Village Students Showcase Winning STEAM Projects at Annual Pumps & Pipes Symposium

HOUSTON, TX -- Students from The Village School recently participated in the annual Pumps & Pipes conference, an innovative collaboration among Houston's energy, medicine and aerospace industries. Fifteen middle school students spent December 5 at ExxonMobil’s Houston campus presenting to and speaking with STEAM visionaries and local business leaders. Through partnerships with organizations like Pumps & Pipes, as well as in-school challenges, an annual visit to MIT, and specialized training for STEAM teachers, Village’s approach to STEAM education gives its students the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century.

In addition to networking with engineers and scientists and participating in interactive exhibits, including the ExxonMobile 3D cave, the students showcased their nationally recognized science projects, including:

• ExploraVision
  • The award-winning project focused on an anti-paralysis procedure. The students used blood cells from a crayfish and merge it with stem cells from a patient’s spinal cord. Eventually, the students predict that the new substance can be injected into the cartilage disc and eventually the damage to the spinal cord will be healed.
  • Middle School won 2nd place in the National round
  • ExploraVision challenges students envision and communicate new technology 20 years in the future through collaborative brainstorming and research of current science and technology
• Energy City of the Future 2050
  • Students created a 2050 version of Houston. The students used all recyclable material to showcase what Houston will be and how it will run on alternative energy (ie. Wind, solar and water).
  • High School won 1st place regionally
  • Sponsored by Consumer Energy Alliance and Consumer Energy Education Foundation of Houston.

“We are not only proud of their achievements in science, but commend our students for their professionalism and enthusiasm at this year’s Pipes & Pumps Symposium,” said Mila Taylor, Head of the Physics Department and MIT North American Lead for The Village School. “At Village, we take a hands-on approach to problem solving and our STEAM curriculum. By taking our students outside of the classroom they can learn how to interact with those in all stages of life. They are also exposed to new scientific concepts that may only be explored in the workplace and outside the classroom.”

Participation in events like Pumps and Pipes compliments Village’s science, technology, engineering, arts and math curriculum and widely-recognized STEAM program. In 2016, 67 percent of Village’s seniors applied a to university with a STEM or STEAM program. Village recognizes that successful STEAM programs require teachers and administrators that are willing to change their traditional approach to teaching and learning. Village encourage classroom participation with students debating answers, collaborating on ways to address real-world problems and facing failure as a step in the discovery process for a solution.