Engineering Outreach with Torrey Pines Elementary School

Members of Dr. Tehrani's research group hosted an outreach event for approximately 100 fifth-grade students from Torrey Pines Elementary School. The program introduced students to the field of composite materials through interactive demonstrations and discussions about how advanced materials are used in aerospace, transportation, renewable energy, and sporting applications.

Graduate students and researchers shared examples of composite manufacturing, material testing, and ongoing research projects, providing students (and their parent chaperones) with a hands-on glimpse into engineering and materials science. The event aimed to spark curiosity about STEM fields and inspire the next generation of engineers by connecting classroom science concepts to real-world applications.

SE Lab Tours and Poster Showcase for TCC

As part of the opening activities for the Thermoplastic Composites Conference (TCC), research groups across the Department of Structural Engineering working in advanced composites hosted laboratory tours and a student poster session for attendees from industry and academia. The tour showcased UC San Diego’s facilities supporting cutting-edge composites research and education, including composite tooling produced through large-scale additive and subtractive manufacturing, laser automated fiber placement and welding processes, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies for composite structures, and testing laboratories capable of fatigue, impact, and large-scale structural testing. 

The experience concluded with coffee and a student poster session, where graduate students presented their latest research findings. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to engage directly with researchers, discuss current challenges in thermoplastic composite materials, and explore emerging technologies while fostering collaboration between academia and industry.