Research students demonstrate high-tech achievements

  • Published
  • By Gina Marie Giardina
  • 711 Human Performance Wing

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The 711th Human Performance Wing’s Gaming Research Integration for Learning Laboratory® held Demo Day July 29 at the Wright Brothers Institute’s Tec^Edge Innovation & Collaboration Center here.

           

The demonstrations featured science, technology, engineering and math projects developed during the Air Force Research Laboratory's summer GRILL® internship for Dayton-area high school, undergraduate and graduate students.

 

“Everything that happened here this summer has a direct tie to the Air Force and Air Force Research Laboratory research efforts,” said Dr. Winston “Wink” Bennett, technical advisor for the GRILL®.  “This program also directly informs classroom content in many local school districts, bringing AFRL-relevant content and technology into classrooms.”

 

To begin Demo Day, four students presented their summer projects. Following the presentations, students demonstrated their projects with technology displays focused on 3-D modeling, and simulation and game engine technology. These projects were completed throughout the 9-week summer program.

 

“What these students were able to do at the beginning of this program and then at end is amazing,” said Jay Lane, a five-year volunteer at the GRILL® and local mathematics teacher.

 

Also highlighted were middle and high school lesson plans for computer programming, flow charting and autonomy challenge problems for Full Throttle STEM® school districts.

 

The GRILL opened its doors in 2011 with eight students. In 2016, it has grown to 21 students with 10 supported teachers.

 

The GRILL® program, housed within the 711th Human Performance Wing, collaborates with local school districts in Auglaize, Darke, Greene, Mercer, Miami and Montgomery counties.

 

“These collaborations have a significant impact on the community, not only building student interest but also supporting the student pipeline for local universities and the Dayton STEM workforce”, said Bennett.