STEM Expo combines with Earth Day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  With attention-grabbing displays, posters and plants to draw in eager eyes of all ages, Jason Gibbons, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron biologist, explains noxious weeds to a spectator at his booth when a homemade hovercraft suddenly blares. Gibbons and 60 other local and federal environmental agencies gathered at the Great Falls High School Swarthout Fieldhouse April 21 in support of the annual Earth Day celebration.

"Earth Day is a public event to increase environmental awareness of issues affecting the people of Great Falls," said Frank Carpenter, 341st CES environmental protection specialist.

But this year's celebration was different than ever before.

Great Falls Public School's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Exposition combined with local and federal agencies to make the annual STEM Expo and Earth Day one event.

"Earth Day festivities are traditionally held at the Great Falls Civic Center, but this year we decided to combine it with the annual STEM Expo," Carpenter said. "By combining the two, it creates more exposure for younger generations to learn about technology and environmental issues."

Hundreds of people packed into the free event, including 200 entries from children ages 5 to 18 and 60 venders. The STEM Expo students took up the middle of the fieldhouse, while organizations ranging in wind energy conservation to erosion prevention to Montana Department of Environmental Quality surrounded them.

The venders educated attendees on the consequences of poor energy use and green alternatives.

Along with Malmstrom's environmental protection specialists were representatives from the 341st CES Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight complete with weaponry, hands-on presentations and robots. These assets contributed to the math and technology portion of the expo.

"Personnel from Malmstrom's environmental office have taken the lead and worked with the community to make Earth Day happen since 2004," Carpenter said. "We do this to be part of the community and create better working relationships."