Exploring STEM in Rocky Point

From Rocky Point School District: Concepts and topics routed in STEM education were on full display this fall during Rocky Point School District’s first STEM Exposition.

The event showcased STEM opportunities at the university level and in the workforce. Middle and high school students had opportunities to interact with scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians, and to discuss career information related to STEM fields.

During the evening, several keynote speakers delivered STEM-focused presentations, including Dr. Abhay Deshpande from Brookhaven National Laboratory and his daughter and Rocky Point Class of 2017 graduate Pooja Deshpande, Marc Alessi from the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, Mark Walker from the Sartorius Corporation, and Dr. Michael Caplan, Suffolk County chief medical examiner. Representatives from Stony Brook University, Applied DNA Science, Adelphi University, the Long Island Science Center, and numerous other STEM organizations also attended.

The STEM Exposition also showcased Rocky Point students’ STEM accomplishments as Rocky Point Middle School and High School robotics teams attended the event.

During the event, students also participated in STEM challenges. Attendees designed and constructed straw towers, marshmallow catapults, “lunar landers,” and Popsicle stick bridges. Attendees also engaged in the engineering design process multiple times, revising their designs to continuously improve them.

Rocky Point will look to build on the enthusiasm generated from the STEM Exposition, continuing to seek opportunities to promote STEM and to share college and career information related to STEM careers.

Photo courtesy of the Rocky Point School District: Rocky Point School District students and staff members were eager to participate in this year’s STEM Exposition.