November 2016

Dear Parents and Families,

I’m delighted to introduce myself and tell you about opportunities available for your student, regardless of their major, to incorporate the joys of hands-on making and STEM problem-solving into their Tufts experience. In January 2016 I joined the Tufts faculty as an assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department, with additional appointments to the education department and a lab at the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO). It’s been a wonderful first year!

The main goal of my research and teaching efforts is to expand access to engineering learning for all kinds of learners, from preschool children to middle school teachers to undergraduates unsure if engineering is for them. I have a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering as well as science education, and Tufts’ focus on interdisciplinary work and active citizenship allows me to marry those two parts of my background as I try to leverage STEM education to reduce inequities in the world.

Most of my projects explore the influence of hands-on design activities on knowledge building and reasoning. For example, when students engineer musical instruments, they learn more about the variables that affect volume and pitch than they do during more traditional instruction on the science of sound. I encourage students from all majors to take advantage of one of Tufts’ hidden treasures: the Tufts Maker Network. By connecting with a Maker Network group, all students can find their way to explore independent or course-related hands-on projects in a number of campus “maker spaces.” These are centers equipped with tools, materials, and knowledgeable people to help turn an idea into a three-dimensional artifact. From the 3D printers in the Bray Lab, to the ceramics room in the Crafts Center, to the LEGO wall at the CEEO, Tufts offers a wide and growing array of tools for all kinds of hands-on endeavors. We are extremely excited about the new possibilities that will be available through the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.

Your student can also get involved by participating in one of our STEM education outreach efforts in the local schools. For over 15 years, the CEEO has supported the STOMP program in sending dozens of Tufts undergraduate students every week to local K-8 classrooms to assist teachers in facilitating engineering learning experiences. The STEM Ambassadors program, run by our Center for STEM Diversity, offers Tufts students the opportunity to share science and engineering with middle and high school students in Boston, Medford, and Somerville. Both programs not only give students a chance to explore what it really means to learn science, technology, engineering, and math, but they also connect Tufts students to the world of public education and children’s lives in Tufts’ neighboring communities.

Students are looking for ways to build their technological fluency as they pursue a range of academic and career interests. Capabilities with fabrication tools are an asset for any career or graduate study trajectory. From a different perspective, in this age of “screen time,” your son or daughter may also find the joy of making a tangible artifact to be incredibly refreshing and restorative. The experience of making can invite reflection and introspection on the meaning of all kinds of technologies in our lives.

In May of 2016 I had the honor of meeting President Obama at the White House to receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. I was humbled as I heard from 100 other young researchers from around the country about the incredible work they are doing at the forefront of science and engineering with a focus on positive societal impact. I had just 5 seconds to utter a few words to the President, and I couldn’t think of anything better to do with the time than to let him know “I’m from Tufts!” It seemed important to represent that our community is committed to scholarship and teaching that seeks to make the world a better place.

We look forward to hearing from your son or daughter with interest in exploring a maker project or participating in STEM education outreach efforts. If you’d like to learn more or get involved, you can reach me by email at .

Sincerely,

Kristen Wendell

McDonnell Family Assistant Professor in Engineering Education

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Education (Adjunct)

Center for Engineering Education and Outreach

Tufts University

http://engineering.tufts.edu/me/people/wendell/index.htm