The College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Technological University is committed to high school STEM education and outreach in our Metro Detroit community and beyond. The STEM Education Committee serves to facilitate and highlight the outreach efforts of our dedicated CoAS faculty and staff, build strong bonds with community partners, and provide memorable hands-on STEM experiences for high school students.
The STEM Education Committee is composed of Dr. Wisam Bukaita (Math + Computer Science), Dr. Bruce Pell (Math + Computer Science),Ms. Erika Forest (Natural Sciences), and Mr. Devson Butani (Math + Computer Science).
Interested in our programs for your high school students? Please reach out to stem-education@ltu.edu to learn more about our programs and schedule a visit!
Want to learn more about how you can get involved with STEM research at LTU? Visit our Research page to explore current Arts + Sciences research projects.
Apply to become a QUEST Scholar (current LTU students) or MICUP Scholar (community college students).
Dual Enrollment High School Students from Athens at LTU Research Day 2026Every summer, the College of Arts + Sciences partners with the Marburger STEM Center to offer fun and engaging summer programs focused on cutting-edge topics in the natural sciences, math and computer science, and humanities, social science, and communication. Visit the Marburger STEM Center’s Summer Programs page to learn more and register today!
For rising Sophomores (10th), Juniors (11th), and Seniors (12th) between ages 14-18.
Participants must meet both grade and age requirements.
One of the most powerful moments in a student’s academic journey is when they begin to see themselves in their future. For Dual Enrollment High School students from Athens, that moment came to life as they entered the LTU Research Day poster exhibition. Standing alongside undergraduate researchers, presenting their own work within the same academic space, they experienced a rare and meaningful glimpse into what their future could become. In that moment, excitement, confidence, and a growing sense of belonging came together—transforming aspiration into something tangible.
Among the participants, Ashwin Shrivastav and Yi Xin Pan, representing Athens High School, stood out for their strong engagement in rigorous academic research. Their work, developed through their Linear Algebra studies, reflected depth, discipline, and intellectual curiosity. Their research was formally acknowledged by the Research Day committee, underscoring both the quality of their contributions and the value of early exposure to advanced academic inquiry. Their posters, displaying the Athens High School logo alongside the LTU logo, symbolized a meaningful partnership and a shared commitment to educational excellence.
Throughout the event, the students witnessed firsthand the strength of LTU’s academic environment and its culture of innovation. They engaged in thoughtful discussions with undergraduate researchers and interacted closely with faculty members, particularly from the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science. These interactions provided insight not only into academic pathways but also into the real-world applications of their studies.
This experience expanded their perspective, inspiring them to envision new academic goals and future careers. More importantly, it helped them understand how higher education can empower them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and to the advancement of science and technology.
At LTU, education goes beyond the classroom—we apply knowledge, foster innovation, and transform ideas into reality. This message was not only communicated but truly experienced by the students, leaving a lasting impression on their academic journey.
Dual Enrollment High School Students from Athens at LTU Research Day 2026On behalf of Dean Nelson and the College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Technological University, we are pleased to invite Community College and Highschool students to participate in a unique high-level research opportunity this spring.
Participating students will be paired with LTU faculty-led research teams, contributing approximately 2–4 hours per week. This experience will culminate in a professional poster presentation or research paper. Please apply here.
If you have any questions please contact Dr. Bukaita: wbukaita@ltu.edu
To reward the top six researchers, we are offering the following prize distribution:
Award Distribution & Incentives
| Award Rank | Number of Winners | Individual Prize | Total Category |
| First Place 🏆 | 1 | $700 | $700 |
| Second Place 🏅 | 2 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Third Place 💰 | 3 | $300 | $900 |
The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to offer hands-on STEM Education programs for visiting high school groups. Explore our full list of fun biology, chemistry, and physics activities for your high school class!
The Michigan College/University Partnership program connects community college students with the state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty at LTU for a summer research project.
High school students from University Prep Academy’s Biology class visited LTU to learn about microbiology by identifying an unknown microorganism. Students had the opportunity to use real lab techniques, such as gram staining and biochemical assays, to determine the species of a mystery bacteria. This hands-on scientific exploration let students learn about how STEM is used to answer big questions and drive innovation in research, medicine, industry, and more.
LTU dual enrollment students visited the College of Arts and Sciences for a hands-on exploration of STEM within every department of CoAS. Students learned how to levitate superconductors and control robots, visited the game lab to level up their skills, and saw how psychology research and 3D printing can build a better world. Excited students can apply to LTU’s Hidden Figures Scholar™ Program to support their STEM goals.
Students from University Prep Academy High School traveled to LTU to help solve a “crime” in our physics labs! Students learned about how physics is used to provide crucial, crime-solving evidence and explored fundamental physics concepts such as gravity and surface tension. After catching the culprit, students celebrated with pizza and chatted with professors about the many real-world applications of physics.
Biology students from De La Salle Collegiate High School visited LTU for a pair of fun experiments highlighting the sweet side of science. Students first extracted DNA from strawberries, a technique used as the first step in groundbreaking genetic technologies such as PCR or gene sequencing. Students performed another experiment over lunch: creating and tasting delicious slushies using pop or juice and liquid nitrogen!
Crockett Midtown High School seniors visited LTU Natural Sciences to learn about toxicology, an interdisciplinary field focused on how living respond to chemicals. Students performed experiments with a real model organism, a microscopic worm, to determine whether chemicals attracted or repelled the animals. This hands-on exploration of chemosensation was a fun way to introduce toxicology concepts and encourage scientific curiosity.
Students from Henry Ford II High School visited LTU for a series of fun chemistry experiments that highlight how chemistry is used not just in industry, but also to express creativity. While one group of students explored metal alloys using Wood’s metal, which melts at just 70 °C, to make cast-metal sculptures, other students learned about how chemistry led to innovations in photography by making their own cyanotype prints!
The LTU dual enrollment biology class at Frankel Jewish Academy traveled to campus to explore LTU’s labs through a fun DNA discovery activity. Students extracted real DNA from strawberries and their own cheek cells and received a behind-the-scenes tour of LTU’s world-class research labs to explore the exciting toxicology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, and medical research projects in progress at LTU.
Students from Cardinal Mooney visited LTU Natural Sciences to discover how chemistry is used in industry. Students performed a photochemical reaction, transforming pale green and gold reagents into a striking blue pigment using UV light. This experiment highlights how the discovery and refinement of new chemical reactions has led to innovations in industry, medicine, and even fine art.
LTU Natural Sciences visited the advanced physics class at Crestwood High School for a hands-on exploration of physics concepts such as magnets, gravity, and electricity. Crestwood students got to experience LTU’s “Theory and Practice” approach; instead of just hearing about concepts and techniques, they had the opportunity to put it into practice through real experimentation.
LTU Natural Sciences exhibited at MiCareerQuest, a large career exploration expo drawing more than 8,000 high school students. The team highlighted how science degrees provide an excellent foundation for medical and health-related careers. Students engaged in hands-on activities that demonstrated how scientific principles connect to real-world healthcare, offering an exciting glimpse into future opportunities in the medical field.
Utica High School pre-health students visited LTU for an exciting hands-on physics experience. Students learned how physics is used in the medical field by investigating the theory behind MRI machines, then put it into practice by building magnet motors and experimenting with superconductors. The activities gave students a dynamic look at how physics drives innovation in the medical field.
LTU welcomed its dual enrollment chemistry classes from Henry Ford High School and University Prep Academy for an engaging medicinal chemistry lab experience. Students learned how chemical reactions are used to make real-world pharmaceuticals, then carried out the synthesis of aspirin themselves. The hands-on experiment gave students a memorable look into college-level science and the exciting role chemistry plays in developing medicines.
LTU’s Department of Natural Sciences recently visited the Lakeview High School dual enrollment chemistry class for an exciting hands-on presentation on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Students explored how NMR helps scientists understand molecular structures and even got to experiment with liquid nitrogen, which is used to cool the NMR instrument. It was an engaging opportunity for future scientists to experience chemistry in action!
LTU welcomed 120 high school juniors for an engaging STEM exploration event of 3D modeling and printing. An extension of the Hidden Figures Scholars program, the STEM Exploration Day gave students the opportunity to transform original 2D artwork into 3D printing files, explore 3D printed kinetic sculptures, and learn how 3D printing combines geometry, computer science, and engineering design as a useful and powerful tool for the modern world.
Nearly 100 high school sophomores from Utica High School visited LTU’s Department of Natural Sciences for a series of fun biology and chemistry activities. These students synthesized aspirin to learn about medicinal chemistry, examined red blood cells to explore cell morphology and evolution, and explored the diverse career opportunities in biology, chemistry, and physics fields!
A group of homeschooled high school students from the Metro Detroit area visited the Department of Natural Sciences for a hands-on, high-tech science activity. These students worked with LTU Biology faculty to investigate the structure and function of their bodies’ nervous system, using computers to measure their reactions to different stimuli in one of LTU’s state-of-the-art science laboratories.
Prospective MICUP Scholars from Oakland, Henry Ford, and Macomb Community Colleges visited the College of Arts and Sciences at LTU to learn more about MICUP 2026. These students met with Program Director Dr. Wisam Bukaita and Project Coordinator Professor Ty Faulkner to learn about how to apply and the key program goals: to foster a supportive learning environment by providing community college students university-level research opportunities.
The Detroit Catholic Central High School chemistry club visited the Department of Natural Sciences at LTU for a day of hands-on chemistry. Using Wood’s metal alloy, which melts at a very low temperature, students carved molds and cast their own unique metal artwork. Students had fun learning about melting point, freezing point, and phase transition in metal… then made slushies with liquid nitrogen to learn about melting and freezing in delicious desserts.
LTU MICUP Scholars prepared for their upcoming summer research through participation in a week-long skills workshop with LTU professor Dr. Wisam Bukaita. These students learned how to identify and cite credible sources, navigate scholarly databases, and write a literature review for their summer research project. The students will put their skills to use during their MICUP summer research experiences.
The Detroit College Access Network (DCAN) sponsored 26 college-bound ninth graders from the School at Marygrove for a visit to Lawrence Tech. Students toured the campus, learned about STEM careers, and explored how magnets are used in modern technology, from cars to MRI machines. By building their own magnet motors and levitating magnets with superconductors, these students saw how physics can be fun!
Students from Osborn High School and Western International High School visited LTU as part of the Women of Ford program, which aims to encourage young women to pursue STEM careers through hands-on experiences and one-on-one mentorship. During this week-long program, these students explored the principles of electric vehicles, learned about STEM career paths from LTU faculty and student mentors, and built and drove their own electric go-karts.
Faculty and staff from LTU’s Department of Natural Sciences visited Crestwood High School in Dearborn, MI, for a day of fun and educational physics activities with Crestwood honors physics students. Students learned how electricity and magnetism are interconnected through hands-on investigations of eddy currents, conductivity, magnetic levitation with superconductors, and the Earth’s magnetic field.
Biology students from Port Huron High School visited the Department of Natural Sciences for a hands-on look at two important branches of biology: genetics and microbiology. Together with LTU faculty and staff, these students extracted their own DNA, identified a mystery microorganism, and learned more about the wonderful biology research happening in the College of Arts and Science!
In Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication, we explore what makes us uniquely human. Through ancient and modern texts, social norms, and communication, we uncover how these fields are essential to all careers and human endeavors.
In a world of programming, proofs, and unending figures and unfeeling facts, is there room for a touch of magic? Data drives discovery, innovation redefines intelligence, and when curiosity meets logic, mathematics can be miraculous.
Curiosity drives discovery in biology, chemistry, and physics, guiding us from molecular interactions to chemical reactions and the fundamental laws of nature. Explore what makes you curious.