¹ú²úÂ×Àí hosted BLAST Camp from June 19 to 21, helping ninth- and 10th-grade students learn more about science, technology, engineering and math. The camp featured STEM enrichment experiences, with demonstrations by ¹ú²úÂ×Àí faculty. Activities included a bridge-building project led by Michael Seek, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology. BLAST – short for Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology – is a partnership of ¹ú²úÂ×Àí, the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Radford University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, the College of William & Mary and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Photos Nicholas Clark and Sherry DiBari/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

After deciding what kind of support each bridge needs, students drill pieces into place. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Andrea Ayala, working for BLAST, cuts wood for the trusses. Photo Sherry Dibari/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

From left, Aiden Washington, Luca Sanchez, Coke Sutton, Joshua Weigel and Fritz Whitfield team up to plan and build a bridge. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Nathan Boisvert, an electrical engineering technology student, helps BLAST campers during the Radios From Ground to Sky session. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Students work together to make sure their measurements are correct. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Michael Seek, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, explains structural design to students before they start building their bridges. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Four students build a project using wood, while two others look on.
A young woman in T-shirt, jeans and goggles cuts wood with an electric saw.
Five young men sit around a table.
A man helps students working at computers.
Four young people work with pieces of wood.
A man stands in front of a room full of students.

After deciding what kind of support each bridge needs, students drill pieces into place. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Andrea Ayala, working for BLAST, cuts wood for the trusses. Photo Sherry Dibari/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

From left, Aiden Washington, Luca Sanchez, Coke Sutton, Joshua Weigel and Fritz Whitfield team up to plan and build a bridge. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Nathan Boisvert, an electrical engineering technology student, helps BLAST campers during the Radios From Ground to Sky session. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Students work together to make sure their measurements are correct. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí

Michael Seek, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, explains structural design to students before they start building their bridges. Photo Nicholas Clark/¹ú²úÂ×Àí