High School Design Challenge Ignites Interest in Fire Protection Engineering
“Fire” and “lit”—popular Gen Z slang—took on a literal connotation for the more than 200 teens at an engineering competition hosted on Friday by the University of Maryland’s Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE). Students from 11 area high schools put their FPE skills to the test in the 11th annual FPE Design Challenge, which culminates in a Burn Day event, where students see how their designs stand up to fire. Over several months, small teams of students create from supplied materials a fire detection, notification, and suppression system design for a reduced-scale two-room apartment, complete with furniture, carpet, and wall coverings. While most teams use a hardware and software kit—that includes a circuit board and light or heat sensors that trigger the release of water, baking soda and vinegar, or another fire suppressant—students may opt to use a chain reaction-type design. Teams are asked to spend no more than $50 beyond the materials they receive and to account for all materials used. Praised for their presentation, design, and performance during Friday’s burn tests, “The Cinderellas,” a team from Elizabeth Seton High School in Prince George’s County, was named overall winner. Up from seven last year, the other 10 participating schools included Atholton High School, Bishop McNamara High School, Charles Herbert Flowers High School, DeMatha Catholic High School, Glenelg Country School, James Hubert Blake High School, Mount de Sales Academy, Notre Dame Preparatory School, Old Mill High School, and Woodlawn High School. The department’s main goals for the FPE Design Challenge program are awareness and recruitment, with several past participants going on to study FPE and other disciplines at UMD’s A. James Clark School of Engineering. “We want these students to be aware of fire as a hazard, and to be aware of fire protection engineering as a solution to this hazard,” said Arnaud Trouvé, department chair. “When we see such a positive response, often it’s because this is engineering for good.” Another goal is that the program boosts student confidence in pursuing STEM in general and engineering in particular. “It’s important to our field that challenges like this are broadcast to all students at this age,” said two-time alum Rosalie Hrybyk ’13, M.S. ’15, the department’s assistant clinical professor. “That they’re getting exposure to engineering now hopefully increases the probability that they’ll go into engineering in the future,” she said. Each year, the FPE Design Challenge, which is sponsored by the American Fire Sprinkler Association, introduces students to basic principles of fire safety engineering, construction skills, and the engineering design method. Teams are paired with FPE alums working in the industry, who donate their time to provide guidance during the design process and act as judges on Burn Day. Head judge RJ McCandless, a senior and FPE ambassador, oversaw the day’s burn tests. “I don’t get tired of watching the burns,” he said. “It’s cool to see the students’ creativity and unique designs.” Among the participating schools, the challenge is used for Project Lead the Way and Engineering 4 US All classes and as an activity for a student-led women in engineering after-school club. At some schools, students will spend the rest of the semester documenting what they learned to submit for college credit consideration. Other students are already making plans for next year’s challenge. “Now we know what to fix,” said a student from Bishop McNamara High School in Prince George’s County. Mary Sheridan, a teacher from Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, appreciates that the program provides mentors and materials to make the challenge run smoothly. “It’s amazing how the University of Maryland is investing in young students and inviting them to a competition that’s not only exciting but also gives them every opportunity to succeed,” she said. Friday’s race for first place was held at the ATF National Laboratory Center in Beltsville. In addition to burn tests, the event included demonstrations designed to increase interest in the lesser-known engineering discipline. FPE Clinical Professor Emeritus Ken Isman, current students, and alums led a candle demonstration, a fire tornado demonstration, and a population density and egress demonstration. “Getting young people excited about fire protection is really fun—and important,” Isman said. “We need more fire protection engineering students.”
April 18, 2025 Prev Next |
