IE Wonderland Program Inspires the Next Generation of Engineers
What began as a simple idea to spark curiosity in young minds has quickly grown into a vibrant community outreach program connecting Purdue's Industrial Engineering students with future engineers.
Launched this fall by Aliya Scott, graduate programs administrator for the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering, IE Wonderland (also occasionally referred to as Wonderland IE) invites children and families to explore the creativity, logic, and teamwork that define Industrial Engineering.
The program kicked off with a Welcome Reception where undergraduate IE students pitched their hands-on activity ideas to local families — a format that mirrored entrepreneurial presentations to clients. The event also featured remarks from Young-Jun Son, James J. Solberg Head and Ransburg Professor, Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering, who welcomed families into the Purdue IE community and emphasized the importance of outreach and mentorship in shaping future problem solvers.
Industrial Engineering students Aarav Kansara (left) and Sebastián Méndez-Ruiz (right) keep young students engaged while learning about CAD.
COEBuilding Wonder, One Session at a Time
Since its launch, IE Wonderland has rolled out a series of interactive workshops at local schools and libraries, each designed and led by Purdue IE undergraduates. Sessions have explored topics such as:
• “Building Bridges and Brain Power” — hands-on teamwork and design thinking with popsicle-stick bridges.
• “Supply & Demand” — trading and negotiation games that introduced financial literacy and operations concepts.
• “Buoyancy & Beyond” — experiments that explored balance, design, and why things float or sink.
• “Building with Legos” — lessons on efficiency, scalability, and how everyday items are made.
Children have also explored creative activities that tie engineering to unexpected areas — from CAD and science experiments to crochet as a model for systems logic.
Student Leaders Making a Difference
Behind every session is a team of enthusiastic Purdue IE student volunteers bringing these ideas to life. Current undergraduate leaders include Sebastián Méndez-Ruiz, Aarav Kansara, Sara Sateesh Gokhale, Sneha Beedu, Bryce Borgialli, Kailia Malaivanh, Lilly Ludlow, and Andrew Nguyen — all of whom are donating their time and creativity to engage K-12 students in engineering concepts.
Aliya Scott credits both her colleagues and students for transforming a small outreach idea into something bigger. “This started as a thought; what if our IE students could show local kids what engineering really looks like?” she said. “Now, we’re seeing that spark of curiosity grow into confidence and connection.”
A Community Effort
The program is supported by Rebecca Goodman, who helped recruit families and expand participation beyond initial expectations. What began with a goal of 10 families quickly grew to 17 for the very first workshop — evidence of the community’s enthusiasm for hands-on STEM learning.
At every session, the excitement is tangible. “Their eyes light up when they realize, this is Industrial Engineering!” Scott said.
Engineering Curiosity
By bridging academic mentorship with creative outreach, IE Wonderland offers a glimpse of Industrial Engineering through play, problem-solving, and teamwork. For the Purdue students involved, it’s also an opportunity to develop leadership, teaching, and communication skills that will serve them throughout their careers.