Outreach Visitors

Kids and Fuel cell photoCT Kids Fueling the Future

CT Kids Fueling the Future program is designed to ring together middle school students from five diverse school districts to improve academic achievement. Kids come from Derby, Meriden, New Haven, Wallingford, and West Haven will come together voluntarily to investigate and explore the evolving and expanding technologies of renewable/sustainable energy sources. This long standing multidisciplinary summer and school year program will provide opportunities for students of different backgrounds to meet, develop friendships, and become collaborative learning partners as they become informed citizens and stakeholders in protecting and preserving their environment and community.

Glastonbury Jr. Lego League

Ms. Wendy Smith is coaching a group of first grade boys on a (Junior First Lego League) Jr. FLL pre-engineering team.  This group works with legos to create engineering ideas to solve problems. IMG_1273 This year’s theme is natural disasters, and Wendy is choosing to teach the boys about clean energy to slow or stop climate change, which could reduce some future natural disasters.

About The Program:  This program is focused on building an interest in science and engineering in children ages 6-9, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) is a hands-on program designed to capture young children’s inherent curiosity and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them.  Just like FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®), this program features a real-world challenge, to be solved by research, critical thinking and imagination. Guided by adult coaches and the Jr.FLL Core Values, students work with LEGO elements and moving parts to build ideas and concepts and present them for review.  To download the groups presentation click here or to learn more about this program visit USFIRST.org .

C2E2 hosts students from Summer CATALYST Program

C2E2 hosted (34) 7th – 10th graders from Windsor, Bloomfield, Canton, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, Enfield, Rocky Hill, New Britain, and Wethersfield who were participating in the summer energy & aerospace program with CCAT visited the Center for Clean Energy Engineering. PhD student, David Gamliel, provided a presentation on the importance and impact of developing clean energy. Some of the students participated in a demonstration smashing cryogenic pennies and cupcakes frozen in liquid nitrogen. Jason Ivaldi, a graduate student of Dr. Sung-Yeul Park, spoke about the relationship of a microgrid complex and how energy storage can power a community. The students concluded their visit with a tour of the labs led by Chris Martino and Steven Frick.

CATALYST-2 CATALYST-3  CATALYST-4

UConn Extension 4-H Program in Litchfield County visits C2E2 

4-H photoA group from the UConn Extension 4-H Program in Litchfield County visited the Center for Clean Energy Engineering.  The group consisted of 4-H club members, club leaders and family members ranging in age from 7 to 70.  This group had particular interest to see how UConn is researching the energy problems of today and tomorrow.  Fifty-six 4-H participants were onsite to learn about energy, sustainability issues with fossil fuels, and the basics of clean, renewable energy.  The Connecticut 4-H youth program seeks out opportunities for teaching young people that science can be fun through early STEM exposure by offering fun hands-on acti4-H Photo 2vities that foster skills and character development in science, citizenship and healthy living.

Presentations on clean and sustainable energy, lab demos on fuel cell technology and polymers, and a tour of the center were given by Sapna Gupta and Alan Harris, graduate students of Materials Science and Engineering Department (MSE) and officers of the newly-formed University of Connecticut chapter of the professional fraternity Keramos.  Keramos is dedicated to developing leaders in the fields of science and engineering, with a focus on the use of ceramics in modern life.  Next-generation ceramics are a fundamental component in tomorrow’s energy systems, from fuel cells to gas-turbine engines.

 

Connect With Us