Outreach & Community, Chemical Engineering, University of Utah
Outreach Team Application
Engineering is fun! Share it with a kid!
The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah, in conjunction with our AIChE student chapter, has developed a strong community outreach program. As part of this program we develop hands-on teaching modules and take them to local K-12 schools, conduct engineering summer camps, and travel to southern Utah each year visit rural schools (and, of course, camp).
There are several great reasons to join our team of outreach mentors:
- A career in chemical engineering is challenging, high paying, versatile, creative, impactful, rewarding… and not well advertised. You can make a welcome difference in a kid’s life by guiding them onto a great path they may have otherwise never known existed.
- A clear history of community involvement and outreach on your resume or application to graduate school can set you apart from many other applicants. In fact, if applying for a NSF fellowship, for example, you will need to clearly and specifically show in your application that you have a passion for the broader impacts of your work.
- The communication skills and hands-on insights into core chemical engineering concepts you will gain as a mentors in this program will be valuable to you throughout your career. The best way to learn a topic is to teach a topic.
- Some mentors may be paid for their outreach work. While we do not have the funds to pay all who are interested in this program, we can pay between $10 and $15/hr for several students who have strong applications and are willing to commit additional time to outreach work. Several undergraduate chemical engineering students may be hired each year at all levels. Students must be good at working with people, public speaking, and working in teams. Students should be able to commit to 10 hours a week for fall and spring semester. The hours are, however, very flexible, with only a one hour biweekly meeting required during the academic year for training and group activities. In the Summer, we conduct two engineering summer camps and take a team trip to rural Utah to promote engineering.
- Become a part of a team. We are a close-knit group and we have a great time at our outreach work, from our annual Southern Utah trip to our winter party. Also, our team is composed of every sort of member of our department community: professors and grad students, freshmen and seniors. If you are new to our department, this program is a great way to learn the ropes and get help.
Contacts:
Prof. Edward Trujillo: edward.trujillo@utah.edu,
Prof. Tony Butterfield: tony.butterfield@utah.edu