• May 07, 2026

    Bringing Transportation STEM Opportunities to Thousands of K-12 Students at UW Engineering Discovery Days 2026

    On April 30 and May 1, 2026, PacTrans shared our K-12 Workforce Development Institute (WDI) initiatives at Engineering Discovery Days held at the University of Washington (UW). Hosted by the UW College of Engineering, this free, two-day event is designed for 4th through 8th-grade students and features hands-on activities that showcase the exciting work of engineers. This year, more than 9,000 students from 109 schools registered to attend.

    Our staff, combined with student volunteers from the PacTrans fellowship program, had a great time informing parents and students about the PacTrans mission and WDI summer programs for students. The programs shared were:

    Intro to Autonomous Cars

    In this course, students learn about important topics related to autonomous vehicles (AVs) and the supporting infrastructure, and work with a team to build their own AV using LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Kits. We’ll discuss specific topics related to AVs, such as connected technology, sensing and data collection, traffic system control, electrification and more. Students practice integrating sensors, algorithms and a computing unit to automate vehicle movements. Students also take field trips to on-campus labs and hear from UW researchers and scientists. Co-sponsored by UW Youth & Teen Programs.

    Washington Transportation Camp

    Washington Transportation Camp is a FREE 1-week residential summer camp that will give highly motivated Washington state high school students the opportunity to explore the wonderful world of transportation through classes, lab tours, field trips, and student-led projects. Co-sponsored by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

    Here are a couple quotes from our volunteers:

    “I really enjoyed seeing each young student take on a simple yet difficult challenge and work together to solve it. It was awesome to see their determination and teamwork, I’m excited to see them take this work ethic into their future endeavors.”

    ––Niraj L Mali, PacTrans Graduate Fellow

    “It was so much fun interacting with all of the younger students as they were solving the puzzles. Each of them had their own methods and techniques, and it felt like a win for all of us once they finished them. I’m excited to see what’s in store for these future students in engineering!”

    ––Derek Lee, PacTrans Graduate Fellow