SRNS ‘STEM That Travels’ Brings Unique Offerings to K-12 Students
Monday, April 1st, 2024
Formerly known as “Traveling Science,” “STEM That Travels” introduces expert scientists and engineers from the Savannah River Site (SRS) to lead lessons in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in local classrooms. For four decades, SRNS Education Outreach and RPSEC have partnered to infuse a love for STEM in students’ minds through hands-on demonstrations and initiatives.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Engineering Volunteer Blythe Ferguson, right, uses Ruth Patrick Science Education Center’s “Zoom into Engineering” science kit during the “STEM That Travels” event at Millbrook Elementary.
“The STEM demonstrations spark students’ interest in the Department of Energy’s mission-critical skills and careers,” said Cindy Hewitt, SRNS Education Outreach Specialist. “We aim to inspire students to follow career paths in STEM that will support a capable workforce in the future.”
An ongoing Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) partnership with the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) Ruth Patrick Science Education Center (RPSEC) brings the “STEM That Travels” program to K-12 students in the Central Savannah River Area.
SRS volunteers conduct demonstrations and experiments for teachers and students using science kits provided by RPSEC.
Kim Mitchell, SRNS Education Outreach Program Lead, believes the partnership goes beyond the traditional classroom experience and helps students discover their unique interests. “This partnership enhances teachers’ abilities to provide hands-on math and science lessons with equipment and kits not always available to most schools,” said Mitchell. “Students have the opportunity to truly experience what it would be like to work in that field from real-world engineers or scientists.”
SRNS recently donated $10,000 to the Aiken Partnership Board to support USC Aiken – $2,500 of which will be used to repurpose and upgrade the science and math kits housed at RPSEC. SRS volunteers can check-out themed kits for STEM demonstrations at various schools.
“Our volunteers constantly utilize RPSEC’s circuit boards, ‘Newton's Toy Box’ and ‘Zoom Into Engineering’ kits to bring different experiences to local students,” continued Hewitt. “By providing the funding needed to repurpose the science kits, we will be able to impact more students in the future.”
SRNS “Stem That Travels” is an ongoing initiative that reaches eight school districts — six in South Carolina and two in Georgia. For more information on this program, click here.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.
