(ANGOLA) - Trine University brought more than 100 students to campus to get a hands-on look at the future of science, technology, and artificial intelligence.
The university hosted 124 high school students and 10 educators from Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio for its annual "Impact Your Future" event.
Students rotated through interactive lab sessions covering fields like chemical engineering, biomedical design, environmental science, and forensics. Activities ranged from building 3D-printed prosthetic fingers to extracting DNA and using virtual reality to study human movement.
Organizers expanded the event this year to include more session options, giving students a chance to explore multiple STEM pathways.
While students worked in labs, educators took part in discussions focused on how artificial intelligence is changing classrooms. Topics included adapting assignments, reducing reliance on AI tools, and new teaching strategies.
Trine officials say the goal is to connect classroom learning with real-world applications and help students better understand career opportunities in STEM fields.
Post-event surveys showed strong interest, with more than two-thirds of students saying they plan to pursue careers in science or engineering.