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STEM/Engineering
Page 18 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

From Curiosity to Creation: Ian Lange’s Engineering Journey

He’s quick to push back on stereotypes, changed how he thinks about his present.
too. “It’s improved the way my brain thinks
“There’s a connotation around engineer- in so many different ways,” he said.
ing, like you’re a nerd,” he said. “In reality, Pattern recognition and problem-
you can be a really interesting person outside solving skills from CAD (computer-aided
engineering and still be good at it.” design) show up in unexpected places, from
playing the piano to a chess match.
Falling in Love With 3D Printing “When you break patterns down, it’s
If there’s one word Lange uses often, it’s all the same fundamentals,” he said. “That
“cool.” And nothing earns that label faster applies to a lot of things.”
than 3D printing. Those skills, he believes, will last far
“It’s the coolest thing ever,” he said. beyond high school.
Last year, Lange learned the fundamen- “I think these skills will help me for the
tals of 3D printing while building the RC car, rest of my life,” Lange said. “They won’t go
printing each component piece by piece. This away.”
year, he has more access to the printers —
and more freedom. Looking Ahead
“You send something to the printer, After high school, Lange plans to
and it works on it overnight,” he said. “The pursue a career in a STEM field. At a larger
next day, it’s like Christmas morning going college, that likely means engineering; at a
into school and starting to put all the pieces smaller one, math or physics. Either way, he
together. If it works, it’s such an exciting sees engineering as a foundation for what
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District that students are introduced to early on, along feeling!” comes next.
191 with courses that support students in their Lange has already built a mini train “No matter what I study, it will still
When Ian Lange talks about engineering, journey. For Lange, it wasn’t a leap as much powered by a battery-operated motor. Now, be beneficial and interesting,” he said. “My
he doesn’t start with equations or credentials. as a decision to commit to something he had he’s focused on an individual project that dream is to start an engineering company. I
He starts with wonder and possibility. been circling for years. blends engineering with environmental want to solve problems and to help people.”
“One time my dad told me he was “I just wanted to try stuff out,” he said. responsibility. He’s already thinking about combin-
working on code for an artificial pig heart,” “I always thought the engineering pathway A passionate fisherman, Lange wanted ing engineering with entrepreneurship, and
Lange said. “That was crazy!” was just there and I could take some classes to tackle a real-world problem: the environ- about learning for learning’s sake.
Lange, a student at Burnsville High if I wanted.” mental impact of lost or discarded fishing “I value learning more than the grade,
School (BHS), grew up surrounded by that Finding His People — and His lures. honestly,” Lange said. “Grades are just a
kind of curiosity. His father is a software “I decided to work on how to solve envi- means of getting access to more learning.”
engineer at a major medical system, who Passion ronmental issues caused by fishing,” he said. For students unsure about engineering,
works mostly from home, so engineering Lange began taking engineering classes His solution is a biodegradable fishing Lange keeps the message simple.
tools and materials were always part of his during his sophomore year, and the experi- lure — 3D-printed and coated with a material “The coolest thing about engineering
environment. Long before Lange could name ence felt different than his other classes right designed to break down over time. is the freedom of it,” he said. “It’s designed
a career path, he was watching firsthand how away. The days were full of activities that “You have to see things around you to make everyone’s life easier. It’s not for
problems could be broken down and solved. were collaborative, hands-on and creative. and how to make them better for everyone,” everyone — but the skills you build in it can
Engineering felt big and almost unreal at first, “The general theme for engineering for Lange said. “That’s what engineering is all make an impact for everyone.”
but it stuck with him. me is I meet someone who is good at their about.”
“It started out as this huge, crazy, cool job, and then learn from them,” he said. Skills that Go Beyond the Classroom
thing,” he said. “But now I can break it down, His first engineering teacher, Sergei www.isd191.org
and it’s really interesting.” Raspel, made a lasting impression. “He’s Engineering hasn’t just changed what
crazy good at his job,” Lange said, crediting Lange knows or how he sees his future; it’s
Exploring the Possibilities Raspel with helping him see engineering as
When Lange entered high school, he both challenging and approachable.
didn’t immediately dive into engineering. In that first class, Lange worked along-
Like many students, he tested the waters first. side friends to design and 3D print a mini RC
“When I entered high school, I found race car. The project didn’t work the first time
that there are so many ways you can go and — which turned out to be part of the appeal.
so many things that are offered,” he said. “When something fails, you want to get
He started in the business pathway, to fix it,” Lange said.
curious to see if it fit. While he found value The group came back to the project the
in the subject matter, something was missing. following year, determined to make it work.
The work didn’t spark the same excitement This time, it did.
he felt when he thought about designing, “There’s so much you can do in a group
building and experimenting. setting,” he said. “It feels good to work on a
He learned quickly that the Pathways problem and come up with a solution together.”
Program at BHS is purposefully designed for Lange’s next teacher, Orion Patrie, gave
exploration. students the freedom to explore their own
“There’s a lot of emphasis on trying dif- interests, encouraging experimentation and
ferent things to find out what your interests creativity along the way.
are,” Lange said. “I think that’s what high “That’s what engineering is all about,”
school should be all about.” Lange said. “It’s not always so structured.
Engineering was always there in the A lot of people don’t realize how creative it
background, one of several Pathway options really is.”