The Portland Public Schools, in partnership with EnviroLogix, held
its first STEM Exposition on Monday, Nov. 10, at Portland’s Ocean
Gateway Terminal, which was filled with crowds watching students
demonstrate their knowledge in STEM: science, technology, engineering
and math.
The exhibitions included one in which students used a
3D printer to print such plastic objects such as a toy frog and
miniature race car and others in which they demonstrated engineering
concepts or explained how the solar system works.
“We want to
show all of you that the Portland Public Schools is leading the way in
STEM education,” said Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel
Caulk, as he and John Markin, President and CEO of EnviroLogix,
officially opened the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. exposition.
Markin said, “Just seeing the energy here in this room, shows that we made the right choice to join in this endeavor.”
EnviroLogix
is a Portland-based company that develops and manufactures innovative
detection technology for use in the worldwide food production chain.
Markin has said EnviroLogix considers the STEM Expo both as an
investment in the community and in potential future employees.
Caulk
has noted that the STEM Expo is the first time the Portland community
has come together to show how Portland Public School students, local
businesses, and post-secondary schools are innovating in the areas of
science, technology, engineering, and math. Those are the fastest
growing areas of the economy, he said, so students need STEM knowledge
to prepare them for 21st century jobs.
Students from
all of Portland’s public middle and high schools, the Portland Arts and
Technology High School (PATHS), and three elementary schools were among
exhibitors at the event. Nearly 1,000 other Portland Public School
students toured the exhibits during the course of the day.
One of
the most popular exhibits was the 3D printer display manned by PATHS
students Alex Girsh, Dylan Crovo and Tim Deng. Alex, from Portland High
School, Dylan, from Cape Elizabeth High School and Tim, of Deering High
School, were demonstrating how to print out such three-dimensional
plastic objects as small toys or pieces of equipment.
Markin said
of the 3-D exhibit, “For the kids to get exposed to that and get an
idea of what’s possible, I think is really cool.”
Deering High
School seniors Courtney Brett and Hannah Tuttle had an exhibit featuring
the crime detection skills they acquired in their Forensic Science
Class. While neither plans on being a criminologist – Courtney wants to
go into sports medicine and Hannah is considering nursing – they said
the knowledge of biology and anthropology they learned in the course
would be helpful in a range of careers.
East End Community School
fourth-graders Sincere Guess and Santana Richards displayed a
student-made model of the solar system and explained the workings of the
planets to visitors.
At a PATHS health science exhibit, senior
Shoshanna McCollom was showing off a bearded dragon lizard named Chubs.
Shoshanna has wanted to be a veterinarian since childhood so the Greely
High School student is studying to be veterinary assistant at PATHS.
Shoshanna said she hopes the STEM Expo helps “get the word out” that
such classes are offered at PATHS.
Standing next to her were two
PATHS classmates, Moya Johnson and Darriana Simard, both Portland High
School seniors taking pre-nursing at PATHS. Their exhibit featured jars
of Halloween but not for eating – their aim was make children aware of
how sugar affects the body. Moya said their nursing training now, which
includes actual clinical experience, “will give us a leg up” studying
nursing in college.
At a Portland High School engineering
exhibit, freshman Ezra Flint and senior Becky Scott were demonstrating
the engineering principles of compound machines. Becky said she wanted
to learn about engineering “before I get to college” to get more
experience in the male-dominated field and help her hone in on a career.
Ezra plans to study aerospace engineering in college but said
engineering is important to any student because “it teaches the
principles behind why everything works.”
Their classmate, Charles
Winkelman, said he hoped that the STEM Expo “makes students more aware
of STEM, because I think it’s a very important thing to be taught in
schools.”
Two PATHS exhibits were outside the building. Angelo
Magno, a Portland High School senior, and Jake Wall, a senior whose
sending school is Windham High School, were demonstrating their
blacksmithing skills using a forge. Blacksmithing is part of the welding
and metal fabrication course PATHS offers, Angelo said.
Both are
planning on careers in welding, but Jake wants to take his skills
underwater, combining his interest in commercial diving and welding to
work on ships below the waterline.
Nearby was a Ford Mustang and
two PATHS automotive technology students, Kyle Kramlich of Greely High
School, and Jared Sullivan, of Gray-New Gloucester High School, ready to
explain the intricacies of a hydraulic braking system to visitors. With
modern computerized cars, gone are the days of do-it-yourself driveway
car mechanics the two seniors said. Jared said, “Math, science and
technology – all of them are necessary” to repair today’s cars.
East End Community School fourth-grader Sincere Guess (left)
uses a model to explain how the solar system works. Americorps
member Bryn Gallagher (center) and fourth-grader Santana Richards look on.
PATHS students Dylan Crovo (left) and Tim Deng demonstrate
three-dimensional printing at PPS' first STEM Expo.
Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk and
EnviroLogix CEO and President John Markin open the first STEM Expo.
(From left to right) PATHS student Shoshanna McCollom; science teacher Amber Richard;
and PATHS students Moya Johnson and Darriana Simard talk about human and aninal health
at an exhibit at the STEM Expo.
PATHS students Angelo Magno (left) and Jake Wall
demonstrate blacksmithing at the PPS STEM Expo.
(From left to right) East End Community School teacher Karen Fream
and fourth-graders Sincere Guess and Santana Richards pose with
Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk at the STEM
Expo after the students explained the workings of the solar system, using their model.