BMES
Biomedical Engineering Society
MISSION
Our Outreach Program is dedicated to inspiring K–12 students in Fort Collins to explore the world of Biomedical Engineering. For over six years, the Biomedical Engineering Society at CSU has partnered with local schools and community organizations to provide hands-on, interactive STEM experiences.
Students engage in activities such as building lung-diaphragm models, extracting pH indicators from purple cabbage, creating DIY heart rate monitors, and exploring 3D-printed vertebrae models. BMES officers and volunteers guide students through each activity, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving.
We also host Biomed Bootcamp, an immersive event where students rotate through interactive stations, participate in engineering challenges, and learn about biomedical engineering pathways from current CSU students. Through all of our outreach efforts, our goal is to make biomedical engineering exciting, accessible, and inspiring for the next generation.
Hey parents! Looking for a fun, educational event for your child on the upcoming Staff Work Day on April 24th? Biomed Bootcamp at Colorado State University hosted by the Biomedical Engineering Society is a perfect option! Designed for children ages 5–8, this full-day camp introduces kids to the exciting world of engineering through hands-on, interactive activities led by trained engineering students and campus organizations.
The camp runs 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (drop-off begins at 8:45 AM) at the Lory Student Center in Fort Collins. Lunch and snacks are included and there’s an optional family-friendly movie add-on from 3:00–5:00 PM. The cost is $60 per child, with an additional $20 for the movie option.
Spots are limited, so register today! RSVP Here: Biomed Bootcamp Registration Form – Fill out form
BMES participated in Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day to inspire young girls to explore STEM and see themselves as future engineers. At this event, we led a hands-on activity where participants created DNA-inspired jewelry while learning about the structure of DNA and its role in biomedical engineering. The activity combined creativity and science to make engineering engaging, fun, and accessible.
During this semester, instead of students coming to CSU we came to them! We attended multiple middle and high schools in Fort Collins and Greeley. This time we focused on one bigger activity that could be completed in an hour or less to fit within one class period.
Students made their own lava lamp that was fueled from heat from a candle! During this time, they learned about different chemical reactions and how that can be applied to our bodies. In the end, everyone was able to take home their personalized lava lamp and watch it in action!
Students extracted DNA from a salt-water solution, swished in the mouth to obtain cheek cells. After applying simple dish soap and isopropyl alcohol, DNA clumps would accumulate. These clumps were extracted using pipettes and placed inside stylish vials. Colored string and beads were available to choose from to create your own personalized necklace!
Out of common crafty materials, students made a “prosthetic hand” using cardboard, string, hot glue, straws, and tape. Each string served as the “tendons” that would make it possible to move individual fingers. After letting the hot glue dry, students participated in a lifting competition to test the effectiveness of their new hand. Bone and syringe pen prizes were earned for those that could lift one of the three items!
For the EE activity, students received hands-on experience with creating circuits using a classic breadboard, wires, tactile buttons, LEDs, resistors, and a 9V Battery. BMES volunteers assisted the students in establishing both in-series and in-parallel circuits. Students could customize LED colors and stack as many lights as possible. They were allowed to take their setup home to continue experimenting.
