February 6, 2025 MS&E undergrads visit Verona Girl Scout Troop Written By: Emma Conway Departments: Materials Science & Engineering Categories: Community|Students|Undergraduate On Wednesday, February 5, four MS&E undergraduates met with Girl Scout Troop 9100 at the Verona Public Library. Complete with a presentation and multiple experiments, the visit hoped to inspire the next generation of female engineers. In the beginning of their presentation, Alaina Drew, Amy Iuppa, Ameenah Zawahir and Angela Zrnich discussed why they chose to study materials science and engineering. “I came into the College of Engineering undecided,” Zrnich said. “But I figured everything is made of something — so I chose to study materials science.” From hardness tests to molecular modeling, the undergraduates led the seventh graders in a variety of experiments throughout their presentation. These hands-on activities with everyday items not only taught the troop the fundamentals of materials science, but also taught them that the materials all around us affect our daily lives. Students walk with long strings of fabric, showing how atomic structures influence durability. Members of the troop use different rocks to test their hardness. Amy Iuppa shows students how heat affects bendability. The Girl Scouts pass different pipes to one another, seeing how much or little they bend. The college students also discussed the opportunities the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has provided them. Labs on campus have helped them better understand things like packaging, wood’s durability and computer software. But the students did not stop there — they linked their coursework to bigger causes like sustainability, the future of medical devices and AI. “Everything connects back to materials science,” Drew said. The group closed their presentation by sharing what jobs MS&E students can obtain after earning their degrees. Beyond engineering roles, material scientists go on to become patent lawyers, researchers, salespeople, teachers and more. They left the troop with an idea: many things are possible with a degree in materials science and engineering. When the undergraduates walked out of the library, they left feeling fulfilled, being able to share what they love with the next generation. In five short years, those Girl Scouts will be thinking about what university they would like to attend, what they may want to study. And, when that time comes, we hope these girls will consider the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Thank you Girl Scout Troop Leader Brandy Wasvick for inviting the Department of Materials Science and Engineering to meet with the Troop 9100. Do you know a group of young people who may benefit from a presentation like this one? If so, please contact the Department’s Communication Specialist Emma Conway to discuss scheduling a visit.