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Celebrate Science Indiana festival: A day of STEM fun for all ages

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 17:30 GMT by WISH-TV
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Hands‑On STEM Brings Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to Indianapolis’ Youth

The city of Indianapolis is buzzing with excitement as the “Hands‑On STEM” event rolled out across the city’s parks, libraries and community centers. Organized in partnership with the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), the Indiana State Museum, and a roster of local businesses, the week‑long program was designed to spark curiosity and ignite a lifelong passion for the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

At the core of the event is a simple but powerful premise: learning is most effective when it’s interactive, tangible, and tied to real‑world problems. The event opened on Wednesday, March 20th at the Indianapolis Cultural Trail with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony attended by city officials, school board members, and a packed crowd of students and parents. A short video montage highlighted last year’s successes, showcasing kids building robots, conducting chemical experiments, and using virtual‑reality headsets to explore the solar system.

A Calendar of Curiosity

The Hands‑On STEM event was not a single day, but a series of workshops and exhibits that ran over five consecutive days. Each day focused on a particular STEM theme, and the organizers purposely scheduled activities to suit varying age groups.

1. Day One – “Engineering the Future”
   Students of grades 3‑5 spent the morning building bridge models from popsicle sticks and measuring their load‑bearing capacity. The activity was guided by a volunteer engineer from the local firm Benson & Co. who explained how engineers use structural analysis to design safe buildings and bridges. The next session for middle schoolers involved a “mini‑bridge” design challenge using LEGO Technic pieces, where the goal was to create the longest bridge with the fewest bricks. Participants were judged on creativity, stability, and the application of engineering principles.

2. Day Two – “Coding for Creativity”
   Coding workshops kicked off with a hands‑on introduction to block‑based programming using Scratch. The interactive session taught students how to animate a character, solve puzzles, and share their projects online. Older students (grades 7‑8) moved on to introductory Python with a focus on data visualization. Local educators from the IPS Technology Department emphasized that “coding is the language of the future,” citing statistics that illustrate the increasing demand for tech‑savvy professionals.

3. Day Three – “The World of Chemistry”
   A partnership with the Indiana State Museum’s Science Center turned a gallery space into a chemistry lab. Visitors wore safety goggles as they mixed vinegar and baking soda to produce carbon dioxide, learned about chemical reactions, and experimented with color‑changing pH indicators. The day’s highlight was a “Build‑Your‑Own Slime” activity where students could choose from a range of textures—glow‑in‑the‑dark, glitter, or magnetic slime—while learning about polymers and cross‑linking.

4. Day Four – “Exploring the Universe”
   The event’s astronomy session was conducted outdoors under the Indianapolis sky. An astronomer from the Indiana Astrophysical Research Center guided participants through a telescope viewing, explaining constellations, planets, and the mechanics of celestial bodies. A hands‑on “build‑your‑own planet” activity allowed students to construct scaled models using foam balls and acrylic paints, giving them a tactile sense of scale and orbital mechanics.

5. Day Five – “Data in the Wild”
   The final day was devoted to data science and statistics. Students participated in a “Data Detective” game where they analyzed real‑world datasets about weather patterns, sports statistics, and city traffic. Using a free online data‑visualization tool called DataStudio, participants created charts and shared findings with the group. The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring local entrepreneurs who shared how data analytics drives business decisions.

Community Partners and Sponsorship

Hands‑On STEM would not have been possible without generous local sponsors. The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce provided funding and in‑kind support, while Benson & Co. and GreenTech Solutions supplied engineering kits and renewable‑energy tools. The Indiana State Museum offered its exhibition space and a cadre of volunteer scientists, and the Indianapolis Public Library served as a hub for after‑school STEM clubs. A dedicated grant from the Indiana Department of Education covered travel costs for students from underserved districts, ensuring a diverse group of participants.

Quotes from the event’s organizers emphasize that the event is part of a larger strategy to reduce the STEM skill gap. “We’re not just offering a one‑off workshop; we’re building a pipeline of students who will go on to pursue STEM careers,” said Dr. Maya Ramirez, the program director at the Indiana State Museum. “The hands‑on approach helps students understand the relevance of math and science in everyday life.”

Outcomes and Looking Forward

The event’s success was measured through both quantitative and qualitative metrics. Attendance figures showed a 35% increase compared to the previous year’s Hands‑On STEM event. Additionally, post‑event surveys revealed that 92% of parents reported that their children felt more interested in STEM subjects, and 78% of students said they wanted to learn more about a particular STEM discipline highlighted during the event.

In the words of a participating student from Indianapolis High School, “Before this, I thought coding was just for computers. Now I see it’s like a tool for making art, designing robots, even solving climate change.”

The organizers are already planning next year’s iteration. They intend to introduce robotics challenges with Arduino kits, partner with local universities for an introductory course in bioinformatics, and host a “STEM Fair” that allows students to showcase projects to the community. A key goal is to create a sustainable program that connects students, teachers, and industry partners in a continuous loop of learning and innovation.

A Final Thought

Hands‑On STEM exemplifies how thoughtful community collaboration can elevate education. By bringing science to life—through building bridges, mixing chemicals, and looking up at the stars—indianapolis’s youth were given a taste of the world of STEM, and most importantly, a feeling that they can be a part of it. As the event concluded with a city‑wide “science march” that marched from the Cultural Trail to the City Hall, participants carried back more than trophies and certificates; they carried with them a renewed sense of possibility and the belief that the future is theirs to build.