Northwest Iowa — In normal years, the Northwest Iowa STEM Festival would be bringing together enthusiastic students from around the area to get some hands-on experience with area scientists, technicians and teachers. But, COVID. However, that doesn’t mean the STEM Fest is just canceled. Those in charge tell us it is just being done differently this year.
Students in grades 6-8 in the NW STEM Region are invited to participate in the Nontraditional STEM Careers NW STEM Festival beginning on March 1, 2021 and ending on March 31, 2021. Parents and teachers can register their students here: http://bit.ly/NontraditionalFest. The deadline is coming up.
Those in charge tell us the goals of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) festivals are to promote, inspire and engage youth in STEM activities and introduce students and parents to STEM careers in Northwest Iowa. Additionally, our goal is to prevent gender from deterring students from exploring careers they are interested in pursuing.
They say this festival is free and entirely available online. Presenters have supplied videos of themselves demonstrating a skill required in their careers and will present a STEM challenge to students related to their jobs.
When they are registered, students will receive a STEM Challenge Kit with materials to complete challenges related to nontraditional careers.
Managed by Mary Trent, the Northwest STEM Region is one of six Iowa STEM Regions guided by the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and dedicated to building a strong STEM education foundation for all Iowans. For more information about this STEM Region or the Iowa STEM Network, contact Northwest Iowa STEM Hub at 712.362.8341 or go to www.iowalakes.edu/stem/.
