Carbon Nanotube Composites: Using an Authentic Engineering Research Problem to Engage Middle School Students in STEM

Since 2008, the IMPACT LA NSF GK-12 Program (Improving Minority Partnerships through CISE (Computer, Information Science & Engineering)-related Teaching) has been partnering graduate teaching fellows with middle and high school science and math teachers within the East Los Angeles area.The Cal State L.A. graduate fellows serve as visiting scientists and engineers who work closely with their partner teachers to engage middle and high school students in science and engineering activities related to the fellows' research.The program goals are to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum, inform and inspire students about careers in science and engineering, and improve the graduate fellow's ability to communicate their research to a broad audience.In this paper, we present the middle school math classroom activities developed related to one particular fellow's research on carbon nanotube composites.Using lightweight carbon nanotube composites for a car chassis can increase fuel efficiency, decrease emissions, and maintain the desired properties of the chassis including its structural integrity measured by strength and toughness and its ability to conduct electricity to ground a car in a lightning strike.The activities developed are tied to 6 th -8 th grade California math standards and provide students with an opportunity to see how math can be used to solve authentic engineering research problems.Pre and post-surveys were conducted to measure the impact of the visiting engineer/scientist and the research-related activities on students' perceptions towards engineers and scientists and their desire to pursue a career in engineering or science.The results related to this particular research are presented as well as the results and findings for all fellows during the 2012-13 school year.