IEEE TryEngineering, a program within Educational Activities, fosters outreach to school-age children worldwide by equipping teachers and IEEE volunteers with tools for engaging activities. The science, technology, engineering, and math resources include peer-reviewed lesson plans, games, and activities that are designed to captivate and inspire—all provided at no cost.

The TryEngineering STEM grant program provides financial support to IEEE volunteers to start, sustain, or scale up selected outreach projects in their communities. Since its inception in 2021, 144 projects have been funded, totaling more than US $176,000. At least 1,000 IEEE volunteers have led programs, engaging with more than 19,000 students.

Last year the grant program awarded more than $70,379 to 58 volunteer-led projects, and 462 applications from nine IEEE regions were received. IEEE members involved in preuniversity outreach programs, including STEM Champions and members of the preuniversity education coordinating committee, reviewed the submissions using a criteria-based rubric.

The full list of funded projects can be found here. What follows is a sampling.

Eight donor-supported projects

STEM Education Workshop 2024: Introducing the Internet of Things to High School Students, funded by the Taenzer Memorial Fund with support from the IEEE Foundation, featured a hands-on activity that provided an introduction to the IoT, programming, and basic microcontroller concepts. Forty high school and vocational school students and nine teachers from the Itenas Bandung electrical engineering study program in Indonesia attended. Twelve IEEE volunteers facilitated the program. Through experimentation with microelectronics, students were able to be creative, spurring increased interest and a desire to further explore technology.

The Taenzer Fund subsidized seven additional proposals to support engineering in developing countries. They totaled $10,000 and reached more than 300 students. The programs included:

• Exploring the Future: An IEEE STEM Industry Tour in Indonesia. This event in Jakarta engaged 20 students with hands-on workshops, networking opportunities, and visits to cutting-edge facilities involved with 5G, AI, and ocean engineering.
• IEEE STEM Empowerment: Student Workshop Series. In these workshops, also held in Indonesia, 20 students tackled hands-on projects in communications technology, AI, and ocean engineering.
• IEEE STEM Teacher Workshop: Empowering Educators for Future Innovators. Fifty participants attended the event in Sukabumi, Indonesia. It offered hands-on sessions on pedagogy, cutting-edge technologies, and ways to increase gender inclusivity.
• IEEE Women in Engineering Day. A three-day session in Kenya included STEM competitions, interactive workshops, mentorship sessions, and hands-on activities to empower young women.
• WIE Impact. A series of workshops and events held in Zaghouan, Tunisia, engaged 160 students with activities in coding, cybersecurity, robotics, space exploration, sustainability, and first aid.
• Exploring Sustainable Futures: Empowering Students With IoT-driven Aquaponics Systems for STEM Enthusiasts. This hands-on program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taught 28 students about coding basics, real-time system monitoring, and IoT-driven aquaponics systems. Aquaponics, a food-production method, combines aquaculture with hydroponics.
• Development of a Game—Multiplayer Kuis (Gamukis)—for Students of Senior High School 1 Cangkringan in Increasing Learning Enthusiasm. Held at Amikom University, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this program taught 150 students how to design educational video games.

Students who participated in the program held at the Atal Tinkering Lab in Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh, learned about the fundamentals of Internet of Things and its applications. Atal Tinkering Lab Program Team

IEEE society-sponsored programs

The generous support from the Taenzer Fund was supplemented by financial assistance from IEEE groups including the Communications, Oceanic Engineering, and Signal Processing societies, as well as IEEE Women in Engineering.

The IEEE Signal Processing Society funded three projects including Train the STEM Trainers in Secondary Schools-Multiplier Effect STEM Outreach. The “train the trainers” program involved 350 students and 10 parents, more than 80 teachers, and 30 volunteers. The teachers were trained in robotics and coding using mBlock and Python. The students got experience with calculators, digital counters, LED displays, robotic cars, smart dustbins, and more.

A focus on Internet of Things

Another notable project was the ConnectXperience: The Journey into the World of IoT. Held at the Atal Tinkering Lab in Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh, India, this program engaged more than 400 students who learned about IoT fundamentals, robotics, programming, electronics, data analytics, networking, cybersecurity, and other innovative applications of IoT.

2025 grants

TryEngineering recently announced its 2025 STEM grant recipients. Out of more than 410 applications received, funding was awarded to 58 programs from nine sections, for a total of $70,379. The list of recipients can be found here.

To contribute to the program, visit the TryEngineering Fund donation page.