Rollercoaster Engineering: CMU's SAMS Program Takes High Schoolers on a Thrilling Ride
It was a rollercoaster of a Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) for participating CEE faculty and students—quite literally. For the second year in a row, the department held an evening workshop within CMU’s 5 weeks-long SAMS program that gave rising high school seniors a hands-on experience in rollercoaster design.
Students accepted into the program were dubbed SAMS scholars—and participated in courses and meetings for full days during their time at the university.
“We know that seniors are exploring. We wanted to open up ideas that they may not have considered in the area of engineering,” says Andrea Francioni Rooney, CEE’s Director of Undergraduate Programs.
To get the SAMS scholars’ attention, a popular and familiar topic was chosen—rollercoasters. Building a rollercoaster also showed off the many sides of civil engineering, adding Melissa Ritchie, CEE’s Manager of MS Programs. The workshop began with senior Alex Bram’s presentation on roller coaster design. Then, the SAMS scholars broke into small groups to build their own rollercoasters utilizing K’Nex sets. “The exercise helped to show them that they aren’t limited to one design if they choose the engineering field. There are many different possibilities,” states Ritchie.
We are proud of our community and how faculty members and CEE students volunteer their time during the summer to participate in programs like this one. It shows how much they’re dedicated to our department—and how they’re interested in making a difference in people’s lives.
During the workshop, SAMS scholars focused on application, hands-on building, and communication. Faculty members, current undergrad students, and PhD students assisted and talked with the scholars as they worked through their projects, then browsed the room to see what other groups had created.
Ritchie and Francioni Rooney agreed that the high school seniors immediately connected with the CEE students. This provided a solid foundation for everyone to feel comfortable with one another and ask questions. “It was a great experience for our CEE students, too, because it gave them a chance to talk about the science behind roller coasters while also making concepts like force and physics relatable,” adds Ritchie.
“People may go to an amusement park and not understand how much engineering goes into it,” says Francioni Rooney. Separate from the CEE evening workshop, SAMS scholars had the opportunity get a Pittsburgh experience during a SAMS program visit to Kennywood, a local amusement park.
Whether taking in the city’s venues or working alongside CEE students, SAMS scholars gained insight into the strong sense of community at CMU.
“We are proud of our community and how faculty members and CEE students volunteer their time during the summer to participate in programs like this one. It shows how much they’re dedicated to our department—and how they’re interested in making a difference in people’s lives,” Francioni Rooney states.
The SAMS program requires rising high school seniors to submit an application and get accepted as a SAMS scholar. They then live on CMU’s campus for five weeks during the summer before their senior years. They engage in a rigorous curriculum taught by CMU’s renowned faculty and staff as well as other instructors, to develop a deeper understanding of STEM via traditional classroom instruction, hands-on projects, and sustained engagement with mentors.