For a drafting project at Space Coast Jr./Sr. High, Adam Long redesigned a Windex-style spray bottle.
The 17-year-old wanted to make it easier to use every drop - often, a difficult endeavor when the fluid runs low.
Using technical drafting software - he's earned an industry certification in the field- he lengthened the hose so it reaches more liquid, and reshaped the bottom of the bottle.
And then he used a 3-D printer to test his new design. It works so well, he and his family use it when cleaning windows at home.
'To go from nothing to a fully created project, it gives you an idea of what you can do,' Long said.
Educators and industry leaders agree that a key part of encouraging the next generation of science, technology and engineering professionals is creating opportunities for students to experience the fields.
It's one thing to read about concepts in a textbook, or even talk about them in class. But it's another to meet an engineer, or speak to a recruiter about qualifications, or use technical software yourself.
'We shop at the mall, we buy cars, we go to restaurants, but we don't have exposure to some of the things that happen inside Harris and Rockwell Collins and Knight's Armament,' said Janice Scholz, director of career and technical education at Brevard Public Schools.
More often, she sees students interested in fields such as forensic science, thanks to popular shows such as 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.' But not necessarily careers as machinists or other technical positions.
On Friday, about 250 students from five local high schools visited with representatives from engineering and technology companies at the TechXpo at the Melbourne International Airport.
'It gives them a more in-depth view of what jobs are available,' said parent Jennifer Johnson, who's two children attend Merritt Island High and aspire to be engineers.
Long, now a high school senior, plans on studying aerospace engineering after graduation. But since NASA retired the shuttle program this spring, he's wondered about his career prospects here.
But speaking with company representatives on Friday gave him hope. 'Just to see all the companies, it tells me there's still opportunities here,' he said.
Students also heard from pilots with the U.S. Air Force's elite Thunderbirds Demonstration Squadron, who were in town for the Melbourne Air and Space Show.
Major Caroline Jensen encouraged students to pursue their goals - and careers in science or technology - even if they struggle through higher-level math or science concepts, like she did.
Jensen attended the Air Force Academy and earned a bachelor's of science in English.
And yet, she never took her eyes off the goal of becoming a combat pilot. She's since logged more than 2,500 hours as an Air Force pilot, include 210 combat hours during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
And she's become the first female reserve officer, and the first mother, to fly for the Thunderbirds team.
'The only way to not succeed is to not try,' she said.
Ryan is at 242-3664 or mryan@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @mackenzie_ryan or at http://ift.tt/1BIqYfB.
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Entities 0 Name: Merritt Island High Count: 1 1 Name: Melbourne Air Count: 1 2 Name: Jensen Count: 1 3 Name: NASA Count: 1 4 Name: Rockwell Collins Count: 1 5 Name: Thunderbirds Count: 1 6 Name: Air Force Count: 1 7 Name: Brevard Public Schools Count: 1 8 Name: Melbourne International Airport Count: 1 9 Name: Caroline Jensen Count: 1 10 Name: Janice Scholz Count: 1 11 Name: Harris Count: 1 12 Name: Adam Long Count: 1 13 Name: Long Count: 1 14 Name: Air Force Academy Count: 1 15 Name: Thunderbirds Demonstration Squadron Count: 1 16 Name: Jennifer Johnson Count: 1 17 Name: U.S. Air Force Count: 1 18 Name: Space Coast Jr. Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/Z7fGET Title: Science everywhere at Kiski Area school Description: It's easy to find students who are enthusiastic about science at the Kiski Area Upper Elementary School, but it's harder to tell what class they're talking about.
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