High school students experience AI and 3D printing during Wayland’s STEM Careers Night

PLAINVIEW — High school students were exposed to a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers Tuesday night as Wayland Baptist University’s School of Mathematics and Sciences hosted STEM Careers Night.

In addition to meeting professors and admissions staff, students took part in “From Dreams to Reality: 3D Printing with AI,” a hands-on experiment involving the use of artificial intelligence and 3D printing.

“STEM Careers Night is a one of the many projects funded by the $1.3 million Noyce grant the School of Education and School of Mathematics and Sciences were awarded from the National Science Foundation recently,” explained Dr. Adam Reinhart, Dean of Wayland’s School of Mathematics and Sciences and professor of Biological Sciences and Chemistry. “As part of the event, students experienced hands on manipulation of a number of different parameters in an artificial intelligence environment to ultimately produce a 3D object that will be 3D printed.”

Dr. Scott Franklin, professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, guided the hands-on manipulation involving 3D scanning, 3D design and printing of the AI-generated object.

Noyce Scholar Dylan Jerden, a senior Life Science Education 7-12 Wayland student, spoke of the Noyce grant and what it means for students in Wayland’s School of Education and the School of Mathematics and Sciences. Dr. Reinhart addressed the power of STEM, an interdisciplinary approach to learning where academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons as students apply science. Then came practical application of the learning concept with students participating in the hands-on manipulation.

Students also heard from admissions staff and had opportunities to meet with them. STEM Careers Night began with plenty of pizza and soft drinks as students met Wayland professors and learned more about planned events.

Dr. Reinhart was pleased with the event and noted, “In the Spring of ’24 we will conduct this event at South Plains College for local high school students.” He encouraged high school students to learn more about STEM careers and what Wayland has to offer by contacting the School of Mathematics and Sciences.