Making STEM Fun

As one of the nation’s longest operating engineering firms, HR Green is dedicated to expanding interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. However, how do we encourage students to engage with STEM education?

By making STEM fun.​

Across the country, HR Green offices work with local schools and universities by providing students the opportunity to meet engineers in a fun and engaging way to build student interest as they prepare to pursue careers in STEM.

In recent years, HR Green’s Cedar Rapids office has welcomed students to Exploring Engineering Day.  The office hosts high school students from the local area interested in engineering careers.  This event is an engaging, hands-on experience, introducing them to engineering in the transportation, water, government services, and land development fields. The students visit a station for each field where an HR Green team member talks with them about their field of specialty and leads them in some hands-on activities.

In Des Moines, Iowa, students from the Waukee School District come to HR Green’s office and work for 10-20 hours a week through the school year to gain experience in civil engineering.

In Houston, Texas, HR Green and ASCE team together to give high school students a chance to experience a day in the life as an engineer.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, team members collaborate with the University of Minnesota by mentoring students on their senior design projects.

The Sioux Falls, SD office participates in South Dakota State University’s Ready-Set-Go workshop – a one-day workshop introducing high school-aged women to engineering, math, and science through a highly dynamic program of hands-on activities.

Learning about STEM can be fun. But engineering companies like HR Green must continue to lead the way for programming to get students involved, not only to develop a sustainable workforce for our own companies, but also for the future of our industries.