TTI hosted a number of K-12 STEM outreach activities related to Safe-D projects during the summer of 2019.
On July 25 and August 1, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) hosted 48 students from Camp Build which is hosted by the Civil Engineering Department. This was a week-long summer camp that provides rising high school juniors and seniors with an opportunity to explore civil engineering as a major and profession. Activities included tours of the visibility lab and driving simulator at TTI, as well as observing a crash test.
STEM Day students display the traffic signs they designed.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, TTI researcher Melisa Finley assisted with the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) STEM Activity Day as part of the ITE Annual Meeting held in Austin, Texas July 21-24. She talked to 17 kids in the 5th-9th grade and their parents about traffic sign colors and shapes, as well as retroreflectivity. The students then viewed sign sheeting, worker vests, and pavement markings with microscopes. The students also created their own signs warning others about their favorite animal crossing the road. Materials used in Melisa’s presentation were adapted from the Exploring the Science of Retroreflectivity Curriculum developed as part of Safe-D.