Engaging Youth at Conferences
Why Youth Engagement Matters
Youth engagement supports IEEE’s broader mission to advance technology for humanity by:
- Sparking curiosity and broadening awareness of STEM
- Connecting students with mentors and professionals
- Opening pathways to future IEEE engagement
- Supporting long-term workforce development
Conferences are places and communities where students can explore new interests and encounter ideas, technologies, and career paths they might not otherwise be exposed to.
CEE Support Resources
Effective youth engagement meets participants where they are. These resources span STEM activities, hands-on learning, communication and soft-skills development, and real-world problem-solving, all adaptable to your audience, goals, community needs, and planning timeline.
As you plan, consider the following:
Safety and Compliance
Build safety and compliance into the planning process from the start, recognizing that programs involving minors carry additional responsibilities and require specific steps to be completed before implementation.
Budget and Resources
Assess what's available before committing to a format. Leverage existing space and resources, such as contracted rooms and A/V providers, to maximize opportunity.
Audience
Define the target age or grade level and participant needs.
Program Design
Determine how the session will fit into the conference schedule and establish an appropriate participant capacity.
Tip: Start small and scale only as needed.
Registration
Decide whether participants will register through the main conference platform or a separate youth registration form.
On-Site Logistics
Confirm venue capacity, accessibility accommodations, A/V needs, and any additional equipment.
Planning Team
Identify who will support the planning and execution of the program.
Communication Plan
Develop outreach that encourages young people to attend and participate.
Follow-Up
Maintain connections and share program highlights to build interest in future opportunities.
Junior Engineers Program
The Junior Engineers Program is a youth-focused session built into the wider conference. Students present original STEM research, then field questions from peers, families, and industry professionals. For many, a first real step into STEM, an early look at careers in science and engineering, and an introduction to the conference community.
Inspiration Behind the Program
Founded by IEEE Aerospace Conference Board member Karen Profet and originally titled the Junior Engineering & Science Conference, mirrors the research-driven format of its parent conference, immersing youth in STEM within a professional setting while broadening the experience for families. It advances IEEE’s mission to promote education and lifelong learning by welcoming young voices into professional spaces and helping cultivate the next generation of engineers and innovators.
Access the Junior Engineers Program Planning Toolkit
To help others recreate that experience, CEE developed a Junior Engineers Program Planning Toolkit, one that adapts the original model into a flexible framework for any conference, whatever its scale, audience, or format. Resources include:
- Phased planning roadmap: pre-event, onsite, and post-event guidance
- Recommendations and best practices
- Communication timeline
- Alternative formats to consider
- Measurement and impact considerations
- Getting Started (PDF, 4.5 MB)
Templates, checklists, ideas, and additional resources are available to download. To download the toolkit, kindly complete the following form.
Take the Next Step
Meaningful youth engagement starts with a simple idea: giving the next generation room to learn, connect, and explore. Explore the resources to begin planning.