FAU Engineering Welcomes 250 High School Students for Engineer Your Future Day

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science welcomed 250 high school students to its Boca Raton campus on Oct. 1 for the annual Engineer Your Future Day, giving students an opportunity to explore engineering and computer science through hands-on demonstrations, laboratory experiences, and interactions with faculty and current students.

Students from Olympic Heights, Park Vista, Spanish River and Forest Hill high schools participated in the event, including students from Forest Hill’s Engineering Academy and Women of Tomorrow. Women of Tomorrow participants also represented Glades Central, Atlantic Technical and Coral Glades high schools.

The day began with a welcome and overview of the college before students explored laboratories, research centers and student organizations throughout the Engineering East and Engineering West buildings. Students were able to select the experiences of interest, providing a firsthand look at the academic programs, research and student opportunities available across the college.     

The event introduced students to fields spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, space and defense technologies, autonomous systems, biomedical technologies, cybersecurity, quantum computing, ocean technology, smart infrastructure and energy, highlighting the many ways engineering and computer science are shaping emerging technologies and addressing critical challenges.    

Experiences included drones and mapping sensors; robotics; cement printing and smart sensors; water quality and air pollution control technologies; transportation and driving simulator; and visits to the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI), FPL Center for Intelligent Energy Technologies (InETech), Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning Lab, Multimedia Systems Lab, Biomedical Engineering Lab, Center for SMART Health and Institute for Smarter Cities, Spaces, and Health. Students also had opportunities to meet members of engineering student clubs and organizations.    

“Engineer Your Future Day gives students the opportunity to experience engineering and computer science beyond the classroom and see firsthand the technologies, research and opportunities available to them here at Florida Atlantic,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “By bringing high school students into our laboratories and connecting them directly with our faculty and students, we hope to inspire them to see themselves as the next generation of engineers and computer scientists who will help shape the technologies of the future.”

Engineer Your Future Day is part of the college’s ongoing efforts to introduce high school students to engineering and computing disciplines and help them explore educational and career pathways before entering college.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science thanks Bosch for sponsoring this year’s event and supporting opportunities for students to discover the possibilities of engineering and computer science.