On 14 January during AIAA SciTech Forum, three AIAA technical committees, the Structural Dynamics TC, Structures TC, and Aerodynamics Measurement Technologies TC, along with representatives from Blue Origin’s Club for the Future partnered with Southwest Middle School in Orlando, for an off-site STEM outreach event.
Volunteers led seven interactive, hands-on demonstrations designed to spark curiosity and encourage critical thinking. More than 180 students in grades 6–8 rotated through the stations, actively engaging with aerospace concepts through experimentation and discussion. Activities included:
- Seeing Is Believing: Understanding Resonance and Visualizing Sound
- Wind Tunnel Flow Visualization: Wing Flutter and Aircraft Weight/Center of Gravity
- Bending and Torsion of Symmetric Wings: Exploring Changes in Wing Stiffness
- Acoustics: Tuning Fork and Resonance Box Experiments
- International Space Station: On-Orbit Structural Dynamics
- Vibrating Beams and Wire Loop Resonator
- Aerodynamic Measurements and Flow Visualization
Following the activities, students heard from Blue Origin astronaut Amy Medina Jorge, who shared her journey beyond the Kármán line and her passion for space exploration and education. An educator herself, Amy is also a past recipient of the AIAA Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. Her story inspired students to envision their own futures in STEM and aerospace.
For the past 16 years, AIAA technical committees have been committed to STEM outreach, collectively impacting nearly 5,000 students through hands-on educational experiences like this one.
