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“Space and Flight” is the theme of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension’s 5th annual Maryland STEM Festival. It was chosen in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon (July 19, 1969) and the 60th Anniversary of the Goddard Space Flight Center (March 1, 1959).
The free event takes place November 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the UMES Engineering & Aviation Science Complex. Participants can experience STEM activities and demonstrations such as: Robotics, 3-D Printing, Birds of Prey, Virtual Goggles, Feathers and Flight; a NASA Q&A and more. The Festival is intended for youth K-12, but all ages are welcome.
Varied topics also include animals, insects and other living things that fly, connecting the theme with the natural world and the many health and medical advances that have been made by research conducted in space.
The event typically attracts some 350 participants. Exhibitors from NASA/Wallops Island, UMES Academic and Research Departments (Technology, Aviation, Biology, Engineering, Agriculture and others), the Salisbury Zoo, Pocomoke/Assateague State Parks, 4-H, and many more local STEM organizations will be in attendance, offering hands-on activities, information and giveaways.
“Our hope by offering the MD STEM Festival is to spark a desire and curiosity in science, technology, engineering and applied math and to inspire youth toward possible STEM careers and workforce readiness” said Lisa Murphy, one of the event’s coordinators and a UMES 4-H STEM Educator in Worcester County.
