STEM for Everyone!
More than 3,600 people attended the 4th annual STEM Symposium, held at the Nysmith School for the Gifted in Herndon, Va. Among the dozens of exhibitors was the local, student-organized group, STEM 3G (Gives Gifted Girls). Run by Northern Virginia-area students Aria Gupta, Shaalini Desai and Ankitha Anumolu, the program fosters STEM education among girls through educational activities and team-building exercises. Here, a member of STEM 3G helps a young participant in a round of structure-building, using toothpicks and mini-marshmallows. The exercise engages problem-solving and design to create free-standing structures—just don’t eat the marshmallows!
Talk to “Sally Ride”
What STEM event would be complete without a visit from an astronaut? Or in this case, WashingtonExec reporter Ariel Robinson, who channeled the great space pioneer Sally Ride. The Los Angeles-born physicist became the first American woman to go to space, in 1983. But she wasn’t the first woman in space. That distinction belongs to former Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who flew into orbit as part of the Vostok 6 mission of June 16, 1963. Since Ride’s own historic mission, more than 40 women have flown to orbit as NASA astronauts. These include Sandy Magnus, who has spoken at STEM Symposium events in years past.
Prepare for Take-Off
How’s this for hands-on training? A young attendee at the annual STEM Symposium practiced his hand at the defense contractor Vencore’s flight simulator station—with a former Naval F18 Top Gun pilot along for the ride. Before becoming a director with Vencore’s Space Group, Eric Schierling (pictured), enjoyed a 13-year military career, cataloguing more than 2,000 hours, and nearly 400 carrier landings, during combat operations in Iraq and the former Yugoslavia. This year, Schierling was joined by colleague Mike Matthews, also a director at Vencore Space, who participated in a panel discussion of emerging STEM fields.
Go Ahead, Hack My Drone
New this year, Altamira Technologies sponsored a “Girls in STEM” wing at the annual STEM Symposium. Among the highlights was an interactive exhibit to engage attendees in a mock cyber-attack. The demonstration— “Hack My Drone”—showed participants that commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, aren’t as safe as many may think. In addition to its drone hacking demonstration, the McLean, Va.-based open source technology-company, included a showcase of women in technology. Among the female STEM pioneers highlighted was Katherine Johnson, an African-American physicist and mathematician whose life was portrayed in the recent film ‘Hidden Figures.’
Ben Franklin’s Kite
Huzzah! In June 1752, one of America’s Founding Fathers flew a kite during a thunderstorm—and the world was never the same. Ben Franklin impersonator Brian Mulligan retold that story—with a little kite assistance from two audience members—at the 4th annual STEM Symposium. As an inventor, Franklin was known for the lightning rod; as well as bifocals and the Franklin stove. His inventions didn’t stop there. Ever heard of a ladder chair? Franklin invented that, too. But Franklin wasn’t the only Founding Father at this year’s STEM event: The Washington Nationals’ Thomas Jefferson mascot also joined in the fun, engaging in a fun-spirited race on the school grounds.
Astronaut Lawrence DeLucas
Reaching for the stars! Astronaut Lawrence DeLucas speaks at the 4th annual STEM Symposium. Retracing his long educational life and career—his degrees span chemistry, physiological optics, optometry and biochemistry—DeLucas shared how it all culminated in two weeks in orbit on space shuttle Columbia in 1992. As part of the STS-50 mission, DeLucas also became the first optometrist in space. These days, DeLucas is a primary investigator on a NASA project exploring ways to grow crystals in space. The research’s look into why certain proteins form purer crystals under the influence of microgravity could lead to new life-saving drugs.
Virtual Reality Showcase
A young participant dons an HTC virtual reality headset at the 4th annual STEM Symposium. Sponsored by LGS Innovations, the virtual reality demonstration showcased the next evolution in computer-aided design capability. Current gesture-based and haptic devices, as well as head-mounted displays, allow users to more authentically feel the objects in displays. The technology is especially useful for military training, as well as in classroom settings, to allow simulations take on new life and immediacy.
The “Human Vise”
Thumbs up! You’re looking at the strongman they call the “Human Vise.” LGS engineer Pat Povilaitis also has an impressive side gig, wowing audiences with incredible feats of strength. At this year’s STEM Symposium, Povilaitis lived up to that reputation by ripping phone books in half, bending horseshoes and lifting a Ford engine—all with his bare hands. But it wasn’t just physical strength that Povilaitis imparted to his audience. Born with scoliosis of the spine, Povilaitis had to undergo surgery as a teenager. That message of perseverance—and tenacity—is what he left with this year’s attendees.
Rep. Barbara Comstock
Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA 10th District) didn’t let a busy schedule on Capitol Hill keep her from attending this year’s STEM Symposium. Just weeks before, Comstock had seen a bill she’d sponsored signed into law by President Trump: The ‘Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act’ authorizes NASA to encourage young women to study STEM fields and to pursue careers that will further advance America’s space missions. In addition, Comstock makes it a point to visit with Northern Virginia businesses each week that promote STEM efforts.
Rep. Gerry Connolly
As he has in years past, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11th District) also lent his support to this year’s STEM Symposium. Connolly took a step back in time, reminding attendees of the space race that once kicked off with the Soviet’s Sputnik launch in October 1957. While America ultimately won the race to the moon, new competitors are gaining ground on America’s technological edge, showcasing the urgency for STEM competitiveness among U.S. students, said Connolly. Here Connolly is joined by Nysmith School for the Gifted principal Ken Nysmith, who has opened up the school grounds for the past four years to host the annual STEM event.
MIT Rising Star
In the few short years since Aaditya Singh graduated from Nysmith School for the Gifted, he’s gone far—in fact, the sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has already completed every science and math course there is to take on the high school level. MIT is the next logical step. Joined on a panel discussion with Thomas Jefferson’s outgoing principal, Evan Glazer, Singh discussed the future of STEM education in America—and offered his take on how to stay relevant in the workplace amid increasing automation taking over jobs.
Labor of Love
If you’ve ever attended a STEM Symposium event, chances are you’ve seen Ed Swallow (pictured, left) work the room, with microphone in hand, as he fields audience questions. Beyond his day job as vice president of Vaeros, an Aerospace Corporation division, Swallow also serves as chair of the WashingtonExec STEM Council. In that role, Swallow lends his support to the yearly STEM gathering, ensuring all voices are heard. This year, Swallow facilitated dialogue during a panel discussion that included Michael L. Orr, director of the Systems Engineering Directorate at the National Reconnaissance Office; and Linda Braun, a vice president at LGS Innovations. One big takeaway: Cyber security will continue to be a hot field to track.
Kevin Kelly, President of LGS Innovations
As the lead sponsor of this year’s STEM Symposium, LGS Innovations was on-hand throughout the day-long gathering. Kevin Kelly, president of the U.S.-owned provider of mission-critical communications products and services, shared how a high school teacher first sparked his interest in pursuing a STEM profession; he also emphasized the importance of STEM for all career paths, from chefs to police officers to astronauts. LGS Innovations was joined by Altamira Technologies Corp., Vencore, Siemens and the Aerospace Corp., in sponsoring this year’s event.
NSA at STEM Symposium
The NSA was one of several federal agencies, alongside DHS and the National Reconnaissance Office, who lent their support to the annual STEM Symposium. The need for a STEM-proficient federal workforce couldn’t be greater: A recent report from the General Accounting Office notes that federal agencies face an ongoing shortage of IT and cyber professionals who can safeguard critical information systems from ever-increasing cyber threats and breaches. All of which makes the annual STEM Symposium event—and federal agencies’ support of fostering future generations of STEM-proficient students—so imperative.
