07-05-2025
AIChE East Tenn. Local Section Hosts 4th annual STEM Field Day
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) East Tennessee Local Section (ETLS) hosted its 4th annual STEM Field Day at Bays Mountain Recreation Center on Tuesday.
Around 500 local 7th-graders participated in the event, which consisted of interactive demonstrations and various science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities. The two-day event took place on Monday and Tuesday.
Robinson Middle School 7th Grade Science teacher Jessica Chase said the event aims to introduce students to STEM fields and areas of focus, including chemistry, forensics, meteorology and more.
'Today is a really great opportunity for kids to see different career paths, different fields of science that they wouldn't automatically assume go with science, because there's a whole engineering, technology, mathematics component in STEM that relates to science,' she said. 'And so today kids get to see that opportunity, like welding and forensics and things they don't normally think of when they are thinking of science class.'
Chase said that making learning a hands-on experience helps keep kids' attention and helps them see the material in a relatable, casual environment.
'Anytime we can make it hands-on, it just makes that learning potential so much, much more. In class, our labs and things, they just really help our kids grasp ahold of those concepts. And so they just did welding over there, and the kids had no idea really. You can tell them what welding is, but when you actually get over there and get to try to do it, it just makes it so much more meaningful.'
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