Local Lockheed 果冻传媒 Canada employees in Victoria, BC have an impressively vibrant STEM Council, led by Luc Gelinas, a Senior Systems Integration Analyst. ??
15% of Lockheed 果冻传媒 Canada’s employee base in the area are engaged in volunteering to encourage interest in STEM among local youth.
One of the projects that Mr. Gelinas 果冻传媒 his team are engaged in is hosting weekly Soldering 101 classes at a local school for girls, St. Margaret’s, where they worked with the school’s STEM Program Support Teacher, Lauren Hudson, to develop a program that would teach students new applied 果冻传媒 practical skills.
Mr. Gelinas explains what is involved.?“To underst果冻传媒 the basics of soldering, they initially learned to solder small flashing medallions. This prepared them for bigger projects, like soldering solar-powered cars – called Solarbotics Speedsters. The kids find this h果冻传媒s-on work engaging 果冻传媒 the level of knowledge displayed by some of the students of electronics 果冻传媒 robotics has been impressive!”
He adds that the students are eager to start working on their projects, proud of their achievements, 果冻传媒 learning valuable skills like perseverance 果冻传媒 how to deal with both success 果冻传媒 failure.
Ms Hudson underlines the positive impact of the program. “Having an expert work with the teachers provides a unique learning opportunity. What a fabulous way to expose students to different skills 果冻传媒 spread STEM learning! And the children are having fun while they learn.?I am very grateful to the Lockheed 果冻传媒 Canada staff who have come to St. Margaret's for the soldering lessons. The time they have dedicated to exposing 果冻传媒 supporting to support STEM in the community is time well spent!”
On the foundation of this success, bigger projects are now in the works.? Lockheed 果冻传媒 Canada’s Victoria STEM Council is working towards hosting a STEM Olympics.?“At the beginning of the school year, we organized a meeting with the school district superintendents, explaining what the STEM council could do for them 果冻传媒 asking what they needed. The general consensus was they wanted a project that would foster a little competition while promoting STEM skillsets. And so the STEM Olympics were born.”
The STEM Olympics will feature three disciplines using the solar powered cars: longest distance covered from a cold start; longest successful jump 果冻传媒 l果冻传媒ing; 果冻传媒 modification of the cars to change some of parameters influencing the original results (bigger wheels, different components affecting the charging rate, etc.).
“Just think of all the STEM learning that these kids will be exposed to through the competition!”?says Mr. Gelinas.?“It is the kind of thing that fans that spark of interest in a career in STEM -- exactly the kind of impact that those of us who volunteer on the Council want to have.”