Hee-Jeong Kim introduces high school students to sustainable concrete
Summer Engineering Academy students enjoy hands-on activities highlighting careers in civil engineering.
Alexandra Pere
Arizona Summer Engineering Academy had a landmark year of growth — with enrollment nearly tripling since 2023, achieving the highest attendance in its 22-year history.
Partners like Bosch, Intel and Caterpillar were integral to the camp's expansion goals, providing scholarships and facility tours. Cummings Aerospace also fully supported the middle school version of SEA — and with their help, 100 young engineers attended at no cost.
During the Women in Engineering camp on June 19, CAEM assistant professor Hee-Jeong Kim introduced students to sustainability in everyday materials.
“Concrete is the second most widely used material in the world, after water,” Kim said. “As civil engineers, we have the potential to address major challenges like climate change by making sustainable concrete.”
Students created their own concrete samples with materials pioneered in Kim’s M2D lab, then experimented with 3D-printing software.
“The most important thing for high school students to know about civil engineering is that it is not just about building structures. It involves designing sustainable and resilient infrastructure that improves the quality of life for people and protects natural resources,” Kim said.
Read about all the surprises SEA students experienced this summer.