What do π, sensors, AI, and supercomputing have in common? For more than 100 curious participants—including 92 middle schoolers from Bloomington Public Schools' New Code Academy—the answer became clear during an action-packed virtual field trip on March 10.
The Magic of Pi
This Pi Day celebration brought together experts from across the University of Minnesota and Twin Cities IEEE Section to spark the curiosity of the next generation of scientists and engineers. The day kicked off with Patricia Khashayer, director of the Internal Institute for Biosensing (IIB) and Claire Dietz, outreach coordinator at the Minnesota Nano Center, providing a foundational look at mathematical constants and their practical applications in the lab including how scientists use them to create biosensors and other nano technologies. Students explored the question of what π is and why it remains so vital to modern researchers which culminated in an interactive game titled "Pie, Pi, or Not Pi."
Students quickly caught on to the “Pie, Pi or Not Pi?” emoji game.
Exploring the Possibilities with "AI Genie"
The students were primed for a deeper dive into modern technology led by Anneke von Seeger, an applied mathematics PhD student from AI Hub. She introduced the students to the "AI Genie" Virtual Challenge, where they experimented with Google Gemini. By comparing short, two-word prompts against highly detailed descriptions, the students practiced the art of prompt engineering. In a final creative test, they used reverse engineering to recreate prompts based on provided stories including one about the self-starter "Murphy the Dog.”
An AI Genie training helped students learn how to properly develop detailed prompts.
A Peek Inside the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute
The day continued with a virtual tour of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI), led by Christine Henzler, MSI’s co-director of research informatics, Laura Fingerson, director of outreach and training research computing and Natalia Calixto Mancipe, RI bioinformatics analyst. For 40 years, computer scientists have used the UMN’s supercomputer–and its $15 million infrastructure–to study everything from astronomy and diseases to agricultural breakthroughs, such as breeding better potatoes for potato chips. The students were fascinated to learn that the system is composed of thousands of stacked GPU nodes connected by cables, totaling over 70,000 processors and 37 petabytes of storage. Managing such a massive system is a constant task; the team even described the scheduling process as a giant game of Tetris, where jobs must be combined with enough efficiency to keep the system running at 80% capacity, 24 hours a day.
Students were able to experience a behind the scenes look at the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. Photo credit Minnesota Supercomputing Institute.
The Power of Circuits and Systems
To wrap up the event, Ahmed Naumaan, professor at the School of STEM in the American Public University System and the chair of Twin Cities IEEE Section, introduced the students to the fundamental building blocks of all modern electronics: circuits. He explained that whether it is a simple household device or a massive supercomputer, all electricity relies on these complex pathways. The session broke down the differences between analog circuits, which handle continuous adjustments like weight or temperature, and digital circuits, which process discrete values. Students were introduced to the logic that powers our digital world, including Ohm’s Law, Venn Diagrams, and Boolean logic. By understanding truth tables the middle schoolers gained a new perspective on the invisible math that makes their favorite gadgets function.
One of the sample digital circuits students were able to experiment with.
Impact and Collaborative Innovation
The success of the Pi Day Virtual Field Trip was made possible through a unique collaboration between the IIB, the Minnesota Nano Center, AI Hub, and MSI, and Twin Cities IEEE Section. By combining their expertise, these organizations were able to transform abstract concepts like mathematical constants and circuit logic into a tangible exploration of how science drives massive technological leaps.
For the student participants, the event provided more than just a lesson in STEM—it offered a direct connection to real-world researchers and the $15 million infrastructure that powers innovation across Minnesota.
"The energy, curiosity, and thoughtful questions from these young learners were truly inspiring,” said Patricia Khashayar, IIB director. “Moments like this remind us how important it is to introduce the next generation to the science and technology that power the modern world."