The West Point Center for Leader Development in STEM

CLD STEM took on Puerto Rico! 🇵🇷✨
This year’s off-site workshop brought STEM, leadership, and cultural exploration to the island—combining hands-on learning with unforgettable experiences. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the week:

Blueprint Engineering 🚗💡
In this hands-on challenge, students learned the basics of simple machines and put their skills to the test by building rubber band-powered cars. Whether aiming for distance or strength, every design pushed the limits of creative engineering and problem-solving!

Physical Training & Leadership in Action 💪🧠
From obstacle courses to plank battles, students brought the energy in physical competitions designed to build strength and teamwork. Cadets then led leadership sessions where participants collaborated to untangle the human knot and engineer the tallest spaghetti tower. Strength, strategy, and spirit—on full display.

Spintronics—Circuitry with a Twist ⚙️⚡️
Engineering took a mechanical turn with Spintronics, where students explored electrical circuits using gears and chains. This hands-on, tactile approach helped them rethink how circuits work—making electricity both visible and interactive in a shockingly fun way.

Exploring AI & AR 🤖🧠
In the AI + AR workshop, students learned how to write effective prompts for everyday tasks and discussed the ethical use of AI in and out of the classroom. They built their own Merge Cubes, explored augmented reality, and experienced virtual reality headsets—getting a firsthand look at how West Point uses immersive tech for cadet training.

Cultural Immersion in Puerto Rico 🌴🌊
From hiking through El Yunque Rainforest and learning PR history to kayaking in the bioluminescent bay, this week was packed with cultural exploration. Cadets and students experienced the island’s rich culture through visits to Old San Juan, snorkeling with sea turtles, fishing, and, of course, enjoying plenty of local cuisine. ¡Una semana inolvidable!

Future roboticists in the making! 🤖🦾🦿

This week, students at the CLD STEM Summer Workshop teamed up with Electrical Engineering &
Computer Science (EECS) to explore the exciting world
of robotics.

After learning the basics of circuit assembly,
participants built their own light-following
robots—watching their creations come to life! The
experience wrapped with an exclusive tour of the
Robotics Research Center, where they interacted with
cutting-edge technology and connected with EECS
faculty leading innovation in the field.

From muscle metrics to mini explosions—CLS brought the heat! 🥵

🥼The Department of Chemistry & Life Science gave participants a double feature in hands-on science.
With Human Physiology. Students used real-time data
analysis tools to monitor heart rate, lung function, grip
strength, and more while exercising—getting a person-
al look at how their bodies respond to physical stress.

Then came the Explosives & Propellants lab, where
students explored the chemistry behind rocket fuel and high-powered compounds like TNT and ammonium
nitrate—topped off with a live demo featuring potato and t-shirt guns. Science has never been so intense. 🧬

What’s in the water? 🔎💦

This week at the CLDSTEM Summer Workshop,
Geography & Environmental Engineering (GeNe) led students through hands-on water chemistry testing right from the Hudson River. 🏞️

Participants collected grab samples and analyzed pH, salinity, and turbidity—learning how scientists assess water quality and monitor environmental health, one test tube at a time. 🧪

PART 1 - The MATH Data Race that took place..🏁

✖️Where math meets music! 🎼

In this year’s CLD STEM Summer Workshop, the Math Department teamed up with the West Point Band to show students how data can drive real-world decisions—like planning a music event! 🎶🎸

From heatmaps and sentiment analysis to decision trees and word clouds, students explored interactive tools to turn numbers into insights. Because let’s be honest—data hits different when it’s tied to the beat. 🥁

Into the Hudson we went! 🐟🎣

During the CLD STEM Summer Workshop, Geography & Environmental Engineering (GeNe) introduced students to biodiversity fieldwork—environmental science in action.

Participants learned how scientists assess waterway health through fish surveys, then got hands-on identifying species caught with a seine net straight from the Hudson River. From fins to scales, it was all about the details!

🏎️💨Shoutout to the Chemistry & Life Sciences (CLS) 🧪Department for sparking some serious STEM energy at our CLD STEM Summer 2025 Workshop!

Participants put chemical engineering into action with a Fuel Cell Car Challenge—applying stoichiometry, limiting reactants, and real-world chemistry to power their test vehicles.

Precision, reaction, and innovation were key as they raced to find the perfect fuel mix for speed and distance!

🌁Building the future, one design at a time! At the CLD STEM Summer Workshop this past week, students got an inside look at Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Engineering—courtesy of the CME Department. 👷‍♀️👷‍♂️

After a quick intro to core principles, participants rolled up their sleeves and got to work, competing to construct the strongest bridge - Teamwork, strategy, and engineering grit were the name of the game!

✨Last week’s CLD STEM Camp was a blast! From water chemistry to robotics, students explored just how fun and exciting STEM can be—in and out of the classroom. 🧮

Guiding them every step of the way, our cadets did an incredible job leading each group from department to department, demonstrating outstanding leadership and mentorship throughout. A memorable week for all, and a bright look into the future of science, engineering, and service. 🫡

🐣Big thanks to the Depart-
ment of Physics & Nuclear
Engineering (PaNE) for their
dynamic partnership in this
year’s CLD STEM Summer
Workshop!
,
PaNE brought science to
life—especially during the
Egg Drop Challenge, where
participants engineered
protective capsules to keep
their eggs intact through
a high-stakes fall. It’s all
about physics, precision,
and creativity under pres-
sure. Mission success = no
cracks! 🥚🍳

🫡Before the first students arrived, our cadets took action — they organized materials, coordinated logistics, and exercise leadership skills that set them apart. Their dedication behind the scenes is ensuring a smooth launch to this year’s West Point Summer STEM Program. 👏