EvanSTEM Fifth Ward STEM Fest
Congratulations to the EvanSTEM ecosystem on its recent Fifth Ward STEM Fest! Said Director Kirby Callam: the primary purpose of the Fifth Ward STEM Fest was to provide parents and their children “a chance for hands-on experiences and to bring to life what STEM means. Many students think STEM is for others who are ‘science people,’ and they think ‘I’m not one of them.’ So we’re trying to break down those walls a little bit. There are second-graders who don’t like math. It’s not because they’re not good at it. It’s just because they had a bad experience and they feel they’re not good at it, and so they want to run away from it. So here’s a chance to make science and math come to life, and for children to understand it’s actually fun.” Mr. Callam added, “A key part of the STEM fest was to get parents engaged and supportive. They get to see their children excited and they think, ‘I want you to do more of this and let’s start finding ways for you to do that.’ Read more here.
Roots of Innovation – How Putnam County is Cultivating STEM in Every Subject
STEM Ecosystems have transformed education by connecting diverse partners and reaching 42 million learners across 120 communities worldwide. The federal government now recognizes these ecosystems as essential infrastructure for advancing STEM education, validating a decade of grassroots innovation.