AI: A Hot Topic for ICE Future Engineers Program Facilitated by UAPB Professors

An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the hot topic at February’s Future Engineers Program hosted by The Ivy Center for Education (ICE). Dr. Sederick Charles Rice and Dr. Karl Walker, biology, and computer science professors at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), led the hybrid in-person and Zoom workshop for middle and high school scholars at The Generator on Main Street in Pine Bluff.

UAPB Professors Dr. Karl Walker (lt) and Dr. Sederick Rice (rt) facilitate AI discussion with high school participants at the ICE Future Engineers Program workshop.

The session introduced Data Science, R Programming Language, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to students, parents, and interested adults who were in attendance. The AI discussion focused on how our five senses translate to artificial intelligence’s ability to simulate human intelligence in machines programmed to think, learn, and problem-solve like humans while reducing the fear of machines replacing humans. Mariya Greer and Chandler Parker, Pine Bluff High School Sophomores, participated in person. Greer said, “I was excited to learn about AI and how to program.” Parker agreed, adding, “I learned how much AI relates to us and how we (humans) can teach AI.”

Students learned the importance of data science, an interdisciplinary academic field that uses statistics, scientific computing, processes, and algorithms to analyze and create visuals from data sets, as a field of study and career. Bradlee Miller, a Pine Bluff Jr. High School scholar who attended the in-person session, said, “It is always interesting to learn more about technology.”

Second to the introduction to AI was an interactive session on how AI is involved in flight engineering and space launch rocket systems, as the student groups opened and worked on Smithsonian Jet Works Science Kits and were introduced to Estes Journey Launch model rockets. Estes Journey Launch model rockets can fly as high as 1100 feet. They learned more about the phases of rocket flight, including Liftoff, Thrust, Coast, Ejection, Parachute Deploy, and Landing. The model rockets will be used in future adult-supervised launches in the City of Pine Bluff Regional Park as part of an April Future Engineers Program session.

In-person, Pine Bluff Scholars included: top to bottom: Mariya Greer and Chandler Parker, Pine Bluff High School Sophomores, and Bradlee Miller, Pine Bluff Jr. High School 7th Grader.
photos: M.Hester-Clifton

Ms. Mattie Collins, Ivy Center for Education Inc. President, recognized and thanked the UAPB faculty for engaging the community and students at all levels and ages in engineering fields and careers and thanked all ages for participating. Collins added, “The presentation on AI was exciting because now I know more about AI, and as a Senior Citizen, it removes some of the fears around AI. Every time I attend these workshops, I learn something new.”