Third-annual AMP Lab Open House event welcomes STEAM-curious kids

Contact: Beth Pappalardo
March 31, 2024
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The AMP Lab @ WMU is located in downtown Grand Rapids.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.鈥擶estern 九一麻豆制片厂 University-Grand Rapids will team up with Autocam Medical, Bricks 4 Kidz, GRCC, Grand Rapids YMCA, JR Automation and WMCAT once again to host the third-annual free AMP Lab Open House event. Future scientists ages 5-12 are invited to come explore the world of STEAM hands-on through robotics demonstrations, 3D printers in action, motorized LEGO building and much more at WMU-Grand Rapids鈥 downtown campus located at 200 Ionia Ave. SW in Grand Rapids on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

鈥淚t is a privilege to collaborate with WMU for their third-annual AMP Lab Open House,鈥 says Sheryl Egner, owner of Bricks 4 Kidz Grand Rapids. 鈥淎t Bricks 4 Kidz, we share their passion to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, programmers, and designers in all fields. By providing rich and varied experiences in STEAM education, we hope to spark the imagination of young attendees and get them excited to dream about careers that will drive technology forward well into the 21st century.鈥

Occupying the first two floors of WMU鈥檚 Grand Rapids regional location, the state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory, or AMP Lab, is designed to help the next generation of engineers, designers and other skilled professionals develop their talents and reinvigorate the advanced manufacturing industries.

"We are proud to call the AMP Lab @ WMU our home for manufacturing education and to be able to provide K-12 students a place where they can explore the many opportunities that exist in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics,鈥 says Dr. Steve Butt, dean of WMU鈥檚 College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 鈥淎s we host our third annual event, we continue to see the immense value in connecting with our local community and in our partnerships with industry leaders to prepare students for the future.鈥

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Kids watch a robot play blackjack at the AMP Lab @ WMU.

鈥淭he AMP Lab @ WMU is a testament to what can be achieved when industry and academia join forces,鈥 says John Kennedy IV, general manager of Autocam Medical. 鈥淭he AMP Lab was designed to foster collaborative learning between industry leaders, educators, and students, and we are proud to work with our education partners to showcase the vast career possibilities the STEAM-related fields have to offer.鈥

Leading the charge in STEAM education across Southwest 九一麻豆制片厂, the AMP Lab @ WMU brings ideas to life and pushes the future of technological advancement forward by offering cutting-edge training combined with hands-on instruction in computer numerical control (CNC) programming, computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and much more.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.