Learning the process of creating semiconductors and circuits might sound like a daunting task for many but it was the exciting focus for high school students attending a special summer camp recently held at SMU Simmons.
The inaugural Semiconductor Camp is part of the research project of Simmons School of Education’s J. Kyle Roberts, Ph.D. and Lyle School of Engineering’s J.C. Chiao, Ph.D.
Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the camp allowed high school students from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area to receive hands-on instruction in the process of building a semiconductor.
The camp was the first in a series of training materials that are being developed to help foster student matriculation into this STEM field. According to Dr. Roberts, “There is a growing push to have more semiconductor fabrication here in the U.S. and with that, we will need engineers who are ready to fill these needed roles. Through this summer camp, along with other materials being developed, we hope to foster student consideration for careers in this much needed field.”
The week-long camp concluded with a tour of the Texas Instruments facility in Richardson to view semiconductor creation in real time.
The research project aims to help high-school students develop skills and career interests in the semiconductor fields through both hands-on learning and an innovative game-based learning platform.
Approximately 120 students will participate in the program over the three years of the research project, where they will be engaged in the gaming platform and interact with industry experts to explore semiconductor career opportunities.