STEPCon

An immersive outreach experience developed as part of STEPCon, the Inland Empire’s largest student conference, which brings together thousands of students each year. As part of CE-CERT’s ongoing participation, the center contributes to the main exhibit floor and opens its laboratories to high school students for a more in-depth, hands-on experience.

Each year, CE-CERT hosts more than 60 students for guided lab tours and presentations, showcasing technologies and research focused on air quality, transportation, and energy systems. The program included access to major facilities such as the atmospheric chamber, engine dynamometer, and driving simulator, along with insights from researchers and industry partners.

The experience is designed to make advanced research tangible and engaging, helping students better understand real-world applications of STEM while encouraging them to explore future pathways in engineering and environmental research.