NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Representatives of Cal Poly Pomona wowed hundreds of students as they displayed their student-built rocket during the STEM education event Dec.13 at Discovery STEM Academy in Lancaster. › View Larger Image

AERO Institute education specialist Shaun Smith demonstrated infrared imagery with students able to view their infrared "signature" on a video monitor. › View Larger Image About 900 kindergarten through eighth-grade students who attended the Discovery STEM Academy in Lancaster, Calif., were immersed first-hand in the Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines Dec. 13, courtesy of several academic and professional institutions.

The Advancing Careers in Engineering Committee of California Polytechnic State University in Pomona, the Society of Hispanics in Science and Engineering and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's Office of Education provided STEM-related hands-on demonstrations and career information to students, their parents and teachers during the event.

NASA Dryden Aerospace Education Specialist Alexis Harry of Penn State University provided an overview of NASA Careers, the space shuttle and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to groups of students during the event.

AERO Institute education specialist Shaun Smith demonstrated how the SOFIA observatory captures infrared imagery of the heavens by use of an infrared camera, with students able to view their infrared "signature" on a video monitor.

Discovery Academy students eagerly grabbed a wealth of NASA educational and promotional materials during the science, technology, engineering and mathematics event. › View Larger Image NASA Dryden flight safety systems engineer Maria Caballero and aerospace technician Oscar Murrillo spoke about their personal engineering careers and provided a hands-on activity on motion and thrust and assisted students in building their own balsa wood gliders.

NASA Dryden education program specialist Cecilia Cordova led an exercise to show that some kind of lever or thrust (action) is required to initiate movement (reaction).

Cal Poly Pomona representatives set up rooms where they discussed careers such as electrical engineering and then showcased exhibits that reflected that type of work, along with demonstrations of robotics and other technical activities. They also demonstrated a student-built model rocket to hundreds of students gathered in the school's courtyard.

Alan Brown, public affairs
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center