Hundreds of elementary, middle and high school students will try hands-on STEM experiments and build their own creations at UC STEM Fest, a free community event in Crenshaw this Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to noon.
With interactive activities like building and wiring a toy car, flying a drone or creating chemical reactions, kids will learn through play while guided by volunteer professionals and college students from related fields.
Organized by UCLA, MESA, STEM Global Action and the University of California, UC STEM Fest helps students expand their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math to gain confidence in their abilities to succeed.
"We're trying to build the next generation of STEM scholars," said Simone Rahotep, senior director of UCLA strategic partnerships and community engagement. "Kids are naturally inquisitive and excited about how things work, and this is an opportunity to nurture that interest by showing them how fun STEM can be. These impactful experiences can be precursors to college majors and careers for people from all communities. When children meet professionals and possibly see someone like themselves in careers they didn't know about, it expands kids' ideas about what their own future can look like."
The event is free with registration. It is being held at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex, located at 5001 Obama Blvd., in Los Angeles.
Last year's event marked the first time STEM Global Action brought its popular STEM Fest to the West Coast. More than 300 children from local schools, nonprofits and faith-based organizations attended the event.
"You could see their faces filled with joy and interest," said Rahotep. "It's part of our responsibility as a public institution to engage the community, and we're eager to make STEM accessible by holding these events in under-resourced communities. These kids are going to run the world, and first, we have to invest in them.
The University of California, Office of the President Outreach and Educational Partnerships partnered with UCLA and MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) to bring STEM Global Action's event to California. UCOP Outreach and Educational Partnerships supports and helps UC sustain partnerships with K–20 public education segments, community-based organizations and the business sector. These UCOP OEP collaborations advance college preparation, access and degree completion for students from underserved backgrounds. The Southern California Society for Information Management is a contributing sponsor to UC STEM Fest. McDonald's, another sponsor, is providing gift cards for the first 500 student participants at the event.
