In this talk we probably won’t answer this question, but will share some research data around student interest and discuss one of our current projects focused on engineering outreach. We will discuss data collected from students and from a sample of NSF PIs that indicate early events that trigger STEM interest as well as indicators of career interest. From there we will bridge to a current research project where we are exploring how undergraduates may be role models for elementary and middle school students, particularly girls, during engineering outreach activities.

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For the past 10 years, Kelli managed a consulting business where she conducted evaluations that focused primarily in the areas of education and STEM. The majority of these projects examined middle and high school students, especially women and minority students. Her research interests include student engagement and interest in STEM and STEM careers as well as the development of instruments and evaluation tools to assess these constructs.