Wall of Wind Mitigation Challenge:
Teams of high school students are challenged to develop an innovative mitigation concept and solution within well-defined guidelines developed by the NSF-NHERI Wall of Wind (WOW) Research Team. Teams prepare three components for the competition to address the hurricane wind mitigation challenge: a physical test, an oral presentation and a written technical paper. The mitigation concepts are tested by the WOW on the day of the live competition. The high school students are inspired to pursue STEM education and careers in wind engineering and hurricane mitigation and be the next generation of engineers to address natural hazards and extreme weather. This community education outreach competition is graciously supported in large part through a grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
To learn more: https://ihrc.fiu.edu/outreach-education/wall-of-wind-challenge/
Eye of the Storm Hurricane Day at MODS:
The Museum of Discovery & Science (MODS), located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, assists the FIU International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) in planning, coordinating and facilitating this free admission public education event. It brings together many organizations and our NOAA partners and showcases special hands-on, interactive activities and demonstrations teaching hurricane science, mitigation, and preparedness. The concept of the event is to take hurricane preparedness information and present it in a public friendly science-museum environment. It is informal education through fun and entertaining activities for families and kids. The goal is to motivate everyone to be ready for the coming hurricane season. This community education outreach event is graciously supported in large part through a grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
To learn more: https://youtu.be/K1Im0tha9fQ
FIU STEAM-Weather Day:
The FIU Extreme Events Institute and the FIU College of Engineering and Computing partners with FIU Athletics with organizing the event that welcomes elementary and middle school students from Miami-Dade County schools, filling the outside plaza in front of the FIU Ocean Bank Convocation Center. It promotes STEM career fields and STEM education, through interactive, hands-on, fun activities and demonstrations, including the NSF-NHERI Wall of Wind team and wind tunnel, Engineering on Wheels robotics, and being a TV weathercaster. After being immersed in the fun activities, the students then watch a FIU women’s basketball game. Many FIU departments and community partners participate.
To learn more: https://cec.fiu.edu/2025/02/hands-on-discovery-and-panther-spirit-shine-at-fius-steam-weather-day
NSF- NHERI Wall of Wind:
The NHERI Wall of Wind (WOW) Experimental Facility (EF) located at FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to be a national facility that enables researchers to better understand wind effects on civil infrastructure systems and to prevent wind hazards from becoming community disasters. The WOW is the largest and most powerful university research facility of its kind and can simulate a Category 5 hurricane with winds over 157 mph. An array of 12 very large electric fan motors is used to test structures, materials and products and their ability to withstand hurricane force winds. The WOW team does a lot of education outreach activities, including teacher workshops, industry programs, school presentations, and media tours.
To learn more: https://fiu.designsafe-ci.org/outreach/