AnnMarie Thomas is a

mechanical engineer Mechanical may refer to: Machine * Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement * Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations o ...

, author, blogger, and advocate for early engineering education. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering from

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...

(2001) and went on to attain both an M.S. (2002) and Ph.D. (2006) in mechanical engineering from the

California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech) is a private research university in Pasadena, California, United States. The university is responsible for many modern scientific advancements and is among a small group of institutes ...

. She has her certification in Sustainable Design from

Minneapolis College of Art and Design The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) is a private college specializing in the visual arts and located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. MCAD currently enrolls approximately 800 students. MCAD is one of just a few major art schools to offer ...

(2012). She is currently associate professor in the School of Engineering, the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, and the

Opus College of Business The Opus College of Business is the business school of the University of St. Thomas, a private Roman Catholic university in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since October 19, 2006, it is named for The Opus Group in recognition of the compa ...

at the University of St. Thomas in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

. Her research interests include engineering pedagogy and education for PK-12 students, design for aging populations, as well as synthetic jet propulsion. Thomas is the founder and director of the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas, where she leads students in exercises to understand the "playful side of engineering". She has also developed Squishy Circuits, an initiative to engage children in exploring electronics using play dough. This initiative outlines the process of making conducting and insulating dough and how to build circuits from these materials. Speaking of the project Thomas said: She describes engineering as a "fine art", and maintains that a positive attitude toward the possibilities for women in engineering is essential in creating a greater gender balance in the field. Thomas is the author of a book, ''Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation'', published by Maker Media Press in 2014. She has presented at a number of conferences and through Ted talks on inspiring young scientists (with play and other kinds of making). On her blog ''AnnMarie Thomas- Making Makers'' she has written about the challenges she has faced as a woman and mother working in engineering.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, AnnMarie Living people American mechanical engineers MIT School of Engineering alumni California Institute of Technology alumni Minneapolis College of Art and Design alumni University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) faculty Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people)