SKYWORX

I spent three semesters as a member of the Rensselaer Engineering Ambassadors (RPI EA) program and served on the executive board as the school visit coordinator for two additional semesters. During the 2017-2018 school year alone we reached over 10% of middle school and high school students enrolled in the Capital District

 

RPI EA inductees are encouraged to develop an interactive presentation and hands-on activity about an engineering topic they are passion about, that is relevant to current events, and will get kids excited about STEM.

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I thought it would be fun to teach kids about the safety implications and forces at play on roller coasters. So that's the topic my partner and I settled on; we made an interactive presentation diving into the engineering behind modern thrill rides. To get kids even more invested, I built a model demonstration. The model is meant to challenge them to think critically, come up with their own ideas, and have them compete in a fun, and at times, hilarious, competition. Students role play as safety experts at IAPPA, The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Their task is to build a sufficient restraining system (while keeping their budget in mind) to keep the miniature riders strapped-in throughout their terrifying course - especially around the vertical loop. I had the opportunity to bring the model and work with students in several school districts throughout NY from the Bronx in NYC to Ballston Lake near Albany.​​​​

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The demonstration is still going strong as of 2025.​