Overview of the megaGEMS AEOP Summer 2021 Research Apprenticeship Camp

ABSTRACT

GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) is a free STEAM and programming summer camp and after-school robotics club that focuses on educating girls about the fields of STEM. GEMS is divided into two main programs miniGEMS for rising fifth through eighth middle school students and megaGEMS for rising ninth through twelfth-grade high school students. This paper will provide an overview of a new program within megaGEMS called megaGEMS AEOP (Army Education Outreach Program) for rising eleventh and twelfth-grade high school girls. The camp was initially piloted in the Summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a virtual four-week research camp. For Summer 2021, megaGEMS hosted the inaugural eight-week in-person Apprenticeship Research Camp from June 7-August 6, 2021, for eight rising juniors or seniors. This Apprenticeship Research Camp was held at the Autonomous Vehicle Systems (AVS) Research Laboratories located at the University of the Incarnate Word provided the students with an experiential research camp mentored by both faculty and graduate students in the science of autonomy. The camp was funded through two grants provided by the Army Education Outreach Program. Examples of projects included brain-computer interfacing, virtual reality, and Infrared and LIDAR sensor collection. One apprentice was able to obtain her FAA Part 107 UAS Operator license to collect images using a drone. The camp provided opportunities to expand soft skills, explore college-level research, and community outreach. The apprenticeship curriculum was implemented by undergraduate and graduate students which included daily Python coding classes, developing quality research skills, improving public speaking, and introducing careers in STEAM. Local female STEM leaders were guest speakers and provided career advice. The program concluded with a research symposium where they presented their research in poster and presentation format. This paper will provide details about recruiting, lessons learned working with students and parents under COVID-19 restrictions and developing research agendas for high school students. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022.