QCAM @ NMSU PREP Academy 2022
As a part of the QCAM project, we have partnered with the NMSU College of Engineering Outreach department to include a QCAM focus as a part of this year’s NM PREP Academy. That means 10 high school students were afforded the opportunity to tour the ISNDE lab and then participate in a QCAM-sponsored activity in which they 3D printed moon rocks that were able to fit small objects. Students put those objects in the freezer to get them very cold, then put them in the moon rocks. Using the IR cameras, the students then looked at closed moon rocks and were tasked with determining which rocks were which based on the shape of the object inside. The difference in temperature made it easy for the students to use the camera and "see" the objects inside.
The NM PREP Middle School Academy and NM PREP High School Academy are summer STEM programs held on the campus of New Mexico State University. The Academies have been designed to spark student interest in STEM, specifically in engineering, while engaging students in leadership, team-building, and hands-on activities that simulate real-world engineering experiences. Participating students gain insight into life on a university campus, gain self-confidence and self-identity in studying and working on STEM projects, and have the opportunity to interact with other students from across the state, as well as current NMSU undergraduate students and engineering faculty.
The PREP Academy is an exceptional program dedicated to nurturing the talents and aspirations of young minds in the realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). That is why we are so excited to continue to partner with this educational initiative as it is a testament to the power of early exposure to STEM subjects, and it provides an invaluable stepping stone for students aspiring to excel in these fields.
To learn more about the NMSU PREP Academy check them out online: NMSU PREP Academy Website