Twenty-five Troy High School students recently traveled to the University of Texas at Austin to tour the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering. During their visit, students attended an engaging presentation covering topics such as clean energy, geothermal energy, and the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing.

The experience included hands-on activities that brought classroom concepts to life. Students explored the rock imbibition phenomenon, which demonstrated how fluids move through porous media within sedimentary rock—critical for understanding subsurface systems. They also participated in a Jello-based fracturing simulation, learning that injecting the material too forcefully leads to unsuccessful fractures. This activity highlighted the importance of controlled pressure in engineering to enhance fluid movement by connecting pores and creating new flow pathways.

To round out the trip, students toured the new Student Center at UT’s College of Engineering, offering a glimpse into campus life and future opportunities in the field.