What is Engineering Discovery?

Engineering Discovery is dedicated to fostering passion and excitement for engineering and science in K-12 students of all backgrounds. Through open-ended, hands-on team projects, we work to help our students discover the value and joy of technical problem-solving.

We develop and run 1-3 hour activities that harness inquiry-based learning and open-ended, hands-on projects to teach students the value and excitement of technical problem solving. We emphasize a team-based learning environment which encourages students to collaborate and learn from each other.

Our activities include running 3 hour activities on Olin College's campus and at local museums and libraries, teaching weekly lessons in classrooms at elementary and middle schools, running a math club and a green club, helping out at science fairs, and more.

Who is Engineering Discovery?

Engineering Discovery has about 30 active members, making it one of the largest student organizations at Olin.

You can read about our group leadership here.

How did Engineering Discovery begin?

Our current organization formed in the fall of 2007 when about 12 students at Olin came together to teach pre-prepared lessons on superhero science (studying topics of aerodynamics, optics, and biotechnology) to local Needham fourth and fifth grade students during an after school program.

In the spring of 2008, we began developing lessons of our own, which we brought each Wednesday to a 5th grade class at William Monroe Trotter Elementary School in Dorchester. While we were successful in reaching students and generating enthusiasm for engineering and science, we realized we could engage more students and design more exciting activities by hosting our program at Olin. Thus the Saturday@Olin workshop concept was born.

The fall of 2008 saw us focus exclusively on the 3 hour workshop concept. We developed BLAST OFF!, a bottle rocket design, build, and launch activity. Hosted from 9 AM to noon on October 4 , we invited Needham 4th and 5th graders to our first run of the program. On October 25, we hosted a more advanced version for an 8th grade Saturday program.

For the spring of 2009, we hosted a 2-week Saturday workshop on renewable energy!

Fall 2010 saw us grow to a solid group of fifteen students. We revised our BLAST OFF! workshop and hosted two bottle rocket sessions in October and November.

By Spring 2011, Engineering Discovery had grown to twenty active members, and expanded to having partnerships with half a dozen schools and other organizations. We have continued to develop these partnerships and grow as an organization. As of Spring 2012, we had approximately thirty active members.