STEM Day at UCF

On Friday, April 8, more than one thousand students from the Central Florida area spilled on to UCF campus for STEM day. STEM day is a bi-annual outreach event for K-12 students interested in learning more about the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The day featured a wide variety of activities focused on STEM disciplines, while showcasing UCF faculty, students and programs.

Students from 19 different schools participated this spring, mostly from Volusia, Orange, and Seminole Counties, as well as a handful of home-schooled students. At least 7 of the schools were Title I schools.

Coordinated by the Center for Initiatives in STEM (iSTEM), many colleges and departments across the university were involved in the planning of the day and contributed to its success.

The event provided students with an opportunity to explore the exciting disciplines through more than 60 hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and exhibits designed and led by UCF’s faculty and students.

Some of the more popular events included SEDS Bottle Rocket Launching, Tabletop Hovercrafts with the American Institute Aeronautics and Astronautics, an Optics Demonstrations with CREOL, Turtle CSI: Solving the Mystery of Sea Turtle with UCF Biology, Rivers and Channels: Know the Flow! with the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and research and more.

The following UCF College of Sciences departments participated in STEM Day:

• Arboretum
• Anthropology Department
• Chemistry Department
• Mathematics Department
• Nicholson School of Communication
• Physics Department
• Political Science Department
• Psychology Department
• Sociology Department
• National Center for Forensic Science

Click here for a link to our full list of presenters, sponsors and supporters.  

The American Chemical Society at UCF, Forensic Student Association, UCF Marine Turtle Research Group, American Society for Microbiology and the Women of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (WEECS) club are just a few of the campus organizations that participated this year.

Other UCF departments, along with NASA and Lockheed Martin representatives were also in attendance.

Renee Sackett, the K-12 coordinator for UCF STEM stated how “…there were so many different student organizations participating this year. These students are incredible and have a passion for STEM and love sharing that passion with younger students – it’s a great thing to see!”