IN-MaC, Purdue partner on engineering boot camps

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – The Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center and the Minority Engineering Program at Purdue University are teaming up to create virtual engineering boot camps. Purdue says the camps will cover multiple aspects of its engineering programs and use design-based project learning for first-year engineering students.

The university says this year’s design project featured IN-MaC’s desktop electric go-karts, known as micro-karts, and instruction from former Purdue Polytechnic professor Dr. Scott Bartholomew. The course covers basic mechanisms, electrical circuitry and coding, culminating with a competition to test speed and hill-climbing ability.

“For many students, this program is their first exposure to engineering and applying an interdisciplinary approach to developing a design solution,” said Tamara Markey, national replication director for Algebra by 7th Grade with MEP. “The camps provide students a view of college rigor, with an engineering design project, and exposure to fundamental design principles.”

Purdue says the boot camps will include 27 students from 12 states and three countries, including the U.S., Egypt and Russia.

“This design project is a good way for students to have the experience of building a test go-kart and not only failing but overcoming those challenges,” said Bartholomew. “The project also builds confidence and helps to identify which parts of the process each student enjoys best, whether that is the design, coding or building. Helping them to identify what they want to specialize in later in their careers.”

The university says applications for MEP’s 2021 Academic Boot Camps will be available in spring.