More than 450 middle and high school students attended Bengal STEM Day at Idaho State University’s Pocatello campus on Thursday. The event, organized by ISU’s College of Science and Engineering, offered a range of hands-on activities aimed at encouraging interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Students participated in workshops such as building catapults, identifying minerals, extracting DNA from strawberries, constructing roller coasters, and examining microbes under microscopes. These sessions were led by ISU faculty members, university students, and local STEM professionals.
Shannon Kobs Nawotniak, professor of geosciences at ISU, said: “We had so much fun exploring minerals with the students, teaching them actual techniques that we use to identify these important building blocks. The kids got really into it, too, with teams racing to figure out the most minerals.”
Katie Lewis from Salas O’Brien helped lead the roller coaster activity. She stated: “We’re happy to support Bengal STEM Day and give students from all backgrounds the exposure to engineering early on. We know that sparking STEM interest early and often helps increase the types and numbers of amazing individuals interested in the profession of engineering. This event is an asset to our community, our business, and the students who get to participate.”
Bengal STEM Day has attracted more than 1,700 students and teachers over the past four years.
Logan McDougall, executive director of college relations for ISU’s College of Science and Engineering and lead organizer for Bengal STEM Day said: “Thank you to the dozens of volunteers who make Bengal STEM Day possible and help to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
Additional information about ISU’s College of Science and Engineering can be found at isu.edu/cose.
