First-Ever National STEM Festival Features 150 Student Inventions
From medical patents to mobile apps, 150 of the most 鈥榖rilliant young minds鈥� will present their projects that address solutions to key global issues.
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Growing up with a deaf cousin, Utah high schooler Alex Antonio Hernandez Juarez saw the difficulties she had accomplishing everyday tasks in school and other places that weren鈥檛 always willing to accommodate her needs.
Moved by his cousin鈥檚 plight, Juarez designed a tool to help the deaf community 鈥� a device that uses a camera to translate sign language into a written and spoken form.
Through the first-ever this Saturday, April 13, Juarez will be one of to present their inventions and research projects that address solutions to critical global issues.
The festival will showcase student innovators from numerous nationwide competitions, including EXPLR鈥檚 where more than 2,500 students in grades 6-12 conceived and submitted STEM projects across six categories: Environmental Stewardship, Future Foods, Health & Medicine, Powering the Planet, Tech for Good and Space Innovation.
鈥淎ll of these kids are so cool and have such incredible projects that it鈥檚 going to be bananas,鈥� Kari Byron, co-founder of and director of the festival, told 蜜桃影视.
Byron said the festival idea grew out of a conversation she had with the U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
Byron, who previously hosted the Obama administration鈥檚 , pitched a plan to design a larger version of the former event.
鈥淚 looked at him and said 鈥榃hat if we built it for you? What if we make it bigger and better than it has ever been before,鈥欌�� Byron said. 鈥淪o it’s not a continuation of the White House Science Fair 鈥� it鈥檚 a completely new festival that鈥檚 going to be so much bigger because we want a national conversation about STEM 365 days a year.鈥�
Jenny Buccos, co-founder and chief executive officer of EXPLR, said the festival is a great way for school leaders and decision makers to learn more about 鈥渨hat kids are interested in and what we might not be teaching in schools.鈥�
鈥淗ow are they learning to make patent pending medical devices? How are they learning about protecting their IP? Where is this happening, and if it鈥檚 not in the traditional classroom, how do we bridge that gap,鈥� Buccos told 蜜桃影视.
Students like Juarez, 17, are excited to have the platform to present projects centered around what they are passionate about.
鈥淭his opportunity is confirmation that people care about the hearing impaired and deaf鈥nd is a great way for me to continue to educate more people,鈥� Juarez told 蜜桃影视.
Buccos said the public has the opportunity to meet the students and see their inventions through more than 100 and events in Washington, DC.
鈥淚f you are in desperate need of inspiration and hope for the future, come to the events鈥his is the opportunity to meet some of the most brilliant young minds working in the country,鈥� Buccos said.
鈥淓verybody says kids are the future,鈥� said Buccos, 鈥渂ut these kids are literally solving problems now.鈥�
To check out the National STEM Festival this Saturday, the public must to secure their spot.
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