In Brief: September 14

Learning, fun on STEM in the Park agenda

STEM in the Park, a free, family day of hands-on fun at the University, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Perry Field House.

STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in the Park will feature interactive displays and activities created by community partners, local businesses and area universities to engage children of all ages in the STEM fields. Over 100 unique exhibitors will host hands-on STEM activity stations at the event that individuals and families can enjoy.  

This event allows participants to make ice cream, dabble in robotics, launch pop rockets, pet lizards, take home free STEM activities and much more. Everyone who attends the event will receive an event map, take-home materials and activity ideas, and a complimentary lunch catered by Tony Packo’s.  

A new addition to last year's event that will be back again in 2015 is an activity zone titled the "Science of Sports." At those activity stations, participants can explore how fast they can run, how high they can jump and how far they can throw a ball. In addition, visitors can have their golf and tennis swings analyzed at a station sponsored by Verizon.

A “Roots to STEM Pre K-2” zone is also back this year, which features activities that cater specifically to younger children. 

New for 2015 will be a broader focus on the arts, with new activities hosted by The Toledo Museum of Art. Two STEM stages will feature performances by musical groups and super-sized, eye-popping demonstrations hosted by Imagination Station and the Toledo Zoo.

Activity station hosts include BGSU’s Marine Lab and Herpetarium, Verizon, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Art Museum, Challenger Learning Center of Lake Erie West, Nature’s Nursery, Ohio Northern University Engineering and Wood County Hospital plus more than 80 other institutions and organizations. 

Last year’s event drew more than 3,800 people from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. 

STEM in the Park is the brainchild of Drs. Emilio and Lena Duran, both faculty members in the College of Education and Human Development. Inspired by Literacy in the Park, an on-campus spring event that brings families in for a variety of literacy-boosting activities, STEM in the Park seeks to increase public engagement in the STEM disciplines.  

According to Jenna Pollock, education program manager, “The Northwest Ohio Center for Excellence in STEM Education at BGSU (NWO) is committed to increasing attendance among low-income and at-risk children. For the third consecutive year we are able to provide transportation for families from several school districts in urban and low-income neighborhoods.” 

NWO organizes the free event on campus for the entire northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan community. NWO is a partnership among a number of area universities, K-12 schools and community partners who all come together at this event to showcase innovation and educational opportunities and promote positive attitudes toward STEM teaching and learning.  

STEM in the Park Presenting Sponsors for 2015 are BGSU, BP, First Solar, Lubrizol and Verizon. 

Community sponsors include Carolina Biological, Hanson Digital Agency, John Deere, Perrysburg Rotary Club, Spectra, Thayer and Walmart.

BG Community Foundation, Cooper Tires, K12, Kroger, SSOE and Tony Packos comprise the General Sponsor list.

Visit the Stem in the Park website for more information and to pre-register to attend the event. 

View a YouTube video.