AURORA, Colo. – Aug. 7, 2013 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), the Colorado State University (CSU) College of Engineering and Cherry Creek Schools teamed up this summer to get kids excited about careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and cybersecurity during the first STEM/Cybersecurity Summer Camp.
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The camp was held July 29-Aug. 2 at Grandview High School, and offered students an opportunity to learn about and apply the technologies that are fueling tomorrow's workforce.
Forty-five students from the Denver metro area in grades 9-12 participated in this two-track camp where students learned from experts in the field about clean energy technologies and cybersecurity. The camp was offered at no charge to students thus expanding its reach to students to position them for success.
"Our nation is facing a critical shortage of students interested in the STEM disciplines," said Marcos Stephens, manager, engineering training programs, Northrop Grumman Information Systems in Aurora. "We want to encourage students to get interested in STEM and cybersecurity to build a diverse employee pipeline of professionals who are poised to take on tomorrow's national challenges. We worked with some of the brightest kids in the Denver metro area and were privileged to be a part of an amazing team that made this possible."
The cybersecurity track curriculum was based on the successful CyberPatriot program, for which the Northrop Grumman Foundation is the presenting sponsor, as well as demonstrations and lab exercises from Northrop Grumman's Cyber Academy. Northrop Grumman instructors taught students about computer forensics, cybersecurity fundamentals such as operating system hardening and computer ethics, and how to prepare for a career in the field. The week culminated with a cybersecurity grand challenge, where student teams used tools and techniques learned throughout the week to identify vulnerabilities and protect their network systems from computer attack.
Students from CSU College of Engineering taught the clean energy track covering clean energy systems, the causes and effects of climate change, relationships between electricity and magnetic fields, wind power, solar power, hydrogen fuel cells, and energy conservation. At camp, students built a wind-powered generator and solar-powered charging station to learn how clean energy derived from these two hybrid systems could energize a hydrogen fuel cell-powered car. The week culminated with hydrogen fuel-cell car races and energy conversion challenges associated with clean energy drive systems.
"Today's students must see the utility and value of learning STEM subjects," explained Michael de Miranda, professor of engineering education at Colorado State. "Solving real engineering design problems like the hybrid power generation systems integrated into a hydrogen fuel-cell charging station gives them a first-hand opportunity to 'connect the STEM dots' and experience the excitement and challenge of doing engineering."
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
