BUFFALO, N.Y. — Getting students prepared for the field - that’s the goal of University at Buffalo's 'Drone STEM' competition, which takes place this Saturday.

Those students will compete and practice surgical skills at the same time. The competition will feature students from four high schools, who will demonstrate skills that emulate surgical techniques developed to build student confidence and inspire future STEM learning. 

“They are bringing their best students to do these tests,” Dr. Gene Yang, assistant professor, UBMD Surgery, said. “And then we will pick the top student from each school for each test and then have them compete in front of everybody for that competition. But I think it has a deeper meaning; I think it’s great for students learn what it’s like to be a surgeon, but it also gives us an opportunity, as a medical community, to connect with the community around us, so I think that’s the bigger picture for the competition.”

While the students for this year’s competition have already been selection, the public is welcome to attend. The competition will take place at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, located at 955 Main St. in Buffalo.

The school is also currently seeking sponsors for this events and more in the future.