The Detroit Area Pre-college Engineering Program’s (DAPCEP) mission is to increase the number of historically under-represented minorities (African American, Hispanic American, and Native American) who are motivated and prepared academically to pursue careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology related fields. DAPCEP’s ultimate goal is to give underrepresented students the interest and preparation needed to succeed in a University-level science or engineering curriculum.

Over 4,200 students, grades K through 12, are currently served through DAPCEP’s academic programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. More than 95 percent of DAPCEP students are African American with the remaining five percent being Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American, or Caucasian.

In the summer of 2007, 47 DAPCEP students participated in the National Science Foundation funded program Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers. The students spent four weeks on campus taking part in four different sessions: Explorations in Engineering; Biotechnology, Physics & Exercise Science; Video Game Programming; and Information Technology and Communication Theory.

During the exploration Biotechnology, Physics and Exercise Science, led by local high school teacher and MTU alum Michael Larson and Biological Science PhD candidate Sarah Kiemle, students spent a week doing hands-on activities in the MEEM, Fisher and SDC teaching labs in which they: Explored how the human body operates in the physical world. Explored the technologies used to analyze the physical conditions, capacities and capabilities of human systems. Measured cardiac output, analyzed their current diet and the physiological effect to their body, and determined the level of physical activity that causes muscle fatigue. This workshop linked the knowledge of biological science, exercise science and the application of physics principles to the measurement technologies used in analysis of the human body.

In photos slide show below, Michael and Sarah interact with students as they try to answer some of the following questions:

How do athletes use technology to improve performance? How is the effect of exercise on the cardiovascular system measured? Does running or bicycling burn more calories? What forms of technology are used to analyze and evaluate how the human body functions?

The Department of Biological Sciences has been a long-time supporter of Youth Programs providing space in our Dow and RL Smith (MEEM) Building teaching labs, the latest in modern equipment and faculty mentoring. We are proud to extend our support to the DAPCEP program.

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