Lawrence Technological University’s Department of Natural Sciences is proud to offer exciting, interactive STEM education programs to high school classes.
In this free program, high school science teachers have the opportunity to bring their students to Lawrence Tech’s beautiful Southfield campus for a hands-on science activity presented by our dedicated faculty and staff. Teachers can choose from biology, chemistry, and physics programs designed to ignite student curiosity about scientific research, STEM careers, and how science is used in our everyday lives.
Sample Program
15 minutes: Welcome, degree program overview, and LTU differentiators.
60 minutes: Hands-on science activity.
45 minutes: Campus and research lab tour.
60 minutes: Liquid nitrogen slushies and pizza; chatting with students
Would you like to bring your class for a fun day of science at LTU? Please reach out to our science outreach coordinator at eforest@ltu.edu to share your school, top program interests, class size, and preferred dates. We look forward to bringing this fun STEM education opportunity to your students!
There’s a mystery in LTU’s microbiology lab: something is contaminating our agar plates! In this program, students will solve the mystery by identifying a species of unknown bacteria. Students will use colony morphology, Gram staining, and biochemical tests to investigate the contamination, determine bacterial species, and learn about the fundamentals of microbiology.
Every time you eat a fruit or a vegetable, you’re also eating its DNA! In this session, students will test techniques to isolate DNA while learning about DNA, RNA, and proteins. Students will explore the structure and function of DNA, investigate how common household materials can be used for DNA extraction, and isolate DNA from soft fruits or vegetables. This hands-on activity encourages curiosity about how genetic technology can be used across a variety of STEM fields.
How does the unique structure of red blood cells contribute to their function? What sets mammalian red blood cells apart from those of other organisms? How do red blood cells compare to other cell types? In this hands-on laboratory experience, students will develop hypotheses about how structure and function interconnect by investigating cell morphology. They will prepare, stain, and examine blood smears using real sheep and chicken blood, collect and observe their own cheek cells under a microscope, and explore cell structure across different species.
Did you know that worms have preferences too? In this session, students will explore the chemosensory behavior of Caenorhabditis elegans . They will conduct an experiment observing how C. elegans respond to various chemicals. By adding attractants and repellents to the plates, students will learn about the sensory mechanisms guiding these tiny creatures. This hands-on activity will provide insights into the complex behaviors of C. elegans and the importance of chemosensation for their survival.
We learn more about the similarities and differences present in human beings every day. In this session, students will extract their own DNA, learn about single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and learn how this new knowledge of human genetic variation can lead to the better treatment of diseases.
How fast do signals travel in your nervous system? In this session, students will use physiological sensors to measure the speed of their nervous system. We will compare the speed of your unconscious reflexive actions with your conscious reaction times.
Make beautiful art prints while learning about chemistry! In this session, students learn about cyanotype photography and the chemical reaction that makes it work by creating their own colorful art prints to take home. Students will mix reagents, prepare their cyanotype, and witness the oxidation-reduction reaction that occurs when their cyanotype is exposed to UV light.
We use chemistry in our daily lives! In this program, students will learn about the chemistry behind a common skincare product by creating their own lotion. Students will explore the concepts of polarity, emulsions, and pH while learning about how chemistry is used in business to create new products.
The need for clean drinking water free of heavy metal contaminants has led to the popularity of filtering water pitchers. But how functional are these filters? In this program, students will test how well different water filtration systems remove heavy metals. Students will use an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer to measure heavy metal concentration in water and determine if the filters perform as well as claimed.
Cast your own metal artwork! In this program, students will learn the basics of metal casting using a low melting point Wood’s Metal Fusible Alloy. This special alloy melts at 70 degree Celsius and allows students to quickly and safely perform metal casting in 30 minutes. Students will design and carve their own mold using clay and sculpting tools. and will have an opportunity to take photos of their metalwork to share them on social media. They will learn the concepts of melting point, freezing point, and phase transition through this hands-on experience.
What does tree bark, an acne treatment, and aspirin have in common? In this program, students will learn about the chemistry of pharmaceutical drugs. They will use molecular model kits to understand the structures of medicinally important molecules and will complete a chemical reaction to prepare aspirin.
Forensic science is a very exciting field. Have you ever wondered how physics plays a role in solving crimes? In this program, students will conduct blood spatter analysis experiments to determine how distance, angle, and speed of blood droplets affect the splatter pattern. Using their knowledge of blood spatter physics, students will analyze blood evidence from a crime scene and solve a mystery.
How can we use light to see what stars are made of? How can telescopes give us a closer view of the night sky? How can the study of physics help us better understand our universe? In this program, students explore these big questions through hands-on activities designed to ignite curiosity. See a rainbow of emission spectra, look through a telescope, see sunspots (if it’s a clear day), and learn about the exciting world of astronomy!
Magnets aren’t just found on your fridge! There are magnets in your microwave, in your car, and even in your phone. But how do they work? Learn about the magnetic properties of materials, electromagnetism, and electromagnetic induction and how these properties and phenomena are applied in the construction of new devices across many fields of science, technology, and engineering.
How can we use molecular forces to make geometric bubbles? The surface of liquids is held together and shaped by surface tension. Using custom-made 3D printed objects of various geometry, students will explore unusual liquid surface configurations to create square, triangular, and giant bubbles made possible by surface tension.
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.
Inspired by the groundbreaking women of color who helped NASA win the Space Race, the Hidden Figures ScholarTM program aims to empower young women through immersive STEM Education workshops.
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.
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