Are you aware that April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month? Well, it is, and it’s awesome!

Math and stats are everywhere around us, even if we can’t always see them. Anything that involves technology, time, or even tacos involves math and stats! Use this month to become more aware of the math around you.

Take a moment to appreciate the math around you and work on a cool activity. For resources and cool math/stats activities from the American Mathematical Society, click here!

There are fun math events going on all over the nation! Try to make it out to one of those events, or at least do a cool math activity!

On February 18th, the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education within the SMU Lyle School of Engineering hosted Visioneering 2017 to kick off National Engineers Week!

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Visioneering is a half day event in which teams of middle school students from all over Texas come together and do a 90 minute engineering project. This sounds simple, but there is so much more cool stuff that happens throughout the day!

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Over 60 teams came to SMU for Visioneering from all over Texas!

Students first arrived and checked in. After checking in, the students filled the auditorium for the opening ceremony where they learned a little bit about engineering and learned about their design challenge for the day! For the design challenge, students were tasked to design and create a prototype for a home or building for an elderly or disabled person.

After the opening ceremony, teams were taken to different classrooms to complete the design challenge! In each classroom, students met with their mentors. These mentors were professional engineers! Along with their mentors, the students found supplies for the challenge. They used the first few minutes of their challenge time to brainstorm and come up with ideas to plan their final design.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

The students were very creative in their designs, and their ideas were fantastic!

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

After the 90 minute challenge period, students had their final creations ready, and they presented their masterpieces to 2 judges.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

After all the teams were judged, students went back to the auditorium for an engineering expo, awards, and the closing ceremony!

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Five teams were awarded various awards, but everyone won in that they left with the satisfaction of solving a complex challenge!

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Students learned how to think in new ways, work as part of a team, and to speak up and share their ideas. This made Visioneering 2017 a success!

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Visioneering 2017 was a lot of fun! Students, mentors, teachers, and volunteers had a ton of fun! We can’t wait until Visioneering 2018!

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Local students participate in the Visioneering design challenge, hosted by the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, Saturday, February 18, 2017 on the SMU campus. Students were given a problem to solve, then worked as teams to develop a solution. The teams then presented their ideas to the judges who selected winners of the competition.

Registration for summer programs for high school students, middle school students, and teachers is now open!

For high school students, we have:

• Residential Engineering Program for 11th and 12th Grade Students
• Advanced Robotics (FIRST Tech Challenge) Program for High School Students
• Quad-Copter Program for High School Students
• Space Launch Program for High School Students

For middle school students, we have:

• Mindstorms Robotics Program for Middle School Students
• Introduction to Programming for Middle School Students
• Crime Scene Investigation for 6th and 7th Grade Students
• Rocketry Program for Middle School Students
• Quad-Copter Program for Middle School Students
• Competitive Robotics FIRST Lego League Program for Middle School Student

For teachers, we have:

• Classroom Robotics for Teachers Grades 4th-8th
• UIL Robotics Training FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
• STEM for Middle and High School Teachers

All of these programs are awesome! If you want to register or you want more information, click here!

This past weekend was the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair 2017 at Dallas Fair Park and the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education got involved!

While judging was going on, the Caruth Institute hosted a STEM party for parents and students!

The STEM party started off with a guest speaker talking to parents about the college search and college admissions processes. Parents loved all the great information!

After that, the students participated in a CSI Fingerprint Activity. The students stamped their fingerprints onto a balloon and were given a card to compare their fingerprints to. Through this, they were able to see what kind of fingerprint they had! Everyone had a ton of fun with this activity!

After the CSI Fingerprint Activity, the students participated in the Marshmallow Challenge. The students were tasked with building the tallest structure out of marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. Students were in teams and got to race to build the tallest structure, and it was very intense and very cool! The students were very creative and the structures they came up with were awesome!

There was even a visit from the TECH Truck from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science! Students got to learn to tinker, engineer, create, and hack!

While we were there, we got to see some very cool projects! One of those projects was done by a familiar face – one of our students from summer camp from this past summer was there presenting her project!

The Caruth Institute loved getting involved in the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair this year and can’t wait to run the show next year! For a list of winners of the fair and more information about the fair itself, click here!