Recognizing the shortage of skilled engineers and
scientists in the United States and the challenges of structural
unemployment, we hoped to instill an awe and enthusiasm for these
high-demand disciplines akin to the adoration children often feel for
entertainment and sports icons. With this vision in mind, we began to
organize outreach events, setting up booths at local road races and
farmers’ markets to draw interest for STEAM in our community. In
December, we hosted our own outreach event at a local library for
elementary school children to participate in activities and contests.
For several hours, we engaged almost fifty kids with a paper airplane
contest, a spaghetti and marshmallow construction challenge, and a LEGO
robotics competition. Even the shyest kids opened up and truly enjoyed
our activities. We repeated this model at many more events, reaching
from local businesses to as far as India.