NASA Scientist Visits Local Orlando Kids

NASA Scientist Phillip Hargrove Visits Local Orlando Parramore Kids Zone Students

It IS rocket science! Phillip Hargrove, an aerospace engineer and NASA scientist, paid a visit to local students participating in Orlando Science Center's new Neighborhood Science program during the Parramore Kids Zone at the Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center in Holden Heights. 

This new initiative provides high-quality STEM education for multiple days each week in afterschool programs and community centers within underrepresented neighborhoods. From virtual reality, to engineering design challenges, 3D printing, and more, students have a unique opportunity to get hands-on with engaging STEM activities and learning opportunities. It is the bridge that connects these issues by offering opportunities focused on increasing confidence and interest in STEM concepts for youth in Central Florida.

With the help of our “neighbors” at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, students got a special opportunity to meet and learn from an out-of-this-world guest speaker – Phillip Hargrove. Hargrove is an aerospace engineer in NASA’s Launch Services Program and worked on the trajectory team for the NASA Mars Perseverance Rover launch.

Leading up to the lesson, students got a lesson in rocket science! They learned about the science of space travel and what kind of rockets and satellites are used to journey through the solar system and beyond. Using these lessons, a little rocket science, and a lot of creativity, the Neighborhood Scientists got the opportunity to design and 3D print their own rockets.

Kids learning about rockets from local NASA scientist

Last but certainly not least, the engineers-in-training got to put their designs to the test with some expert advice from Phillip Hargrove.

“By providing all children with an opportunity for inspiration and education, we begin a pipeline that runs from where they are to exciting careers,” said JoAnn Newman, President & CEO of Orlando Science Center. “Neighborhood Science will expand our impact throughout Central Florida as we create a STEM-centered community that paves the way for access and opportunities for all.”

Orlando Teen Invents Organic Pesticide Made From Beer

Orlando Teen Invents Non-Toxic, Cost-Effective Organic Pesticide Using Beer  Wins Top Prize at Orlando Science Center’s Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition  

Orlando teen Atreya Manaswi, a sophomore at Orlando Science High School in Orange County, has won the top prize in the prestigious Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition at Orlando Science Center. His research project, which used a beer blend to create a non-toxic, non-expensive organic alternative to chemical pesticides, won a scholarship of $5,000, a $1,000 award for his science teacher, and an additional $1,000 for their school.  

Atreya was named winner during an awards ceremony on April 30 after presenting his findings to the judges panel the previous day. For 25 years, Dr. Nelson Ying — local scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist — has partnered with Orlando Science Center to celebrate outstanding student scientists through his creation and sponsorship of this competition.  

Atreya’s winning project is part of his multi-year research effort to address the decline of the world’s honeybee population, which is responsible for pollinating 80% of the world’s food crops. Since 1947, honeybees have declined worldwide by 50% with two of the biggest causes being pests and chemicals. His organic solution, based on the chemical composition of beer, is just as effective as chemical pesticide, but it’s non-toxic and 80 times cheaper. Globally, it could save $1 billion dollars annually with no risk of contamination.  

To compete in the competition, each entrant must be a Florida high school student pursuing a research project that has the ultimate goal of benefiting humanity. This year, submissions were accepted from throughout the state and finalists included students from Central Florida as well as Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee. Projects ranged from creating algorithms that identify behaviors that could lead to recidivism in paroled convicts to developing biodegradable bone implants to training honeybees to pollinate endangered plant species. In addition to the grand prize winner, each finalist received cash prizes to continue their research.  

Atreya Manaswi and Judith Bright OSC Dr.Ying Competition Winner Teacher 2023

Meet the Finalists!

Ashna Mathur, Sophomore, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Orlando 

Currently, surgeons use inert metals for bone implants following injury, which ultimately need to be removed because they can’t be absorbed by the body. To prevent these costly and time-consuming surgeries, Ashna developed implants with Magnesium, which is biodegradable. She mixed Magnesium with Scandium, Strontium and bio glass nanoparticles to enhance its mechanical properties and promote bone growth.  

Ashna Mathur

Joshua Martoma, Junior, Pine Crest School, Fort Lauderdale 

The United States has the largest incarceration rate in the world with 68% of people in prison returning to prison. Joshua created a machine learning algorithm to identify the risk factors involved with paroled convicts to predict the likelihood of them returning to prison. The goal of his research is to increase the fairness, accuracy and transparency of existing tools to help prevent recidivism amongst this population.  

Joshua Martoma

Ella Pilacek, Junior, Oviedo High School, Oviedo  

Many species of indigenous plants are endangered in Florida due to habitat fragmentation, which results in plants being separated from native pollinator species. Ella trained honeybees to pollinate endangered plant species through Pavlovian conditioning. She repeatedly fed bees a food solution while also feeding them the scent of the endangered plant. Honeybees would associate the scent with a good food source so they would pollinate endangered plants that they would have ignored otherwise.  

Ella Pilacek

Sruthi Sentil, Senior, James S. Rickards High School, Tallahassee 

The world’s citrus population has been devastated by many invasive species of insects. Sruthi focused on the insect Citrus Psyllid and created a device to imitate its mating call. She was able to use these mating calls to lure this pest away from citrus crops and attract them to traps.  She also determined that this process could be used on other pest insects to positively impact citrus production worldwide.  

Sruthi Sentil

The Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition has been encouraging tomorrow’s problem solvers and world changers since 1999. Scientist, inventor and entrepreneur Dr. Nelson Ying created this competition in partnership with Orlando Science Center to inspire exemplary science students to use their expertise to address real-world problems. Previous winners of this competition have gone on to continue their research at top universities, compete in national science competitions and ultimately pursue exciting STEM careers, including positions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  

Local Teen Scientists Compete to Save the World at Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition

From fighting climate change to saving bees, local teen scientists are changing the world!

To compete in the prestigious Dr. Naleson Ying Science Competition, each entrant must be a Central Florida high school student and pursue a research project that has the ultimate goal of benefiting humanity. This year, each finalist’s research had an environmental focus, from cleaning up microplastics in the oceans to monitoring methane emissions to combat climate change to protecting and sustaining bee populations. In addition to the grand prize winner, each finalist received $500 to continue their research.

Ella Pilacek, a sophomore at Oviedo High School in Seminole County, has won the top prize in the prestigious Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition at Orlando Science Center. Her research project, which was focused on proving that bees could be encouraged by Pavlovian conditioning to pollinate specific plant species, won a scholarship of $5,000, a $1,000 award for her science teacher, and an additional $1,000 for their school.

Pilacek was named winner during an awards ceremony at the Historic Dubsdread Ballroom on Sunday, April 24, following a day of presenting her findings to judges on Saturday, April 23, at the Science Center. This year, the competition and the awards ceremony were held in person for the first time since 2019. The previous two years, they had been conducted virtually due to the pandemic. Since 1999, Dr. Nelson Ying — local scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist — has partnered with Orlando Science Center to celebrate outstanding student scientists through his creation and sponsorship of this competition.

Ella Pilacek - OSC Ying Competition Winner holding trophy

Meet the Finalists!

Kyra Henriques, Oviedo High School, Seminole County

Microplastics have potential to harm health and her research could lead to ways to easily extract them from aquatic environments to combat pollution. The chemical properties of ferrofluids contribute to their binding to microplastics, which could facilitate magnetic extraction of microplastics.

Kyra Henriques - OSC Ying Competition Finalist holding trophy

Lavanya Natarajan, Viera High School, Brevard County

Landfills emit methane during waste decomposition, but large portions of this potent gas escapes undetected, fueling global warming. She developed a system to monitor methane emissions in real-time, which could help reduce greenhouse gases by 50% by 2030.

Lavanya Natarjan - OSC Ying Competition Finalist holding trophy on stage

Varun Madan, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Orange County

Honeybees are extremely important to our natural ecosystem due to their role as an essential species of pollinator. This project involved creating a probiotic treatment mixture made from lactic acid bacteria and a type of machine learning technology to help honeybees fight off a harmful gut parasite.

Varun Madan - OSC Ying Competition Finalist holding trophy

Atreya Manaswi, Orlando Science High School, Orange County

Hive beetles are an invasive pest and a danger to bees, a very important pollinator species. This project built on his previous research that suggested beer was extremely effective for attracting and trapping small hive beetles. He investigated the attractiveness of a volatile oil blend that was fabricated by isolating key odor compounds found in beer. Trapping small hive beetles can ensure protection and survival of beehives.

Atreya Manaswi - OSC Ying Competition Finalist holding trophy

Pilacek’s winning research supported using Pavlovian conditioning with bees so they would follow specific scents to plants that aren’t their usual food sources. The next step in her research will be to test it in the field, using these scents to attract bees to endangered plant species, which would encourage pollination and combat habitat fragmentation. Previous winners of the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition have gone on to continue their research at top universities, compete in national science competitions and ultimately pursue exciting STEM careers, including positions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Ying is a longtime supporter of Orlando Science Center. After sponsoring numerous exhibits and serving on the Science Center’s board of trustees, he decided to invest in the long-term impact of our mission to inspire science learning for life. In 1999, he and volunteer Fred Curtis launched the Dr. Ying Science Competition with Orlando Science Center to celebrate and inspire exemplary science students to use their expertise to address real-world problems. Ying’s son, Nelson Jr., now oversees the competition with Curtis in collaboration with Orlando Science Center. They continue to engage and mentor young people to leverage their passion for science to make the world a better place.

STEM Starts Here: Orlando Science Center Preschool

Learn and grow with Orlando Science Center STEM Preschool! 

STEM starts here at Orlando Science Center! A few spots remain for three-year-olds in Orlando’s oldest and most prestigious STEM preschool. Act now so you don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity for your early learner. Since 2009, Orlando Science Center’s trained preschool educators have nurtured young children while building critical 21st-century skills in a fun and safe environment.

Students benefit from a learning space that includes hands-on activities, plus the content-rich STEM experiences available only at Orlando Science Center. Every facet is explored as a learning opportunity. Storytime can use the “Three Billy Goats Gruff” as a basis to explore bridge building or arts and crafts to encourage students to invent a solution for a problem in their lives.

Introducing STEM concepts within the preschool learning environment reduces the barriers of entry found later in the life. Students are excited, rather than intimidated, by these subjects and their confidence with STEM concepts stays with them as they progress to kindergarten and beyond. Orlando Science Center has also created professional development for preschool educators so they can bring hands-on STEM learning into their own classrooms.

a preschool childand teacher  excited about the success of a science experiment

Over the past decade, Orlando Science Center’s preschool has graduated hundreds of confident, inquisitive learners. Our team has created a learning environment unmatched by any other preschool in the region. Teachers ignite the curiosity of their students and present challenge-based activities created to nurture skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. 

Orlando Science Center’s STEM preschool fills to capacity quickly so don’t delay. Enroll your child now to provide them with a learning environment unmatched by any other preschool. Three-year-olds enrolled for this Fall will be guaranteed a spot in our VPK program when they turn four. Contact Reservations at 407-514-2112 or classes@osc.org for more information or to arrange a tour of the Preschool.

Licensed by the Department of Children and Families – Childcare Center  C09OR0729

Voluntary PreKindergarten Provider (VPK) – Early Learning Coalition of Orange County

Open to any child and family regardless of race, ethnicity, faith or creed


 

a preschool boy finger painting

Who is TIME’s First Kid of the Year? Get to Know Gitanjali Rao

Who is TIME's First Kid of the Year? Find out in this inspiring interview! 

Who says you have to be an adult to be a scientist? Definitely not this 15-year-old who is taking the world by storm! Orlando Science Center got the chance to chat with Gitanjali Rao.

Gitanjali Rao is a 15-year-old Indian American inventor, author, scientist, S.T.E.M. promoter, and engineer. She is working to solve some of the world’s messiest problems by inventing solutions - like a device that detects lead in drinking water, an app to help prevent cyberbullying, and more!

You've probably heard of TIME's Person of the Year, but for the first time ever, a kid was also chosen. Who is TIME's first Kid of the year? You guessed it, Gitanjali Rao! She was TIME Magazine’s first Kid of the Year, as pictured on the cover of the magazine. She was interviewed by Angelina Jolie and was chosen from more than 5,000 US nominees for the prestigious title of TIME’s Kid of the Year. "If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it," she said.

While she is working to shape and save the future of our world, she has also written a new book entitled A Young Innovators Guide to S.T.E.M. Grab a copy and share it with your favorite aspiring scientist to help unlock their innovator within.

The Orlando Science Center had the pleasure of discussing some topics with Gitanjali. During our conversation, she explains that no matter your age or where you live, anyone can be a S.T.E.M. professional if they are passionate enough. We also had Gitanjali help us celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, by telling us what heritage means to her.

...heritage is a unique and inherited sense of one's identity, passed down from generations. This is what makes us who we are.

Gitanjali Rao

Gitanjali also highlights “values, traditions, culture, art, and cooking styles” which help us stay in touch with our heritage. She ends by telling us that she is proud of who she is, and her heritage. She believes everyone should be, too, because that is what makes us... us

Thanks Gitanjali Rao for helping OSC inspire science learning for life, no matter who we are, where we come from, and no matter our age. And a huge thanks for helping us celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. How will you be celebrating this heritage month? Try taking some time to find out what you can do for the community.

High School Students’ COVID-19 Projects Take Top Prizes at Ying Science Competition!

Pandemic Inspires High School Students COVID-19 projects to Develop Better Face Coverings and Filtration Systems!

Since 1999, Dr. Nelson Ying — local scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist — has partnered with Orlando Science Center to celebrate outstanding science students through his sponsorship of the Ying Student Science Competition. Among the four finalists this year, two projects inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic so impressed the judges that both students— Annika Vaidyanathan and Ishika Nag — were named Grand Prize Winners during a virtual ceremony this past weekend.

The awards were presented by Ying’s son, Nelson Ying, Jr. and Fred Curtis, co-founder of the competition and longtime Orlando Science Center volunteer and donor. Annika Vaidyanathan and Ishika Nag receive a $5,000 scholarship, a $1,000 award for their science teacher or mentor, and an additional $1,000 for their school. The remaining finalists also received cash prizes to help fund their continued research. To compete in the Dr. Ying Science Competition, each entrant must be a Central Florida high school student and pursue a research project that has the ultimate goal of benefiting humanity. Finalists presented their findings during video meetings with a judges’ panel of educators, engineers and scientists. This is the second year that the competition has been held virtually instead of in person due to the pandemic.

 

COVID-19 influenced both high school students Annika Vaidyanathan and Ishika Nag's winning projects.

Annika, a junior at Winter Springs High School, wanted to increase the effectiveness of face masks to help slow the spread of the virus. She developed and tested a coating that would cause COVID-19 virus-sized nanoparticles to bead and roll right off a face mask, creating greater protection for the wearer. She also looked at ways to manufacture this coating safely and cost-effectively. 

Annika Vaidyanathan - One of the Central Florida Teens Change the World

 

Meanwhile, Ishika, a sophomore at Oviedo High School, was focused on improving the efficiency and affordability of air filtration devices, like both masks and HVAC filters, by coating them with nanoparticles. Ishika’s research showed that this coating improved a mask’s air pollution and virus filtration efficiency while ensuring its safety for human use. She was originally inspired to pursue this multi-year project after visiting a friend who had moved to New Delhi.

She saw firsthand how much her friend’s life had been impacted due to the change in air quality. The global pandemic then convinced this Central Florida teen to create a low-cost, high-quality filtration device that could protect people from both pollution and airborne viruses, not only locally but around the world.

Ishika Nag

 

The competition also awarded the remaining two finalists cash prizes to further their research. Nikhil Iyer, a junior at Edgewood Junior/Senior High School in Merritt Island, won $1,000 for his research on improving machine learning by modeling artificial neural networks after the human brain using virtual neurotransmitters.

NIKHIL IYER - One of the Central Florida Teens Change the World

 

Gustavo Toledo, a senior at Edgewood, won $500 for his research to improve the hydrodynamic efficiency of autonomous underwater vehicles by testing torpedo models with various golf ball-sized surface textures. Nikhil’s project could increase the efficiency of artificial intelligence while Gustavo’s project could enable underwater research vehicles to go further and collect more data over a longer period of time.

Gustavo Toledo

Dr. Nelson Ying is a longtime supporter of Orlando Science Center. After sponsoring numerous exhibits and serving on the Science Center’s board of trustees, he decided to invest the long term impact of our mission to inspire science learning for life. He and Curtis launched the Dr. Ying Science Competition in 1999 to encourage exemplary science students to use their knowledge and skills to address real-world problems.

Dr. Ying’s son, Nelson Jr., now oversees the competition with Ying and Curtis in collaboration with Orlando Science Center. They hope to inspire young people to become good role models and successful world-changers by leveraging their passion for science. Past winners of the Dr. Ying Science Competition have gone onto prestigious universities, such as MIT and Johns Hopkins, and fascinating STEM careers, including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.


 

Dr. Morgan Cable — Her Story From Science Fairs to Saturn

Dr. Morgan Cable credits her successful career to early exposure to science.

Dr. Morgan Cable, the first-ever grand prize winner of the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition in 1999, has camped atop Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, conducted research in the Atacama Desert in Chile, and has run multiple summer space camps in South Korea. Now, a Research Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, Morgan focuses on asking questions about possible life in space.

 

She has worked on multiple projects like the Cassini Mission, which explored the Saturn system for more than 10 years, and as a collaborator on an instrument that will go on NASA’s next mission to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Her life story is full of scientific discovery and adventure, which is why she was one of the speakers at Orlando Science Center’s 2018 Galaxy Gala.

 

D. Morgan Cable was exposed to science at the earliest of ages. Growing up on the Space Coast in Titusville, she recalls “that undoubtedly had an effect on my upbringing, I was able to see numerous rocket launches just from my window!” Her father, a chemist at Kennedy Space Center — and Morgan’s biggest inspiration — always encouraged her to ask questions, and in doing so opened her to a world of exploration. She also credits frequent visits to Orlando Science Center to sparking an interest in science. “I liked that I could play and have fun, but I was also learning something.”

 

As an 8th grade student, she entered the first Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition with the goal of helping humanity through scientific research. Young Morgan conducted a science project about whether or not she could grow a certain type of bacteria in a Martian environment. She was awarded the grand prize for her efforts.

 

Morgan heavily credits science competitions and organizations like Orlando Science Center for furthering her interest and passion in STEM learning. She recalls her ‘a-ha’ moment when realizing “wow, there are still so many
questions to be answered, and I could do this for a living!”

 

According to Morgan, exposing children to science at a young age is the most important thing parents, schools, and institutions can be doing.

 

“Science can be intimidating if you experience it later in life, if you’re shown it over and over again in a comfortable and fun setting, it becomes so much more approachable for all children. There is a really big mental hurdle in this field of thinking you’re not smart enough or not capable, but I’m here to tell you YES you are!” – Dr. Morgan Cable

 

Her message for anyone beginning to pursue a career in STEM is this: “No one knows your true potential except you. I have met scientists and engineers for NASA that used to be musicians and then one day decided they wanted to be a scientist and went for it. There is no right way to go about it. As long as you’re passionate about it – do it.”

Prestigious Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition Names 2020 Teen Finalists

Prestigious Science Competition Moves Judging Online for Teens to Present their Groundbreaking Research Projects 

Since 1999, Dr. Nelson Ying — a scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist — has partnered with Orlando Science Center to celebrate the exemplary research of visionary high school science students through an annual science competition in his name.

 

Every year during the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition, five students from across Central Florida are selected to present their groundbreaking scientific research to a prestigious Judges panel. One winner is selected to receive a cash scholarship as well as cash prizes for their teacher and their school.

 

This year, finalists were scheduled to present their research on Saturday, April 18 at Orlando Science Center with an awards ceremony planned for Sunday, April 19 at Dubsdread Country Club in nearby College Park. Unfortunately, Orlando Science Center has been closed to the public as a public health precaution since March 16. Instead of cancelling this event, Dr. Ying and Orlando Science Center decided to move the competition online.

 

Dr. Ying and Orlando Science Center didn’t want a global pandemic to stop this competition, which has been a tradition for over two decades. Finalists will now present to the judges via Zoom on Saturday and then attend a virtual awards ceremony on Sunday.

 

To compete in the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition, each entrant must perform a research project that has the ultimate goal of benefiting humanity. Projects are presented to a judges’ panel, consisting of retired engineers, scientists, educators, and Dr. Ying himself.

 

The finalists for the 2020 Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition are as follows:

  • Kyle Bramblett, Titusville High School, for trying to see if an artificial structure could have significant effects on oyster growth, increasing oyster spats, and improving water quality.
  • Nathan Foo, West Shore Junior/Senior High School, for testing to see if mechanically simulated kangaroo care is an efficient and feasible method for treating preterm babies.
  • Ian Henriques, Seminole High School, for devising a simple, adaptive model for controlling drones for service during natural disasters in a way that conserves fuel and avoids collisions.
  • Varsha Naga, Winter Springs High School, developing a technique to reduce the risk of infectious deaths in patients with central venous catheters.
  • Pranav Swaminathan, Spruce Creek High School, for designing a low cost and practical device for motorcycles that can be used to reduce emissions.

 

Please check back on Monday, April 20 when we share the winner of the competition. The winner will receive $5,000, $1,000 for their school and $1,000 for their teacher or mentor. Previous winners have gone on to continue their research at top universities, such as MIT and Johns Hopkins and even work for NASA.

Renewable Energy Workshops — OUC Project A.W.E.S.O.M.E Lessons For Your Virtual Classroom

Project AWESOME is a collaboration between Orlando Science Center and OUC that has impacted over 100,000 students in Orange and Osceola counties over the past decade through renewable energy workshops.

 

These renewable energy workshops are typically delivered directly to the classroom, but since schools are currently closed due to precautions around COVID-19, this effort has shifted online. There will be 7 lessons available in the form of a voiced over PowerPoint. Each lesson will include science content, discussion questions, an activity for students to complete, and a reflection.

In 2009, Orlando Science Center created a STEM-based program on water conservation and alternative energy partnership with OUC - The Reliable One which has reached every 5th grader in OUC's service area. These hands-on renewable energy workshops stimulate STEM skills like critical thinking, communication and collaboration through projects that address real-world issues around water conservation and alternative energy.

 

Project AWESOME stands for Alternative Water and Energy Supply; Observation, Methods and Education. It brings science to life for thousands of students every year through inquiry-based instruction focused on renewable energies and water conservation. Students are immersed in real-world environmental problems that enhance their abilities to think creatively about sustainable solutions for today’s challenges. Additionally, the OUC Project A.W.E.S.O.M.E. includes curriculum content that reinforces concepts taught in-class and helps prepare students for Florida Standardized Assessment testing.

 

If you are not an educator or are looking for more at-home learning resources, view our resources page here.

Orlando Science Center Brought STEM Learning to the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba

Orlando Science Center was recently invited to bring hands-on STEM learning to the thousands of men, woman, and children living on the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Our mission is to inspire science learning for life and our team is dedicated to creating iconic experiences that spark curiosity and wonder for curious minds of all ages.

 

Our organization’s Education Outreach Team is providing hands-on learning within and beyond our organization’s walls throughout the year, often traveling throughout the state to facilitate programs at schools and community centers. However, this instance is the first time the team has left the country to provide educational programs.

 

Orlando Science Center hosted activities for students and families for several days, from June 7-10, including workshops at the base’s school, several family events and one evening exclusively for adults. Activities included a variety of hands-on activities, including engineering challenges, drone demonstrations, telescope viewing, and a mobile planetarium show. Families stationed at Guantanamo Bay are not allowed to leave the base so Orlando Science Center’s team provided welcome entertainment in addition to essential STEM learning.

 

Outreach is an important part of our organization’s mission because not everyone has access to a science center in their community. As we do our part to help fill the pipeline for future STEM workers, it is important to reach as broad an audience as possible. Young people engaged by hands-on STEM experiences help build important skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and collaboration as well as learn about pathways to exciting careers.

 

By bringing a little of Orlando Science Center to those who wouldn’t experience it otherwise, our team has helped unlock a universe of possibilities. You never know who you might inspire during a live science show or by teaching someone how to program a robot to accomplish a task. Such experiences can ignite a passion for knowledge that can fuel a lifetime of discovery.

 

If you'd like to view the photo album from our trip, please click on the photo below: 

 

Orlando Science Center Brings Activities to Guantanamo Bay