SIA Promotes STEM Education through Discover Engineering Family Day

by Semiconductor Industry Association

Strengthening America’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education is a perennial priority for SIA. SIA has long engaged in efforts to ensure that the U.S. develops and retains future generations of top scientific minds, including through advocacy for national initiatives to bolster STEM education and through direct participation in programs that get kids interested in technology at a young age.

Discover Engineering Family Day (DEFD), an annual event hosted at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., is one such platform that SIA utilizes to promote STEM education from an early age. From meet and greets with real astronauts, to making slime, catapults and paper airplanes, to controlling a robot, DEFD provides children with a hands-on experience to learn how science and technology is used in our everyday lives.

As in years past, SIA was one of the dozens of exhibitors at the 2014 DEFD on Feb. 22. SIA staff and member company volunteer engineers showed examples of wafers and semiconductors, conducted an electricity experiment using lemons, and helped kids try on the iconic bunny suit used in fab clean rooms (photos). SIA also raffled away FPGA semiconductor board development kits, courtesy of Altera.

This successful event would not have been possible without the sponsorship, support, swag, and participation from SIA member companies and volunteers. Special thanks to Micron for their sponsorship and significant support for the event. Also, thanks to Analog Devices, Altera, and Maxim Integrated for sending giveaways and hands-on materials. And many thanks to the engineers that volunteered for the day to speak with the kids, including Peter Lai and Roger Faul of Micron, and Tina Prevost and Milosz Kardasinksi of Analog Devices.