On Saturday, April 18, over 90 middle and high school students from South Florida visited Frost Science for the second annual STEM Challenge Expo.
Upon opening the doors, students flooded into the Hsiao Family Special Exhibition Gallery to set up their STEM Challenge projects, their excitement and nervousness palpable. This year students tackled the use of emerging technologies, including AI, wearables, and sensors, with the goal of improving one of four different scientific fields: astronomy, health, marine science, or paleontology. Students also created models to display their ideas, from functional apps to large robotic cockroaches.
Robo-Roach by Sophia Senghanh from Center for International Education, Winner of Best Individual Model
After students set up their projects, the Expo kicked off with a keynote address from former astronaut Nicole Stott. During her keynote address, Stott inspired students to pursue science and emphasized the collaborative nature of different scientific fields. After her keynote address, Stott answered student questions during a short Q&A before moving into the Expo to look at student projects.
“What excites me the most is seeing young children of all ages taking on real world STEM Challenges and presenting their ideas in a way that brings it to life. Whether that project is actually going to be built or not, they’re thinking very much like crewmates on our planetary spaceship, trying to solve problems and considering the ways that they can be part of the solution,” said Stott.
While Stott looked around the Expo and talked with students, judges began to review student projects.
Nicole Stott speaking with students from Shelton Academy about their project, the Reef Rover, an underwater robot designed to help restore damaged coral reefs.
The students had already passed one round of judging before being invited to the STEM Challenge Expo and, with three times the number of submissions from our inaugural STEM Challenge last year, making it to the STEM Challenge Expo was no easy feat. At the end of the day, judges deliberated and 31 students were awarded with college scholarships. These students were invited to an award ceremony on Tuesday, April 21, where they learned where they placed and celebrated with their peers, teachers, and families. Awarded scholarships range from 1– to 4–year University Plans through Florida Prepaid.
Emily Ward and Tristan Milano, 1st Place STEM Challenge Group Project Winners
While this year’s STEM Challenge has ended, next year is already getting started! Next year’s STEM Challenge theme is all about “Sustainable Energy Generation and Use” and registration is already open! If your middle or high schoolers are interested in participating in next year’s STEM Challenge independently or as part of their school or class, register now to be kept up to date with all STEM Challenge information.
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