Outreach Activities:

1. Computational Summer Camp. Eight outstanding high school students from across Texas explored the intersection of chemistry, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy during West Texas A&M University’s 2026 Computational Summer Camp. Held June 22-July 10, the three-week program immersed students in computational and experimental research under the direction of Dr. Juganta Roy, assistant professor of chemistry. Students from Canyon, Randall, Amarillo, Coppell, and Carroll Senior High Schools gained experience using density functional theory to study molecular properties, explored applications of artificial intelligence in materials discovery, and developed a scientific app. They also simulated spectroscopic data, compared computational predictions with laboratory results, and fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells to evaluate their energy-conversion efficiency. The camp highlighted WT’s commitment to providing meaningful STEM research opportunities for high school students while introducing participants to cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of science and renewable energy. The 2026 Computational Summer Camp was supported by the National Science Foundation through Award No. 2450052.

2. Canyon High School Visit. On April 1, our group visited Canyon High School to meet the students. Our group members (Emma, Thatcher, and I) introduced them to our ongoing research in computational material science. We discussed how the computational tools can be used to investigate and design next-generation photovoltaic materials, and how to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite the materials discovery. We also highlighted our “3-week Computational Summer Camp” and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on computational methods, app development, and scientific communication. This outreach activity provided an excellent opportunity to connect next-generation STEM leaders and encourage them to explore future educational and research opportunities in computational science.

3. Middle School Science Camp. Since 2025, I have been actively participating in this camp as an instructor, demonstrating STEM activities to engage middle school students. Over the last two years, I have demonstrated the popular Elephant Toothpaste Experiment to introduce students to fundamental concepts such as chemical reactions, catalysis, reaction rate, and exothermicity.