Thanks to support from the onsemi Giving Now Program and a partnership with the IEEE Foundation, teachers will be bringing semiconductor resources into their classrooms during the 2025-2026 school year!
IEEE Educational Activities is honored to be a part of the onsemi Giving Now Program’s generous support of $2 million to fund global outreach programs. Over the past two months, TryEngineering hosted five Educator Sessions across the United States, with international sessions scheduled for September in Malaysia at the Universiti Malaysia Perlis, and in October at the Electron Devices Society Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico. Each session was unique, with local partner universities sharing their resources and programs with participants. TryEngineering provided resources and materials for teachers to take back to their classrooms, to inspire the next generation of engineers and technologists.
IEEE TryEngineering provides high-quality resources, including lesson plans, at no cost to teachers and STEM enthusiasts. Partnering with onsemi allowed TryEngineering to create three videos, an eBook, and a lesson plan: Making of a Microchip. These resources can all be found on the TryEngineering Semiconductor Collection Page. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of nearly 115,000 professionals in the semiconductor industry in the next five years. The TryEngineering Educator Sessions are designed to support middle school teachers in introducing their students to the exciting semiconductor industry, where there are opportunities for technologists, engineers, and other careers across various education levels. Introducing students to the engineering design process and industry opportunities can inspire them to explore diverse career paths, including electrical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, physics, and roles such as technicians and analysts.
Arizona State University: Arizona, USA
In June, Professors Stephen Phillips and Stefan Myhajlenko, from the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University welcomed teachers from Arizona and New Mexico to campus. The teachers heard from onsemi staff, including Vanessa Davis, Global Community Engagement Program Manager, who encouraged them to share career opportunities with their students, and emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives and collaboration. Teachers toured the ASU NanoFab, where they saw applications of microelectronics research.
Florida Semiconductor Institute at University of Florida - NeoCity: Florida, USA
In late June, teachers from all parts of Florida joined Roseanne Perez, Workforce Development Program Specialist, and Sophia Watson, Assistant Director of Workforce Development at the University of Florida with a tour of the Florida Semiconductor Institute at NeoCity. A highlight of the session at NeoCity was the visit to Valencia College, where Tiffaney Barnes, Senior Director for Professional and Continuing Education, and her team introduced teachers to certificate programs for their students, including those in laser technology, photonics, optics and more.
Lehigh University: Pennsylvania, USA
In July, Svetlana Tatic-Lucic, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Lehigh University, and her team hosted teachers from Pennsylvania at the Health, Science & Technology Building, including a tour of the Integrated Nanonfabrication and Cleanroom Facility. Thomas Koenig, Cleanroom Facility Manager, introduced teachers to his colleagues throughout the facility, where they observed machines performing processes featured in the TryEngineering videos, such as patterning, photolithography, and etching. A highlight of the tour was Joan Stanescu’s inspiring presentation about her career path and opportunities using virtual reality.
University of Minnesota: Minnesota, USA
High school teachers conducting research on campus joined other Minnesota STEM educators at the University of Minnesota’s International Institute for Biosensing. The Institute’s Director, Patricia Khashayar connected teachers with the University of Minnesota Nano Center, which includes a STEM outreach facility. There, teachers conducted experiments under the guidance of Claire Dietz, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Minnesota Nano Center. Sarah Swisher, Nano Center Director, provided the participants with a comprehensive overview of how semiconductors work.
Rutgers University and Brookdale Community College: New Jersey, USA
Teachers in New Jersey visited two higher education institutes: Rutgers University, with a tour of the Nanofabrication CORE Facility, and Brookdale Community College, with a tour of the Brookdale Cyber Center. Ngwe Zin, Director of the Nanocenter, led the tour at Rutgers University, with the teachers enjoying the behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. Michael Qaissaunee, Chair of the Engineering and Technology Departments, shared Brookdale’s opportunities for teachers and students to learn about cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Filomena Citarella, IEEE Jersey Coast Section Chair, joined the teachers at both locations, providing insight on how IEEE can support learning.
At each session, teachers completed two lessons from TryEngineering.org and met with faculty researchers from the host universities. The tours at each location were particularly inspiring, as teachers witnessed the manufacturing and testing processes in action. Plans for the 2026 sessions are already underway!
“We are so grateful to have partners like onsemi who share our passion to excite a more diverse pipeline of students to change the world as an engineer or technology professional,” says Jamie Moesch, IEEE Educational Activities Managing Director. “The work we have developed together is being used by instructors around the world to become more comfortable teaching students about semiconductors, microelectronics and more.”