Traveling science fair sparks interest in STEM and aviation for local schools

ORNL's Traveling Science Fair welcomed over 500 local students from underserved areas at the Downtown Island Airport. Credit: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

On Thursday, Oct. 8, Downtown Island Airport (DKX) transformed into an inspiring runway for learning as Oak Ridge National Laboratory partnered with United Way and local community schools to host the "Soar into STEM" Traveling Science Fair.

ORNL's Traveling Science Fair celebrated its revitalized return after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, welcoming over 500 local 5th-grade students from underserved areas. The lab partnered with the general aviation airport, located just across the river from downtown Knoxville, to highlight its connection to aviation science.

Lab exhibits and staff showcased ORNL's innovations in aviation fuels, quiet engine technology and advanced materials as well as expertise in modeling and simulation to optimize aircraft design and performance for greater sustainability.

ORNL's Thomas Proffen leads students through the "Become a Neutron" exhibit at the Traveling Science Fair. Credit: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

The event showed children career pathways in aviation, demonstrating that exciting opportunities in the field can be pursued through STEM education and personal experiences beyond traditional roles.

More than 50 ORNL staff members participated from a variety of research and operations roles. Thomas Proffen, a neutron scattering scientist, is one of the longest-standing supporters of the Traveling Science Fair, having been involved since its inception.

"I am thrilled we are out there again after the COVID break," Proffen said. "I became a scientist because I love to figure out how things work and creating solutions to the world's problems, and I love sharing this passion with the next generation of scientists."

"Working as an instrument scientist at the Spallation Neutron Source is the perfect job interacting with many scientists and showing them how neutron scattering can help. The science fair allows me to spread that excitement with students from our community."

ORNL's Bogdan Dryzhakov holds 10 of the world's smallest fidget spinners, measuring one tenth of a millimeter, made with one drop of liquid and a cutting-edge laser 3D-printer. Credit: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Students explored a series of interactive exhibits showcasing various aspects of ORNL's research, from supercomputing to engineering principles. Amid the sounds of helicopters and planes landing, the excitement from volunteers and organizers was palpable as they reconnected with young minds. The air was filled with inquisitive questions from the children, along with their teachers and chaperones, reflecting a shared enthusiasm for learning and exploration.

Each activity was designed not only to educate but also to demonstrate that science can be fun and fulfilling. As scientists traded their lab coats for science fair aprons, they took the opportunity to share insights about potential career pathways, emphasizing that pursuing a career in STEM is not just a possibility but an exciting reality, especially with the opportunities in East Tennessee.

At the "Extreme Science" exhibit staffed by the Physical Sciences Directorate, students saw the world's smallest fidget spinners, less than the width of a human hair, visible as a speck to the naked eye but magnified on a video screen for easy viewing

On the other side of the table explaining this tiny whirligig was Andres Marquez, a chemical engineer at ORNL who has been volunteering with the traveling science fair for over eight years.

ORNL's Andres Marquez, Bogdan Dryzhakov and Goldie Harrill showcase the world's smallest fidget spinners at the Traveling Science Fair. Credit: Dave Keim/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

"I'm from Puerto Rico and I was a Boy Scout and so I've always found that outreach is very important to pass on the knowledge. So, when I heard that the lab had a program that would take science trailers around to promote STEM to underrepresented communities in the East Tennessee area, I thought that was amazing," Marquez said. "I try to engage with them in a way that they will care about, explaining science topics that are fun and would impact their lives. I am trying to show them that there are real life benefits that affect them in science, maybe to get even 10% of kids who come through here excited and interested in a career that is STEM-adjacent."

In addition to those who have been working with the science fair for years, there were many new volunteers in attendance - new to ORNL and excited to engage with the community. Jenny Warnock was one of them, a postdoctoral research associate at the Spallation Neutron Source who has been involved with community engagement events such as STEM Scouts and events during graduate school before joining ORNL. "That was one of the things that attracted me to Oak Ridge - the volunteering opportunities," she said.

ORNL's Jenny Warnock explains the complex science of microbes to the fifth-grade students. Credit: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Her personality shined through as a young fifth-grader came in to ask about microbes, explaining the complex science using metaphors and images and breaking down the terminology. Warnock's passion for STEM outreach is evident. "Science is for everyone. Nobody is born a scientist. These are all things that you learn and if people are interested, then it's something they should pursue, but kids need the exposure to it first to even see if they are interested," Warnock said. "I didn't even start to get interested in this until high school when I took chemistry for the first time."

This year's science fair introduced a novel experience for not only many of the volunteers, but also for the schools in attendance. Gina Alexander, a fifth-grade teacher at Pond Gap Elementary, was among those participating for the first time.

"It's important for these kids to know what is in their own backdoor. They need to know what's beyond what is only in the classroom," Alexander said. "They need to experience real life things, and you can't get more real life than this - learning that bananas have radiation just blew me away. I'm seeing little minds being opened to science, and I love every bit of it because every day is science."

Students get to try their hand at a real robotic manipulator to move blocks, simulating how scientists use this tool to safely handle highly radioactive materials for their research. Credit: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Coming up

On Tuesday, October 22, the Traveling Science Fair will be at Oak Ridge High School in celebration of Nuclear Science Week. Oak Ridge students will tour the fair exhibits during the school day. At 4:30 p.m., the exhibits will be open to the community, families and students of Oak Ridge, Roane and Anderson County schools. The day's activities also include a student showcase and a presentation by ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer at Oak Ridge High School at 7 p.m.

More information on the ORNL Traveling Science Fair is available at https://travelingsciencefair.ornl.gov/

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.