High school students in Kansas, Florida and Texas will learn to design AI applications and build microelectronics, aimed at bolstering U.S. tech expertise.
Public high school students in Kansas and two other states will soon have the opportunity to delve into the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. A new program, enabled by a $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation, is set to train students in coding and developing microelectronics essential for AI. This initiative is part of a broader effort to maintain the United States’ competitive edge in microchip manufacturing and AI software development.
Researchers from the University of Kansas, the University of Florida and the University of North Texas will collaborate with local high schools to engage approximately 500 students and 25 teachers in hands-on projects. These projects are designed to spark interest in technology careers.
Tamzidul Hoque, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science at KU, leads the KU research. His team in Lawrence will partner with Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, where computer science teacher Mark Lange will implement the cutting-edge curriculum.
A key component of the training involves students running their code on Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) devices — low-power hardware enabling AI processing right on the device rather than relying on cloud servers.
“This will be a small device performing AI tasks at the user end without connecting to the cloud,” Hoque said in a news release . “TinyML is one application that allows a large AI model to be converted into a smaller one that can run on a small device.”
These AI applications on so-called “edge devices” are groundbreaking because they don’t depend on centralized data centers.
“We want to demonstrate to students the wide range of edge AI applications available,” Hoque added. “By working with edge AI, they’ll not only learn about AI but also gain knowledge of microelectronics because it involves low-level hardware. Our curriculum addresses both of these important areas — microelectronics and AI.”
Adding to the project’s appeal is the focus on cost-effective solutions, particularly for schools with constrained budgets. The researchers are designing a hardware platform that includes microprocessors, various sensors and communication components to ensure affordability.
“We’ll collaborate with the University of Florida to develop the platform, with a key challenge being cost-effectiveness,” added Hoque. “Our goal is to create a device costing less than $45, equipped with at least 10 different sensors, making it accessible even for high schools with limited resources.”
Another crucial element is the altruistic focus of the projects. Students will work on community-centered applications, such as AI solutions for fire detection and agricultural support. This approach aims to show how engineering can benefit society and motivate students beyond the promise of lucrative salaries.
“When we try to motivate students about engineering, we often highlight high-paying salaries or the lucrative aspects of the jobs — but engineering is not only about those things, and many students may not feel motivated solely by them,” Hoque added. “Integrating the concept of altruism — how engineering can help their community — can be a stronger motivator.”
Despite the program’s community-oriented projects, it aims to prepare students for high-paying jobs in AI and microelectronics. Collaborations with AI-industry partners ensure the curriculum matches workforce needs, enhancing students’ job prospects.
“Our goal is to ensure the curriculum we develop is well aligned with the industry,” Hoque added. “We have an advisory board made up of industry members who provide feedback on whether the topics we have chosen are suitable for the field and whether learning these technical skills will help students secure jobs in the long run.”
To facilitate this industry-aligned training, the researchers will host conferences where high school teachers and industry partners can exchange ideas on curriculum development and teaching methods.
This initiative is supported by the CHIPS and Science Act, passed by Congress in 2022, which aims to bolster domestic semiconductor production and enhance national security. The Act addresses the vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting domestic manufacturing of mission-critical microelectronics.
“After COVID, we realized how dependent we are on external supply chains, prompting the government to provide significant incentives for developing domestic manufacturing facilities,” Hoque added. “This issue impacts not only consumers but also national security, as microelectronics used in mission-critical systems must be developed in secure facilities with no possibility of malicious alterations or security threats. For national security reasons, it’s essential to have domestic capabilities to design and fabricate our own microchips. But it’s not enough to develop these facilities — we also need people to work in them. Programs like this will motivate students to explore hardware and pursue careers in microelectronics.”
Source: The University of Kansas