A theatrical demonstration of science experiments with audience participation, tours of a home automated by smart devices, and a workshop where powder is transformed into permanent art. These are just a few of the experiences shared by more than 900 students in grades kindergarten-12 who signed up for the celebration of National STEM Day, Nov. 8, at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.
“Our goal is to get kids engaged in STEM as early as possible,” said Roxanne Hanna, associate director of the Kummer Center for STEM Education at Missouri S&T, which sponsored the event. “We put together a day of activities to show young students that one of the most important parts of learning about STEM is having fun.”
Upon checking in at Leach Theatre at 9 a.m., students received a badge, a pamphlet detailing each activity, and a campus map with locations highlighted. Supervised groups of up to 15 students self-guided their participation.
The day’s activities, led by Missouri S&T faculty, staff and community partners, reflect the breadth of STEM. Activity leaders included Dr. Garry Grubbs, associate professor of chemistry, who took the stage for live science experiments that make pickles glow and demonstrate the power of electricity. Dr. David Bayless, professor and chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and a team from the department led sessions that included building robots and rocket demonstrations.
Dr. Catherine Johnson, the Robert H. Quenon associate professor of mining engineering, led “Design, Create, Initiate,” a workshop during which students created designs with powder that was then burned to create permanent art.
Hanna says the majority of the more than 900 students registered for the STEM Day celebration attend schools in small, rural districts or are homeschooled. She explained that this underscores the urgency of Missouri S&T’s focus on STEM.
“Science equipment is expensive, so students from bigger districts with bigger budgets tend to have more opportunities,” Hanna said. “What we want to do on National STEM Day is stimulate the minds of children who may not have access to STEM education daily. We want to give those students an opportunity to engage with science without it being a burden on their district, and show them what’s possible beyond what they’ve already imagined.”
