Outreach

Metro Early College High School Tutoring

BMES members gave back to local high school students through tutoring math and science classes. Topics covered included calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our tutors could not conduct in-person tutoring sessions. Instead, the chapter adapted the program to support virtual tutoring sessions, utilizing Zoom web meetings to sustain the one-on-one, personalized experience. We also implemented a tutoring-topic request form for the Metro students. Students could fill out the form prior to attending a tutoring session to inform the tutors what concepts or course content they were seeking help with.

Graham Elementary and Middle Schools 8th Grade E-Activity

The OSU chapter continued collaboration with Graham Elementary and Middle Schools (GEMS) to put on a virtual genetic diversity engineering project for 50 8th grade students split over two sessions. Chapter members volunteered their time to help run the event in small groups of 4-5 students with 2 volunteers. An introduction of biomedical engineering was presented to the students through an interactive format. The activity used a coin flip to determine genetic traits of mice, followed by answering questions how the different resulting traits would affect the survival abilities of the mice in different environmental conditions. We worked closely with the coordinating teacher at GEMS to integrate the project into her lesson planning, so that the activity impacted following class days by continued discussion and application of genetic diversity. Real life examples of genetic diversity were introduced to show the impact of their new knowledge, such as in the field of BME: gene editing or targeted gene therapies. 

Columbus Metropolitan Library STEM Month - Bone Fixation Challenge

The OSU BMES chapter began communications with the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) in February to create an asynchronous, virtual engineering design challenge for middle and high school students. The activity was a contribution to the CML’s annual STEM month, hosting various events to engage students in STEM fields.  Due to the pandemic, the library was unable to host STEM month in-person, so the OSU BMES chapter worked to modify our design challenge to be accessible online and completed by students at home. Students were introduced to the field of BME and taught basic biomechanical principles, including the anisotropic behavior of bone and methods of mechanical testing. With emphasis on the engineering design process, students were then challenged to use their acquired knowledge to construct a 3-D model of a broken tibia using everyday material and design an adequate fixation device that would provide structural support for their model under applied weight. After the activity, students were shown examples of recent biomechanical research at OSU and innovative biomedical devices in clinical trials, emphasizing the relationship between biomechanical research and healthcare. 

View the powerpoint here.

Metro Early College High School Tutoring

BMES members gave back to local high school students through tutoring math and science classes including calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics. We have sustained a six-year relationship with Metro Early College High School, where we continued our weekly schedule in order to have a more continuous, impactful effect on the student’s learning. Overall the Metro students have felt this model helps them feel more comfortable and allows them to get more out of regular tutoring. We also implemented a tutoring-topic request form for the Metro students. Students could fill out the form prior to attending a tutoring session to inform the tutors what concepts or course content they were seeking help with. We have a strong relationship with Metro High School, and will continue our tutoring program with them next year.

Dublin Coffman High School Research Demonstration

BMES Outreach began a new relationship this spring with the Dublin Coffman High School in

preparing an event for their two AP Biology classes. In collaboration with graduate students in

Dr. Natalia Higuita-Castro’s Nanomedicine lab, our chapter organized a research presentation

and associated lab demonstration on genetic therapies and cell transfection techniques through

zoom. The lab demonstration included a recorded demonstration of bulk electroporation, as well

as a live cell counting demonstration. Given that the students had recently learned about bacterial

transformations, the presentation was prepared in a way that connected the students curriculum

with current lab techniques, such as plasmid amplification, and the scope of mammalian cell

transfections. In addition to the live lab demonstration, students were able to visualize cells under

a microscope, before and after trypsinization, and got a preview of common lab equipment used

for cell culture. The event had very positive feedback, and we will be continuing our relations

with this organization in the future.

Columbus Parks and Recreation - Volunteer

BMES Outreach started its first year of organizing and hosting volunteer events for its members. As Outreach requires volunteers for its events naturally, these events are not focused on social engagement and are simply for giving back to the community. Two volunteer events we were able to host this year were through the Columbus Parks and Recreation organization. Our events were park cleanup events, where we walked the length of the park property and picked up any trash and waste and disposed of it properly.

STEMpossible Engineering Stations with SWE

In a partnership event with Ohio State's Society of Women Engineers, BMES hosted a virtual event with a STEM based club called STEMpossible to introduce various engineering fields to young students. Four main engineering practices were discussed: Biomedical, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Civil Engineering. We presented information about each field and the skills used in each, then lead an interactive activity with the club members that related to the engineering field discussed. Students had their own supplies and were able to practice their own engineering skills with individual designs. Final products were shared and obstacles overcome were discussed to relate back to the engineering design process. By introducing different types of engineering to young students, we hoped to spark an interest in pursuing engineering and show that anyone can be an engineer. Find the presentation here