UT STEM Girl Day 2026

UT STEM Girl Day is an annual event at the University of Texas aimed at encouraging young students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It features hands-on activities, workshops, and presentations by STEM professionals to inspire and empower participants.

At UT GirlDay, we led a hands-on engineering activity where students built simple robotic hands using paper, straws, and string. The design was meant to mimic the structure of a human or robotic hand: the straws represented bones, the strings functioned as tendons, and the paper base acted as the palm. By pulling on the strings, students could bend the fingers, demonstrating how tendons enable joint movement. Through this activity, participants were introduced to basic concepts in biomechanics and robotics in an accessible, creative way, while experimenting with structure, motion, and design.

During the event, I guided students throughout the day as they built their robotic hands, walking them step-by-step through the process and helping troubleshoot when designs did not function as expected. I explained how each component related to real hand anatomy and robotic systems, reinforcing the engineering concepts behind the activity. After the sessions concluded, I assisted with organizing materials and cleaning up the workspace.