Leaders and advocates of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) take learning beyond just the academics offered in the classroom. Through TryEngineering, IEEE Volunteers are able to make STEM outreach projects a reality that reach school-aged children around the world. TryEngineering empowers educators and supports volunteers by providing STEM resources, including peer-reviewed lesson plans, at no cost. The IEEE Pre-University STEM Grant Program offers the opportunity for financial support to start, sustain, or scale selected STEM outreach projects in local communities. In 2025, 58 programs were selected as STEM grant recipients.
One of these programs was IoT Meets Space: Expanding STEM Horizons for Underserved Students at Selangor Through Satellite Prototyping. The initiative was created to investigate the effectiveness of a design-based, hands-on STEM education intervention using Internet of Things (IoT) systems and satellite (CanSat) prototyping. 50 students from two rural schools in Malaysia participated, engaging in high-technology domains often inaccessible in their areas. Through a structured three-phase approach, participants received theoretical instruction, engaged in practical hands-on activities, and competed in a design challenge. Students learned foundational concepts in satellite communication, IoT integration, and sensor technology. They then designed and built functioning CanSat systems embedded with environmental sensors and wireless LoRa modules, simulating real-world data collection. The program also involved 12 teachers from the participating schools who joined as mentors, and 28 volunteers who facilitated small-group learning sessions. This initiative sought to spark students’ interest in engineering and contribute new knowledge on effective STEM educational models for low-resource settings.
After the program, TryEngineering was able to conduct an interview with the program’s leaders:
What inspired you to create your program and get involved with STEM outreach at the pre-university level?
As a lecturer in Electrical Engineering, I was inspired to create this program after noticing a decline in students’ interest in STEM, particularly engineering, at the pre-university level. At the same time, Malaysia is expanding its space sector under the Malaysia Space Policy 2030, which aims to create more opportunities for young people in space-related careers. With my experience in satellite development, I felt a responsibility to raise awareness about space within the community. I chose to work with rural schools because students there often have limited access to technology-rich learning experiences compared to those in urban areas. Through IoT and CanSat-based hands-on activities, I wanted to show these students that space and satellite technologies are accessible, relevant, and closely connected to real applications such as IoT and communication systems, while helping them see STEM as an exciting and achievable career path.
How did you measure the program’s impact?
The program’s impact was evaluated using a combination of hands-on performance assessments, pre‑ and post‑program tests, and participant feedback surveys. These tools allowed us to measure students’ technical skill development, conceptual understanding of satellite systems, and overall engagement with STEM learning. The evaluation results showed:
- 50 students successfully developed and tested 10 CanSat prototypes, demonstrating practical application of satellite and wireless communication concepts.
- Student interest in STEM, particularly satellite‑related learning, increased significantly, with average Likert scores rising from 1.7-2.3 to 3.6-4.6.
- Participants’ knowledge of space‑related topics improved, with average test scores increasing from 7.6 to 11.1 out of 15.
- Post‑program feedback reflected strong satisfaction and appreciation, with average ratings increasing from 2.54 to 4.62 (an 82% improvement).
IoT Meets Space: Expanding STEM Horizons for Underserved Students at Selangor Through Satellite Prototyping was a recipient of the 2025 IEEE Pre-University STEM Grant Program and funded by the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc). To learn more about TryEngineering and IEEE ComSoc’s partnership, be sure to visit the Communications Engineering Collection Page.