At last year’s iSTEM festival, Central students performed science experiments for the middle and high school students.
Central College welcomes all sixth through twelfth graders in central Iowa to the iExploreSTEM festival at the Graham Conference Center on April 1.
The iExploreSTEM festivals are a series of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) festivals throughout Iowa that target children and families in middle and high school.
iExploreSTEM is a project of the State Hygienic Laboratory and Health and Human Physiology Department at the University of Iowa. In 2012, the project was selected as one of 12 exemplary STEM programs by Governor Terry Branstad’s STEM Advisory Council to be scaled up across Iowa.
Last year, Central College President Mark Putnam was appointed as a member of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Executive Committee and Council. For the festival, Central is collaborating with Partners for Engineering and Educational Resources (PEERS), founded by a group of Pella Corporation engineers.
Students will rotate through a variety of exhibits with interactive, educational experiences hosted by college professors, STEM professionals and community partners. Some of the exhibitors include World Food Prize, the Pella Regional Hospital, United States Army Corp of Engineers, Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources and Central College’s academic departments within STEM. Parents will be able to participate in a session with a professional panel to learn more about encouraging their children in the STEM fields as well as ask questions.
“The best part of the evening will be that young people and their parents can engage in hands-on STEM activities. It will not only be informative, but it will be fun,” says director of Community Based-Learning Cheri Doane. “Central College is honored to work with a variety of corporate and community partners to host an activity that will prepare young people for exciting careers in growing fields.”
The festival is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. The event is free and open to all six through twelfth graders and their parents. Register at www.iexplorestem.org/south-central/pella for the iExploreSTEM festival. Visit www.iexplorestem.org to learn more about the program.
