Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) engineers recently engaged Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) middle school students in hands-on activities during “Discover Engineering” week, held from February 3-7. Coordinated by SRNS Education Outreach Programs (EOP), 27 SRNS engineers led over 1,400 students through 56 interactive activities.

Formerly known as “Engineering Teach-Ins,” “Discover Engineering” highlights how engineering impacts the world from the perspective of Savannah River Site (SRS) engineers. Since the program's inception in 2008, SRS volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours to share science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences with more than 30,000 students.

“This is a major opportunity to expose students to the world of engineering,” said Taylor Rice, SRNS Education Outreach Specialist. “Our partnerships with local schools continue to spark interest in crucial scientific and technical careers, supporting a growing and viable workforce at SRS.”

Bre Ricks, a Mechanical Engineer supporting the Savannah River Tritium Enterprise, emphasized the importance of early exposure to engineering. "I chose the spaghetti and marshmallow building contest because it was one of the first engineering projects I did in high school that sparked my interest. Providing that exposure and support can boost students’ confidence and make a huge difference.”

Will Kellum, an Electrical Engineer for the Site’s Tritium Extraction Facility, led students at Glenn Hills Middle School in Augusta Georgia, through an electromagnetism involving DIY compasses. “The students were really engaged,” said Kellum. “They displayed phenomenal teamwork. Learning to try again when they don’t get the desired result is what engineering is all about. Many discoveries are made through scientific mistakes— this was a key message of today’s activity.”

Kellum, an EOP volunteer since 2023, explained why he continues to engage with the community. “The kids you interact with are the future. Inspiring them to pursue higher education and think critically at a young age will benefit them, no matter what career path they choose.”

Sixth-grader Chance Ellison said, "I was amazed by the compass I made because even if you removed the needle and put it back on compass, it still pointed north. I'm very thankful for my teacher for giving us this opportunity to have a guest speaker from SRNS visit our classroom."

“I really enjoyed learning about Will's life story, the different careers he's had to get to where he is today, and the colleges he attended,” said sixth-grader Aliyannah Rolle. “This experience has made me even more excited about my future career goals, and I enjoyed learning from a real engineer in the field.”

In conjunction with National Engineers Week, the demonstrations are part of DiscoverE, celebrating the contributions of engineers worldwide. SRNS volunteers covered engineering degrees, average salaries, recommended courses, extracurricular activities, and ways students can plan for early success. 

Glenn Hills Science Instructor Tama Clarke, said, "Our students often lack exposure to higher-level opportunities and careers that are available close to home. The job opportunities and education are here—they don’t have to leave the CSRA to have an amazing, well-paid job.”

"Seeing SRNS volunteers has opened their eyes to what is achievable. Meeting two different SRS engineers in one day highlighted the vast array of career options available to them,” Clarke continued. SRNS EOP offers various science and engineering programs aimed at sparking interest in STEM and enhancing education in the local community. For more information about these programs, click here.