POWERGRAMS

21 Exploreum's science roadshow set to STEM student deficiencies By Erin Harney This spring, the Gulf Coast Exploreum's "Science Squad" will bring hands-on science and math training to students in Mobile and Baldwin County through a new program called Science to Go. Science Squad educators riding a van purchased by the Alabama Power Foundation will visit schools, libraries, community centers and museums for demonstrations and activities that illustrate real-life examples of scientific and math theory and practice. This year, the Exploreum anticipates serving more than 5,000 children from kindergarten through 12th grade. "The Exploreum is a vital part of the Mobile community, not only for what it offers visitors to our city, but also for the science, technology, engineering and math education and outreach programs that are available to schoolchildren," said Mobile Division Vice President Mike Saxon. "We are especially excited about Alabama Power's partnership with the Science to Go program. It allows the Exploreum to take the STEM program on the road, reaching many schools that might not have the opportunity to take their students to the Exploreum." Students will have the opportunity to learn about and use a Van de Graaff generator (that vividly illustrates an electric charge), a 3-D printer, fog machine, small robots, audiovisual equipment and laptop computers. Science to Go was developed by the Exploreum in response to concerns from employers that high school graduates do not possess the skills to operate high-tech equipment or have enough math and science knowledge to fulfill job duties. The Exploreum has sought corporate partners, such as AM/NS Calvert, BASF, Evonik, Airbus and VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering to learn about their workforce interests to help develop and tailor STEM programs. The National Assessment of Education Progress found that in 2014, Alabama eighth- graders ranked 50th in the nation in math and 46th in science, and about 75 percent of eighth- graders were not proficient in science and math. "Research has shown that students learn beer in an interactive and hands-on manner, where lessons are presented in a real-life context," said Jan McKay, Exploreum executive director. "The Exploreum's brand of interactive and exciting science projects helps to ignite the curiosity of children of all ages and interest them in the world around them. It prompts them to discover on their own and even consider careers in these areas. This Science to Go van is something we wanted for a long time. We are very grateful to Alabama Power that our programming now has a new set of wheels." The Exploreum is in the heart of downtown Mobile, and features more than 150 fun, hands-on educational exhibits, including My BodyWorks, the Wharf of Wonder and Hands on Hall. The Exploreum is the only science technology center that serves south Alabama, south Mississippi and northwest Florida. "The Exploreum's Science to Go program is a creative approach to introducing students to STEM concepts," said Myla Calhoun, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. "We were thrilled to offer our support to this project that will impact thousands of students in the Mobile area year aer year."

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