The 3rd annual STARward STEM Expo was held on Tuesday at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, with over 200 students from kindergarten through 12th grade representing teams from across the community. This event, organized by Cumberland County STEM Education Director Frank McKay, is a significant platform for promoting education and addressing the needs of communities and the country.
The winning teams will have their science projects sent to the International Space Station as part of a “science payload” program. Maura Richard, a student who participated in the event, expressed her excitement about creating her own designs and potentially seeing them sent into space. Two teachers and a principal from Cumberland County will also attend the Space Academy for Educators in June at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama.
Frank McKay emphasized the importance of events like this one, stating that they provide students with an opportunity to explore their interests and goals and can range from simple to complex experiments based on their level of expertise. One of the teams participating in this year’s expo, known as the Fly Guys, is investigating whether plant seeds can grow in outer space using a mystic tube separated into three sections.
In previous years, student experiments have explored various topics related to space exploration and scientific discovery. For example, one team investigated the effects of perchlorates, a chemical compound found in Martian soil, on aerospace aluminum alloy. Denise Renfro, a teacher from Cumberland County who led that project, shared how her students discovered the presence of perchlorates after investigating corrosion on Mars rover wheels. Their findings were among the first to be sent to the ISS as part of this program.
As this year’s STEM Expo comes to an end, winners will be announced on Tuesday evening. These students are not only demonstrating their passion for science but also contributing to scientific knowledge beyond their classrooms and communities.
Overall, events like this one promote education and inspire young scientists to pursue careers in STEM fields while also providing valuable opportunities for teachers and educators to learn more about scientific research and discovery.
In conclusion, The STARward STEM Expo is an excellent example of how education can promote innovation and scientific discovery while also inspiring future scientists to pursue careers in STEM fields. With over 200 students participating this year alone
