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WELCOME TO THE
IEEE PIKES PEAK SECTION!!!
AI Action Plan
Here is the White House AI Action Plan.
2026 IEEE STEM Summit: Our Showcase Booth
The IEEE Pikes Peak Section is building an AI-assisted STEAM/STEM outreach ecosystem that brings together Life Members, Young Professionals, students, educators, parents, industry partners, and the broader community.
Our experimental work includes IEEE STEM grants, multimedia learning booths, hands-on circuit activities, leadership mini-sites, and mentorship pathways. These efforts are now coming together into a scalable STEAM-TEAMS model.
The goal is to transform curiosity into competence, competence into leadership, and leadership into service for the benefit of future generations.
To explore the booth, click on the purple checkbox to view the multimedia content. This interactive hotspot is an example of how multimedia resources can be organized for visitors. To view the booth in full-screen mode, click the icon in the upper-right corner.
You can also visit our mini-websites at: Snap Circuits | PhET Demos | PhET Demos – Math | PhET Demos Photonics
The 2025 IEEE STEM Summit Virtual Booth was emulated. Of the 2000+ participants, 33 emails were provided from 65 visitors yielding a 50% conversion rate. The booth can be found here: 2025 IEEE STEM Summit Booth.
IEEE Member Volunteers Needed: Cool Science Carnival Day — S.T.A.R. Mentor Signup
IEEE member volunteers are needed to support hands-on STEM outreach during the 2026 Cool Science Carnival Day at UCCS. Volunteers may serve as S.T.A.R. mentors—STEAM-TEAMS Ambassadors for outREACH—by helping with booth setup, greeting families, supporting Snap Circuits and PhET simulations, and mentoring students during hands-on demonstrations.
A one-hour volunteer commitment can make a visible difference for students, families, and future IEEE volunteers.
Sign-up for details for IEEE S.T.A.R. mentors and volunteers here: Carnival Day
2026 Cool Science Carnival Day and Festival
IEEE Pikes Peak Section Hands-On STEM Outreach (3-18 Oct 2026)
Join the IEEE Pikes Peak Section during the 2026 Cool Science Carnival Day and Festival for hands-on STEM learning with Snap Circuits, PhET simulations, LEDs, photonics, magnets, motors, microcontrollers, and more.
Families can visit the IEEE booth at UCCS on Saturday, October 3, 2026, and then continue the learning during one of two follow-up sessions at Library 21c on Monday, October 5 or Monday, October 12, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Space is limited to 20 total parents and kids per session.
Parents and their kids can sign up here for follow-up sessions to Carnival Day: 2026 Cool Science Carnival Day and Festival
STEM Talent & Workforce
One of our members, Nathan Edwards is advising and helping one of the school districts to expand their workforce facility. The IEEE Pikes Peak Section helped Nathan developed a layered approach.
UCCS Dean of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr Ying Shang, UCCS Dean of Engineering and Applied Science, shares EAS success stories with Dr Santiago, IEEE Representative of the UCCS Executive Leadership Council (ELC).
More and past collaboration opportunities can be found here: UCCS
Scaling Impact Throughout Region 5
Visit minisite on achieving Region 5 Priorities: Leadership Force Multiplier to Scale Leadership Capacity | IEEE Pikes Peak Section
Upcoming STEAM-TEAMS Meetings
Aligning with White House AI Action Plan
Proposed 2026 TryEngineering STEM SUMMIT Topics
Below is one of the proposed topics in draft form:
AI-Assisted STEM Storytelling: Interactive Multimedia, Simulations, and Reusable Learning for STEM Outreach
More examples of AI-assisted videos: AI Assisted Content For STEM STEAM
UCCS Accomplishment of the Engineering and Applied Science
Dr John Santiago received information about UCCS accomplishments. Here, Dr Santiago created a poster to highlight their accomplishments.
Dr. John Santiago is also member of the UCCS Engineering Leadership Council (ELC) where you can find more information how the IEEE Pikes Peak Section is involved with the university at UCCS | IEEE Pikes Peak Section.
12 May 2026: Distinguished Lecturer, Dr. Radu Sporea, Presents Source-Gated Transistors
Joint_ED_CAS_Report_Refined_v2 (Report by David Bondurant for public dissemination.
5 May 2026: Denver Cyber Security Summit
Download IEEE Pikes Peak Section Computer Society Flyer for booth visitors
Download Flyer for IEEE Denver Section’s Build Something Cool
This was a team effort. Gene Freeman led this team for this Denver Summit Mark Heinrich and Senthil Mehalingam participated in an AI panel as described below, as well as Dr John Santiago, provided some of the flyer handouts using AI-assisted software:
Abstract
AI and new digital technologies will continue to shift the cybersecurity landscape in 2026. This session explores how modern tools can enhance detection, response, and decision making while introducing new risks tied to generative systems, data integrity, and fast moving threat innovation. Leaders will gain a clear view of how to adopt emerging technology in a responsible and strategic way that supports resilience and aligns with enterprise risk goals.
Key Takeaways
• How AI and emerging tech are reshaping core security functions
• The new risks created by generative models and evolving attack techniques
• Practical governance steps that support responsible AI use
• Examples of organizations pairing innovation with disciplined risk management
Below is the AI Panel, as well as the flyer from the IEEE Pikes Peak Section (PPS) Computer Science Chapter.
Also handed out at the booth is a flyer for IEEE Denver Section related to STEM events.
The AI Choice is ‘We the People’!
AI Is Not the Problem — Unstructured Learning Is.
The real danger of AI is not automation.
It is cognitive outsourcing without mentorship, feedback, or reconstruction.
In engineering, we would never trust:
• a simulation without validation
• a model without assumptions
• a system without feedback loops
Yet many students are now using AI exactly that way:
Copy → Submit → Forget.
That is not learning.
That is dependency.
But there is another path.
AI can also become a cognitive amplifier when combined with:
✅ curiosity
✅ critique
✅ reconstruction
✅ application
✅ mentorship
The future workforce will not simply need people who can “use AI.”
We will need people who can:
• question AI
• validate AI
• override AI
• improve AI
• lead responsibly with AI
This is why I believe the future of education is not:
“AI vs Humans”
It is:
Human Judgment × AI × Mentorship = Responsible Human Advancenent
The attached visual illustrates two futures:
1️⃣ AI Dependency
2️⃣ AI Amplification
The difference is not the technology.
The difference is the system surrounding the technology.
This is one reason why frameworks like STEAM-TEAMS, KEEN, systems engineering, and structured mentorship matter more than ever.
AI is the tool.
Thinking is the power.
What do you think?
👉 Is AI weakening critical thinking…
or exposing weaknesses that already existed in our educational systems?
#AI #Education #Leadership #IEEE #STEM #SystemsEngineering #CriticalThinking #Mentorship #EngineeringEducation #STEAM #PyramidXOS
Leadership Blockchain: A Modern Metaphor
Below is my first cut of this metaphor based on the IEEE Pikes Peak Section body of work. It will also give you an idea of blockchain and its broad societal and economic impact.
The video below is based on a article: Does the quote “A Leader Builds Other Leaders” Resemble a Blockchain? – IEEE Region 5. The URL of this article was used as a source in NotebookLM and produced the video below.
2026 Follow-up State of the Section’s STEAM-TEAMS Pilot (7:00 minutes)
Below is video sharing best practices and lessons learned from this IEEE 2025 TryEngineering STEM Grant.
27 April 2026: Monthly STEAM-TEAMS Meeting
Register here: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/554342
16 May 2026 (Sat): Build Something Cool
Register here for Call of Volunteers: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/551440
The above link should have a link for only interested families who want their kids in grades 6th to 12th build something cool in this event.
Here is the link you can send interested families: https://msudenver.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0wHW3gZggBEYotM
Download Presentation on Engineering Leadership That Scales: A Systems Approach for IEEE Volunteers and Professionals
Critical Thinking in the AI Age
STEAM-TEAMS Mentorship Challenge (continued)
Below is a short video on this continuation of the STEAM-TEAMS challenge for 2026. For this upcoming new year, this initiative continues with interested sections who would like to participate. We will be planning to use the PhET Demos Simulations for Photonics along with the SNAP-Circuits Light in continuing support for this initiative. Below is a video reminding what the STEAM-TEAMS mentorship challenge is all about.
(continued)
For sections who are interested in participating in this STEAM-TEAMS challenge, please visit https://r5.ieee.org/pikespeak/phet-demos-photonics
WHEN TECHNOLOGY MEETS IMAGINATION
2025 IEEE TryEngineering STEM Grant
Please visit mini website and report on IEEE STEM Grant
From Passive Learners to Active Creators!
Visual Communication Examples!
Student Team Project?
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Reported Meetings
The IEEE Pikes Peak Section STEAM-TEAMS Monthly Meeting for June will focus on a special two-session introduction to Snap Circuits and PhET Interactive Simulations designed to help prepare volunteers, students, [...]
Last Chance to Sign Up - Join Us at Panino's For Free Dinner Project Sapphire - The Untold Store Preventing Brain Drain & Securing Nuclear Materials David Bondurant, Life Senior [...]
As an accomplished scientist and engineer with a passion for mentoring others in technology careers, Mr. Nathan Edwards (IEEE Senior Member) will present on the adventures of his 19-year technology [...]
Last Chance To Sign-up For First In-Person Power & Energy Society Meeting. In-Person technical presentation on power flow model and analysis for a secondary-voltage interconnected power distribution system... additional details [...]
Join us for an evening of recognition, mentorship, hands-on learning, and community connection at the next IEEE Pikes Peak Section STEAM-TEAMS Monthly Meeting. These meetings are in preparation for the [...]
