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Health & Fitness

An Inside Look at Discover STEM 2013

I visited the biannual Discover STEM night on November 4th, sponsored by AB PIP STEM.

Discover STEM 2013, on November 4th, was an exciting exploration into the
science, math and technology fields and their impact on the Acton-Boxborough community. From 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the high-school turned into a fair ground, where organizations and clubs displayed their work. A student volunteer from 7-12th grade was assigned to each exhibit so that they could learn in-depth about an organization’s project or research. I was one of the volunteers, but a perk of covering the registration table instead of an exhibit was that after set-up was completed, I had the opportunity to explore the 30 some tables that were located across the cafeteria, main lobby, and the main entrance.

Some exhibits I enjoyed were the WPI/Mass Academy Robotics Team and the Circle Cam 360. The robotics team is a group of students from the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science who work under WPI to create robots for competitions. They brought a robot that could pick up inflatable tubes and place them on a pole, with rungs like a hat-hanger for the tubes to be put on. The robot was massive, and moved with loud jagged turns that always brought crowds to their table. The 360 camera was a ring of 50 Android smart phones that encircle you, and simultaneously snap a picture. Then software combines all the images to create a GIF file that can display the images one by one like a movie with too few frames, in other words, like a panoramic shot sliced into pieces. The GIF can also be changed into a higher pixel image for more professional purposes. The camera is great for action shots that can be enhanced with a 360 view, and for clothing displays like wedding gowns and prom dresses.

One popular exhibit was the red Tesla Model S, an electric luxury sports car whose brand is becoming increasingly popular among environmentally conscious and tech-savvy consumers. Though the cost of the Model S is $70,000, electric car buyers receive a tax credit of $7,500 when purchasing a Tesla, in addition to the low cost of electricity compared to that of gasoline. Tesla owner Ben Goodwin brought his Model S for an exhibit, which has a control panel that is completely touch screen and includes features such as a GPS system and a 3G internet browser. Mr. Goodwin has been a Tesla customer for 3 years, owning a smaller 2-door model before switching it out for his current one. “It’s ecological, but still looks awesome,” said Mr. Goodwin. He said that his work in information technology, or IT, allowed him to understand the electric-vehicle technology better. He said that he will continue to be a Tesla customer because “no one else makes one even close… it’s hard to imagine going to anyone else.” There was also a Chevrolet Volt parked outside as well, but it was in use by another group of people when I arrived and I unfortunately wasn’t able to look inside.

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Discover STEM night was an incredible immersion in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. From night-vision goggles to Arctic research, every organization that was represented brought an extra level of excitement to the night that helped show even further how important STEM is for today and the future. But the main realization I got from going that night was that STEM research and innovation is an integral part of the Acton-Boxborough community, and I hope it will continue to grow and encourage young people like me to pursue passions and careers in these fields, where new opportunities are emerging every day.

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