Electrical Engineering NSF STEM Scholars Explore Science and Ecology in Maine

September 9, 2022

National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM Student Scholars and faculty from Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology’s Electrical Engineering department visited The Center for Ecological Teaching and Learning in Downeast Maine, under the direction of Dr. Carl Merrill, a Suffolk University Biology Professor who is an expert in the ecology of that region.

The trip, held August 30-September 2, provided a chance for the student scholars to experience science and engineering in the field and to enjoy the pristine environment in Downeast Maine. This trip can make an invaluable and life-long impression on students about the importance of conservation and renewable energy in our country. It also provided an opportunity for the scholars to get to know each other and to develop a sense of community.

Four NSF S-STEM student scholars from the college’s ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering (EE) program attended: David Calixte, Nicholas Gatti, Christian Gonzalez, and Kevin Folan.

“I have been camping, traveling , visiting places and having fun, but the trip to Maine was exceptional, it was not only camping or getting to know Maine, but it was also about learning by doing some great experiences that will help in our study.” said Calixte, an incoming first-year Electrical Engineering student. “It’s something that every student, specially STEM ones, should do. This trip made feel ready to start my new adventure as an electrical engineer.”

Dr. Shatz, the Principal Investigator of the NSF S-STEM Scholars program, and Dr. Christensen, the Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department, also guided the research trip. The visit was further enhanced by Colleen O’Connell, who is the Director of the Ecological Teaching and Learning MS program, and who provided the delicious food on the trip.

The group also performed a photovoltaic experiment and went on a nighttime hike to Reversing Falls, where the strong high tide, forces the river to reverse its flow. In addition, in Eastport students learned about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s plan to use tidal power to generate electricity, had a tour of the impressive sustainable features of the new Sipayik Elementary School, which serves the children of the Passamaquoddy tribe. The trip ended with learning about the importance of whales to the Passamaquoddies.

About the S-STEM Scholars Program

The college in 2021 received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support the launch of the S-STEM Scholars project, which assists students enrolled in the college’s ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering bachelor’s degree program.

Using a combination of tuition scholarships, special programming—like the Maine trip—and academic supports, the project aims to contribute to the national need for well-educated engineers and technicians by boosting retention and graduation rates for high-achieving, low-income Boston Public School graduates entering the Electrical Engineering program.

Learn more about the S-STEM Scholars program at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology.

See more photos from the trip: