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Metro East elementary through high school students are exploring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and generating a desire for continued learning through summer outreach programming offered by the SIUE Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach, and community partners.

One such partnership with the Boys & Girls Club in Brooklyn is in its second year. Through the collaboration, students take field trips coordinated by the Club to sites in the St. Louis area and participate in engineering focused projects, including using telescopes, building bridges out of paper and racing cars powered by rubber bands.

“These topics can be eye-opening for students who haven’t seen the creative side of engineering,” explained Colin Wilson, manager of the SIUE STEM Resource Center. “It provides them with a chance to practice the cyclical process of engineering design: brainstorm, test, make observations, brainstorm and re-test.”

The Center also teamed with the Madison County Housing Authority to support interest in STEM among underrepresented females.

Three times weekly, from June 13-July 1, young girls participated in a new program, Hydroponics and Urban Gardening for Girls (HUGG), which emphasized plant science and was held at the Meachum Crossing Apartments in Venice. Supplies for the program were funded by the SIUE Meridian Society.

“The purpose of HUGG is to provide instruction on cutting-edge urban gardening techniques, such as composting, hydroponics and lasagna gardening,” explained Matt Johnson, instructional design and curriculum specialist with the SIUE STEM Center. “When the program was finished, the gardens became part of the girls’ new community garden.”

SIUE students Keanna Williams and Bianca McIntosh, both studying biological sciences, aided in the programming through the Robert J. Noyce Scholarship Science and Math Grants. The grants are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and provide 14 $2,500 summer internships for 200 hours of in-service training for qualified SIUE freshmen and sophomores, and local community college students who are interested in STEM careers.

“Working with the HUGG program was awesome,” Williams said. “The girls were so eager to learn and would literally ask for trivia questions halfway through the day about what they were learning. It was amazing to see them soak in the information we provided.”

“It’s fulfilling and important to teach young kids about STEM,” added McIntosh. “It reminds me of the moments when I first gained interest in science. Recreating those moments and motivating these students to enjoy something I’m passionate about is a totally rewarding feeling. These kids are the next generation of STEM professionals.”

Photos: (L-R) Wilniya, Zarria and Shalise water the community garden.

 (L-R) Kari and Khloe work with a compost bin.