On April 9, George Mason University (GMU) and the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PERC) will be hosting four STEM competitions for 1,000 students.
The competitions will take place at GMU’s Fairfax campus, and will host students from schools around the region.
“This particular event has been happening for the last three years, and it’s always hosted by George Mason University. It’s not your traditional competition…the key difference is these kids are actually tasked with making a real tangible difference in their community,” said Elizabeth Striano, an organizer for the event and graduate student.
The ‘Caring for Our Watersheds’ competition is for 6 to 8 graders and involves students presenting a project they completed to better their community.
“They’ve mobilized and organized a project, and implemented it…the top finalists are going to come [on Thursday] and make their presentations, and there will be awards given out for those projects,” said Striano.
Students will have two other opportunities to present their ecological and STEM projects at the event in the EcoTeams Projects competition and the Recycled Mascot competition.
“Children can come and display the projects that they’ve done that have helped to protect the environment,” commented Striano.
One of the most exciting components of the events is the KidWind Regional Wind Turbine construction challenge, a competition that is hosted nationally.
“This is a competition that happens throughout the United States…[its] part of a much larger national competition, where kids from all over the country go to their regional areas first and compete…they are competing to see who can build the best wind turbine, to see how much power output they can produce,” stated Striano.
According to Striano, GMU and PERC are hosting the competition as a way to foster interest in STEM careers in area students.
“George Mason has become somewhat of a leader in STEM education in the area…they’ve reached out in a variety of different ways to the regional community to ensure that kids have that skill set. And I think it’s just a natural extension of everything they’re trying to do,” said Striano.
Additionally, high schools will be present at the campus to tour the facilities and learn more about the university’s STEM program.
