Skip to main content

Shanghai Students Have STEM Fun at College, Visit Iconic Utah Sites


About 30 children from China this summer visited Salt Lake Community College to create electricity from wool and Styrofoam, make polymers from glue and Borax, and cool ice cream in a bag using salt. They used compasses to find school supplies and candy to power bottle rockets. In short, the kids from Shanghai had a blast while visiting SLCC’s Taylorsville Redwood Campus.

The visit is part of the Utah Chinese Center’s effort to provide an annual cultural and teaching exchange for students and teachers from China. The entire trip lasts about three weeks and includes other American cities. While in the U.S., the students and teachers stay with host families.

The UCC’s goal is to expose students and teachers to American history, culture and ethics as well as China’s major contributions to the development of the civilized world, according to Dave Richardson, SLCC interim dean for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The UCC hopes the exchange helps to bridge real or perceived Sino-American misunderstandings. “Even though the organization makes a microscopic indentation in this process, any contribution to diversity is better than none,” Richardson says.

In previous years the exchange included more classroom time, learning English, history and culture while indoors. The visits evolved into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) hands-on activities that are fun and at times confounding. “Bottle rockets were challenging for them to make, as they didn’t realize how to tear duct tape,” says Barbara Antonetti, a fourth-grade teacher who also helps out with the college’s Slick Science Camp, the blueprint for activities with the Chinese elementary school students. “They loved launching them and had fun dashing around trying to find theirs when they landed.”


While in Utah, the students also visited the University of Utah, Snowbird Ski Resort, Timpanogos Cave, the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square and Arches National Park. So far, the exchange has been one sided, with only Chinese students visiting the U.S., but the Richardson hopes that will change. “It has been very difficult to get American parents to send their children more than 6,000 miles into a distinctly unfamiliar environment for three weeks under the supervision of someone other than themselves,” he says.

Popular posts from this blog

SLCC's Undergraduate Annual Research Conference Registration Deadline

Salt Lake Community College’s annual Undergraduate Projects, Performances, Presentations, and Research Conference (UP3RC) is set to take place on April 2, at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, offering students a chance to showcase their academic achievements, fostering a culture of intellectual exchange.  The UP3RC is an annual event designed to celebrate and highlight the academic accomplishments of undergraduate students. It provides a supportive environment for students to share their work, hone their presentations skills, receive constructive feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers and faculty. All SLCC departments and programs, including faculty and staff, are encouraged to support and visit the day of the event. Students with their poster from last year's UPRC event “The goal of this event is to make sure every school and student is given the opportunity to participate,” says Dr. Kamal Bewar, interim director of the STEM Learning Center, who is chairin

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o

HB 261 and HB 257 Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students: The Utah Legislature recently passed two bills that significantly impact higher education:  HB 261  Equal Opportunity Initiatives and HB  257  Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying, and Women’s Opportunities. Salt Lake Community College is deeply committed to our students, faculty, and staff. We strive to be a place where all are welcomed and respected. While there are many unknowns about the ultimate effect these bills will have on some student and staff support programs, be assured that SLCC will maintain an environment where all can find success and feel a sense of belonging. In the coming months, college leadership will work to gain clarity and determine the changes necessary for legislative compliance. We will also share this information as it becomes available.  We realize that during this time, some in our college community may feel unsettled and stressed. We encourage you to make use of available SLCC resources designed to support y