糖心原创出品

A team of research engineers from 糖心原创出品 (UAH) Research Institute travelled to Guam earlier this year with several colleagues to support a (MDA) STEM outreach initiative called 鈥淥peration STEM - Guam 2024.鈥� UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System, partnered with MDA, the armed forces and the Guam Department of Education to participate in almost two weeks of science, technology, engineering and math activities, providing hands-on demonstrations for over 2,500 K-12 students. The UAH team consisted of Hannah Edmonson, Myles Scarano, Dr. Matt Turner and Abigail Williamson.

鈥淲e have supported the MDA STEM Outreach Program for about a decade,鈥� Turner, a principle research engineer VI in the UAH Research Institute, says. 鈥淢DA decided to hold activities on Guam and asked us to help with planning and execution. It鈥檚 awesome to have the opportunity to teach students about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We have several STEM outreach and education programs that we鈥檝e taken across the country, and it鈥檚 always an honor to be even a small part of the students鈥� educational growth. But being able to do this 15 time-zones away 鈥� that鈥檚 a whole new level!鈥�

(L-R), representing the UAH Research Institute, Dr. Matt Turner, Myles Scarano, Abigail Williamson and and Hannah Edmonson.

Operation STEM-Guam 2024 participants included Guam Department of Education summer session students, JROTC cadets and child youth program attendees from Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam. The students had the opportunity to take part in indoor straw rocket activities, outdoor water rocket launches and a high-altitude balloon launch with a tracking system.

鈥淕uam is wonderful,鈥� Scarano, a principle researcher engineer II, points out. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tropical paradise, and the people are equally amazing. The island has been through a lot 鈥� they suffered a severe typhoon last summer and are still rebuilding. But the people鈥檚 attitudes are very gracious and welcoming, even with all the frustration from the damage.鈥�

鈥淥ur work there was so rewarding,鈥� Williamson, a research engineer I, adds. 鈥淭he light you see in a kid鈥檚 eyes when they figure out how to accurately shoot their straw rocket at the target across the room is not something you forget. We especially want to thank the volunteers and teammates for their endless efforts to make Operation STEM what it was. It鈥檚 an incredible feat to bring 37 schools together, and all of our volunteers had a hand in doing that.鈥�

The Department of Defense鈥檚 (DOD) STEM strategic plan works to support a diverse and sustainable STEM talent pool ready to serve the nation and extend the DOD鈥檚 competitive edge. Two particular goals of the initiative include increasing participation of underserved and underrepresented groups in STEM education and workforce development programs, activities and outreach, as well as attracting the nation鈥檚 and DOD鈥檚 current and future STEM workforce to educational and career opportunities that will increase the STEM population interested in careers related to fields like missile defense.

鈥淲e鈥檙e also very excited to continue working with the Guam Department of Education,鈥� Edmonson, a research engineer II, notes in looking to the future of outreach for the island. 鈥淭hey will have classes working with us in the fall, with more following in the spring semester. We will also be working with three education classes at the University of Guam.

鈥淭hey will be writing lesson plans for some of our STEM kits and mapping the kits to the Next Generation Science Standards. We think that will be an interesting partnership where we provide the technical experience, and they provide the pedagogy. We鈥檙e very excited about continuing to work with students on Guam.鈥�