Media Advisory: UB and National Grid offer hands-on STEM experiments to Westminster students

BUFFALO, N.Y. – What happens when you dip a rose in liquid nitrogen? What causes your hair to stand up? How do you turn a rug into an electronic keyboard?

Westminster Community Charter School students will learn the answers to those questions the fun way – by doing hands-on science experiments with scientists and engineers at the University at Buffalo.

Sponsored by National Grid, the field trips are designed to boost student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Thursday and Friday are the last days of a two-week effort by National Grid, Westminster and UB to bring dozens of K-8 students to campus for fun STEM activities.

Media are invited to come to UB to watch the action.

When: Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23 and 24. Students will arrive at UB at 9:45 a.m. and leave by 12:30 p.m.

Where: Davis Hall (building No. 37 on this map: http://www.buffalo.edu/buildings/maps/NorthCampus.pdf) on UB’s North Campus. For more information, contact Cory Nealon, Office of University Communications, at (716) 645-4614 or cmnealon@buffalo.edu.

Why: Studies have shown that the United States lags behind other countries in STEM education. UB and partners like National Grid are working to combat that pattern by hosting engineering camps, volunteering in public schools and implementing other initiatives.

National Grid’s sponsorship of this program is part of the company’s larger Engineering our Future initiative, which provides funding support to address STEM needs. Like many technical businesses, National Grid faces a potential shortage of engineers to help design and run tomorrow’s energy networks.

UB and National Grid are also working with Science is Elementary, a California-based nonprofit that promotes STEM education. Liesl Folks, dean of UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, serves on the board of advisors for Science is Elementary.