Every summer at South Dakota Mines, high school
students get the opportunity to participate in real research projects through
the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). These students get to spend their
summers literally getting their hands dirty as they work on – and contribute to
– real research projects happening at the university.
This year, two students got the opportunity to
assist identifying local Black Hills minerals, including rock and soil samples,
that would be viable in the process to create a ceramic clay body and coating.
“AEOP apprenticeships and fellowships help high
school students gain the skills and experience you need today to prepare for
the STEM careers of tomorrow,” says Katrina Donovan, Ph.D., lecturer in the
Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering.
AEOP is a grant program through the U.S. Army that
provides research experiences in STEM for high school students, says Donovan.
Through this program, the Army sponsors research alongside scientists and
engineers in world-class facilities, like the ones found at South Dakota Mines.
Donovan worked this summer with two high school
students, Ian Grinager and Aaron Letner. Donovan explains that, after
chemically identifying and collecting minerals of interest from around the Black
Hills, Grinager and Letner used mineral processing techniques to turn the rocks
into a powder.
After the crushing, Letner used the crushed minerals
to create the ceramic body, and Grinager used them to create the coating that
improved the durability of the finished product. They fired their creations at
1,000 degrees Celsius and then tested mechanical properties of each uncoated piece.
To improve the mechanical properties of an uncoated piece, a ceramic coating was applied to the uncoated
pieces. The ceramic bodies with the
ceramic coating were fired a second time. Grinager and Letner measured the
mechanical properties of the ceramic coating on the ceramic body.
Letner, in his junior year of high school, said he
wanted to get involved in AEOP because it was an inclusive STEM program.
“I learned a lot about the mineral industries field
and whether it was something I wanted to pursue later in life,” he says, adding
that there is no downside to the program because it is an incredible learning
opportunity. “Even if you think AEOP isn’t for you, apply anyways,” he adds.
Grinager, attending high school and dual-enrolling
at South Dakota Mines this year, discovered the experience through his sister,
who had previously participated, and he wanted to get involved because it
looked like a “cool opportunity.” He notes that the summer session was
successful, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I got to learn about the scientific method in the
real world,” he says.
He urges other high school students to participate
in the program, adding that “Dr. D (Donovan) is a good boss.”
“This program is an awesome approach to explore a
potential career pathway and meet other high school students interested in STEM
while providing a great opportunity and resume-building experience to discuss
when applying for scholarships or jobs,” Donovan says, adding that one AEOP
student from last year, who now attends South Dakota Mines, was able to secure
a paid internship as a first-year industrial engineering and engineering management
student.
In addition to the U.S ARMY supporting the students
and material costs, Donovan says that part of the research for this project was
funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) curriculum development award.
As part of this grant, South Dakota Mines students and faculty/staff have
access to open clay studio time on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Mineral
Industries Building, room 220.