Engineering Community Outreach Programs
Robotic Rubik's Cube Challenge for Middle and High Schools
The University of Toledo College of Engineering has partnered with Dana, Owens Community College, and Toledo Public Schools to launch the Robotic Rubik’s Cube Challenge—a groundbreaking opportunity for middle and high school students in the Toledo area!
This innovative program invites schools to form Mechatronics Clubs, where students will have fun gaining hands-on experience in electronics, coding, and robotics while learning to solve Rubik’s Cubes automatically. Participants will develop critical skills in controls, automation, and problem-solving, preparing them for exciting, high-demand careers in engineering and technology.
Program Highlights
- Start Date: January 2024 and September 2025, 2026, and 2027
- Format: Online training sessions are held twice-weekly after school (reduced to weekly after the first semester).
- Support Provided:
- Siemens PLC and software (S7-1215 DCDCDC).
- Electronic kits, tools, and additional lab components.
- Each registered school will receive at least one motorized spinner
- Each registered student will receive a Rubik’s Cube, a motor, and a controller
- Comprehensive curriculum on automation and Rubik’s Cube-solving algorithms.
- Scholarships to UToledo College of Engineering or Owens Community College.
Why Join?
This program offers an exciting way to learn, innovate, and have fun! Explore automation, robotics, and coding while preparing for high-demand careers that make a difference in our world.
- Compete to see who can solve the Rubik’s Cube fastest from a randomized start.
- Earn scholarships for participation, with additional awards for top competitors.
Ready to Get Started?
- Form your Mechatronics Club today!
- Equip your students for an exciting future in automation.
- Access program details, tutorials, and the curriculum
Contact Us For More Information!
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Series to Inspire STEM Careers
The University of Toledo College of Engineering’s award-winning Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day welcomes more than 750 seventh and eighth grade girls to campus every spring.
The Introduce a Girl to Engineering Program Series provides middle school-aged girls a greater understanding of STEM-career fields through interactive programming and presentations by women in the field of engineering throughout spring semester.
Studies have found that girls tend to lose confidence in math and science and lose interest in STEM fields in early adolescence. The program has been built to show girls in this age group what the career path for women in engineering can look like, and to encourage them to make a career out of their interest in science, technology and math.
Girls work with women engineers from local companies and engineering students on a variety of hands-on activities to better understand water treatment, transportation network designs, basic coding and programming, structural design principles, mechanics of propulsion, genetic engineering and cyber security.
UToledo’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day has twice won the National Women in Engineering Action Committee’s Girls Day Event of the Year award.
Throughout the eight years of this program in action, more than 6,000 girls have taken part in this series from 32 school districts across Northern Ohio, along with more than 30 companies, 10 student organizations and individuals from multiple professional leadership groups throughout Toledo and northwest Ohio area.
Are you a high school student looking for a research, volunteer, or internship experience?
Register for our Program for Engineering Experience in Research (PEER)
PEER is the University of Toledo College of Engineering's gateway program for connecting pre-college students seeking research, volunteer, and internship experiences with engineering faculty.
Faculty research is the college covers a wider range of topics, including aerial drones and robotics, additive manufacturing, tissue engineering, biofuel production, cyber security, and electronics. More information is available under the research pages for each department.
If you are interested in doing research to gain experience or to satisfy a school internship or practicum requirement, please register.