Innovative HCC summer research program helps engineering students advance in STEM fields
Aug 29, 2018
Former Houston Community College student Christian Oviedo has been nominated to present his research project, Characterization of Environmentally Sustainable and Degradable Epoxy Resins, at the 2018 Council for Undergraduate Research Conference in Alexandria, Va. in late October. Oviedo, who is now studying chemical engineering at the University of Houston, was one of 13 HCC students who participated in an innovative summer research program funded by the National Science Foundation.
The Research Experiences and Exploration in Materials Science for HCC Science and Engineering Students Program provided students the opportunity to share summer research experiences with other students, faculty, family and the public. Oviedo was selected as the outstanding participant by a panel from the U.S. Air Force, HCC, the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, the University of Texas at San Antonio and a member of the West Houston Center for Science and Engineering Advisory Council.
The REEMS program, which is managed by HCC's Bartlett M. Sheinberg, provides a series of multidisciplinary learning experiences in chemistry, physics, engineering, the biological sciences, medicine, computational science, economics, and public policy. REEMS students represent diverse cultural, economic, educational backgrounds and ages. While their backgrounds, academic and career goals may vary, each student has an intense motivation to learn, a willingness to explore new challenges, and a desire to accomplish his or her educational and career goals.
"The data gathered to date presents a strong correlation of participation in REEMS with an enhanced appreciation of the content and concepts of basic science, mathematics and engineering courses, and the ability to integrate these concepts to solve problems, whether working in the lab or addressing societal issues," said Sheinberg. "This program is helping prepare our students for the rigor of engineering studies at four-year universities."
Ten of the 13 participating HCC students are transferring to four-year universities for the fall semester and eight of them are pursuing engineering degrees.