CEHC Hosts Local Middle and High School Students through UAlbany STEP
ALBANY, N.Y. (July 25, 2023) - The College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) recently hosted local middle and high school students who are part of UAlbany’s Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP) this summer.
The Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP) is a statewide initiative funded by the New York State Education Department that prepares historically underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged high school students to pursue undergraduate degrees in STEM fields.
UAlbany STEP is run through the Office of Access & Academic Enrichment (OAAE) and offers various programs for 7th through 12th grade students from the Capital Region. Many participants are Albany City School District students. The program is run by Mayra Santiago, director of OAAE, with support from Dele Akindutire, coordinator for UAlbany STEP, and Anurag Sharma, assistant project director for STEP.
Professor of Practice Michael Leczinsky hosted students in the CEHC makerspace, located in the basement of ETEC. Students were able to learn more about augmented reality by using a merge cube to interact with 3D objects. They also built a series of 3D printers, and learned about additive manufacturing throughout the process., Students created a variety of objects using subtractive manufacturing on Cricut machines and utilized other technology and equipment in the lab.
“It is great to partner with the Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP) this year as we are able to provide students from a variety of age groups and backgrounds with hands-on experience at our makerspace,” Leczinksy said.
Frank Peris, a CEHC lecturer, presented sessions for local middle and high school students. The sessions were held at CEHC’s drone lab located at Page Hall on the Downtown Campus for students to learn more about drones and robotics. This collaborative effort between CEHC and STEP allows students an opportunity to fly drones, code driveable robots, and work together to build a stronger future for themselves in these emerging fields. “Working together with the STEP program has provided these young people a great intro in the world of drones, robotics, and AI,” Peris said.
“Getting young students excited about STEM/STEAM and engaging with the community are both critical components of our work and we look forward to continued collaborations with STEP,” Leczinksy added.