At some point in their education, pre-engineering students will take physics and/or calculus. For many freshmen who aren't certain about their career paths, taking these courses is a litmus test to determine whether they have the aptitude or desire to pursue an engineering degree. Therein lies the challenge for many students in the U.S. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula are typically steeped in traditional textbook methods for demonstrating, for example, the velocity of a free-falling object. 2D computer-generated graphs only go so far in showing what forces determine the speed of a calculus textbook dropped out of a third story dorm window. To change the dynamic and increase the chances of piquing student interest in STEM, teachers from middle school through college are starting to use 3D CAD tools in their lesson planning. Visualizing a wave tank in 3D might help physics students better understand the many different forces that affect surface wave motion. They might also better see the quadratic formula at work, or how they can get the maximum distance from a catapult. Bringing physics, calculus, trigonometry and related subjects to life is a critical step in convincing students of how their knowledge of these subjects will help them in their engineering careers. Additionally, exposing students to 3D CAD technology early will help them begin honing the design skills they'll need in their professional careers. In this session, attendees will learn how to use 3D CAD technology to fuel student interest in STEM, and potentially grow the pool of skilled engineers in the U.S. Attendees will learn how to: (1) identify courses where 3D CAD software can help students better understand STEM concepts; (2) use 3D CAD software to demonstrate practical examples of these concepts in physics, calculus and other subjects; (3) demonstrate how students can visualize math and science problems more easily in 3D; (4) show students how they can apply STEM concepts to engineering; and (5) expose students to the engineering fundamentals they will use professionally.