K-12 Engagement

School Collaborators

LaPorte High School Logo
LaPorte High School (LaPorte, IN)
Riley High School logo
Riley High School (South Bend, IN)
Seymoue High School Logo
Seymour High School (Seymour, IN)
Tri-County Jr/Sr High School Logo
Tri-County Junior-Senior High School (Wolcott, IN)
Westville High School Logo
Beechwood High School
West Washington Logo
West Washington (Campbellsburg, IN)
Purdue Polytechnic High School Englewood
Purdue Polytechnic High School Englewood
Purdue Polytechnic High School North
Purdue Polytechnic High School North

STEM Showcase Event

The student showcase event is a culmination of an industry-driven youth challenge at the end of the one-year professional development program. Students work in teams in afterschool clubs on projects that emerge from the iSTEM design challenges. Students upload a project poster and a 5-minute video presentation to share their projects on the BoilerSTEAM website. A panel of judges consisting of scientists, educators, and industry leaders from the local communities judge the students' projects. Students are evaluated on the targeted student outcomes of the project. The first-place teams from each subject area are invited to attend a student award event at Purdue campus to share their projects. Students' presentations on Purdue's campus will be video recorded for public sharing and students will interact with scientists in laboratories on campus.

A scientist explains high tunnels to a group of students.
A scientist explains high tunnels to a group of students.
Students go for a ride on the
Students go for a ride on the "people mover" to see the crop fields.
A scientist explains high tunnel food production to a group of students.
A scientist explains high tunnel food production to a group of students.
Students get an up-close view of agricultural machinery.
Students get an up-close view of agricultural machinery.
Teacher and student teams demonstrate their products from the agricultural challenge. This group focused on building floating hydroponic systems.
Teacher and student teams demonstrate their products from the agricultural challenge. This group focused on building floating hydroponic systems.
Students receive a presentation about the various types of chickens.
Students receive a presentation about the various types of chickens.

Campus Visit 

Students from Purdue Polytechnic High School North traveled to the Purdue campus to tour the College of Agriculture facilities and interact with Purdue faculty and staff. Kicking off the tours, students visited the AgBOT and learned how it analyzes data and monitors crop health. With an exciting connection to what students were building and exploring in their class, students visited Purdue’s hydroponics systems and shared about their hydroponics projects with Purdue professionals. Challenged to choose their favorite wood, students perused Purdue’s gallery of wood from Midwest trees. Then, equipped with hairnets, students visited the Food Science Sensory Lab and browsed the Enology Library. From spiders to caterpillars to beetles, the Bug Zoo captivated the students’ attention before they departed. Students reported they enjoyed the hands-on experiences the faculty and staff provided. They also shared their fascination with the Bug Zoo, AgBOT, and the Richard P. Vine Enology Library.

High school students examine the AgBOT and observe the various sensors
High school students examine the AgBOT and observe the various sensors
High school students observe the hydroponics systems in the greenhouse

High school students observe the hydroponics systems in the greenhouse

High school students explore the Purdue Bug Zoo
High school students explore the Purdue Bug Zoo
High school students tour Purdue’s Food Science Sensory Lab
High school students tour Purdue’s Food Science Sensory Lab

Precollege experience for K-12

Students listen to the admission information
Students listen to the admission information
A scientist explains the Indiana woods to students
A scientist explains the Indiana woods to students
Students explore the Purdue Wood Research Lab
Students explore the Purdue Wood Research Lab
Students get hands-on experience at the Ag Robotics Lab
Students get hands-on experience at the Ag Robotics Lab
Students examine the hydroponics lab
Students examine the hydroponics lab

Tri-County

A scientist explains tree identification on the Purdue campus to students
A scientist explains tree identification on the Purdue campus to students
Students explore the Phenotyping Lab
Students explore the Phenotyping Lab
A scientist explains suitable soils for hydroponics to students
A scientist explains suitable soils for hydroponics to students