April 2023
Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) Battle of the Bridges
Battle of the Bridges (BoB) compete to build the most efficient bridge that can hold the most weight before breaking. The event’s mission is to provide participants (mostly students) with a hands-on activity in which that can apply techniques which demonstrate real-world statics, dynamics, and physics. The BoB is open to all ages, genders, and populations in the Quad City area of Iowa and Illinois.
May 2023
Girls in STEM PJ Party
The Girls in STEM PJ Party was created by Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Regents Resource Center to introduce young females to local STEM women and inspire them to pursue STEM careers themselves. Local women from STEM fields are featured as guest speakers and lead participants in hands-on activities and team building challenges that relate to their careers. This overnight summer camp is geared toward girls entering seventh through ninth grade.
Plant The Moon/Mars Challenge
The Institute of Competition Sciences launched this global, hands-on science experiment to see who can grow the best crops using lunar regolith simulants. Students (K-12) learn fundamental skills in conducting sound scientific experiments, learn about space mission architectures and gain hands-on experience in conducting real scientific research that may be valuable to NASA and the scientific community. The Plant the Moon/Mars Challenge connects space science and exploration with other STEM topic areas like agriculture, botany, environmental/earth science and biology.
September 2023
Iowa Afterschool Alliance STEM AmeriCorps
IAA STEM AmeriCorps programs provide students with opportunities to apply their STEM learning outside the school day and in real-world situations. IAA STEM AmeriCorps members work in host site locations all over Iowa to bring high-quality STEM programming to students that may not otherwise have access. Current program locations include Des Moines, Sioux City, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids. The programs happen year-round in afterschool and summer programs.