Eighth
graders in the Barberton City School District will be making super bouncing
balls and exploring mystery powders and poly putty as part of a science,
technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, program at Highland and UL
Light middle schools. Family Polymer Science Night will be held on Wednesday,
Nov. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Barberton High School.
Students in the program will culminate their month-long science study by
showcasing their projects and experiments in polymer science and polymer
engineering at the event. Families will participate at the interactive stations
and meet with career representatives from area polymer companies. Attendees
also will receive refreshments, door prizes and take-home bags. The University
of Akron brought this STEM education and career pathway to the district as part
of UA's partnership with Barberton city leadership to leverage education to
drive economic development.
Including families
"Families need to be drawn into their child's learning," says Dr. Katharine
Owens, associate director of operations at UA's Akron Global Polymer Academy
(AGPA). "Bridging the school to the home through educational outreach programs
such as Polymer Science Night helps inspire young people to develop a love of
science and learning and engages family members in the process."
This STEM initiative was made possible by a grant, supported by Congresswoman
Betty Sutton, from the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the STEM
curriculum is to link regional school districts to industry to promote career
pathways in science. UA's APGA designed this STEM program and administers it in
collaboration with middle school educators and with help from UA's
undergraduate College of Education students who are preparing to become
middle-school teachers.
"Our goal is to increase the pool of potential scientists and engineers
from the middle-school population to enter these higher education disciplines
and ultimately, the local professional science community," says Dr. Carin
Helfer, assistant director of science education outreach at AGPA.
The Akron Global Polymer Academy is the educational outreach arm for The
University of Akron College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. AGPA
creates and disseminates knowledge about polymer science, polymer engineering
and STEM education through face-to-face teacher workshops, tours and
distributive education ventures.