ABSTRACT

Engaging students in hands-on activities and providing out-of-school experiences have been shown to improve academic performance and spark interest in science. Our interdisciplinary team developed a workshop for middle and high school students as part of a summer program at a Hispanic-serving institution in southern New Mexico. The goal was to foster interest and readiness for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers and college entry. The workshop introduced students to viscoelasticity, a key concept in biophysics that describes the mechanical behavior of biological tissues, which is vital for understanding their structural and functional properties under various physical forces and conditions. The curriculum included a presentation, a discussion linking mechanical properties with biology, and hands-on experiments that demonstrated viscoelastic principles. Pre- and postworkshop surveys assessed students’ experiences and understanding of the material. Analysis revealed that students could relate the concepts to their daily lives, gained a basic understanding of mechanical properties, and found at least one experiment enjoyable and interesting.