This summer the VolsTeach library is home to a group of high school students who are participating in UT’s Upward Bound program. These students, who are from schools in the rural Appalachian area of Tennessee, are interested in pursuing a college education and career in the fields of math and science.Their summer research projects are being completed with the use of 3D printers. One group is creating animal bridges to cross over roads. The bridges would reduce road kill costs and protect the animals. The students are testing the direction of water runoff and heat absorption as they create the bridges. Additionally, they are testing black vs green bridges (green being more inviting for the animals, and black more durable for the structure). The second group is creating dog leg prosthetic devices. The students came up with their own design for foot shape and the way the devices bend. They used a force plate to test the strength of the leg joints. VolsTeach faculty member, Dr. Yolanda Kirkpatrick, is overseeing the research. She is assisted by VolsTeach students Tyler Mann and Cassie Householder.
