getting a first-hand experience of how engineering helps people, the LITE participants assisted the Engineers Without Borders A-Section chapter complete its project to build a wheelchair ramp on a residence to allow a Flint-area woman greater mobility and independence.

For more information about the LITE program, contact Deborah Stewart, associate director of the LITE program in Student Affairs, at (810)762-9679 or via email at dstewart@kettering.edu.

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