Faculty introductions, a review of program opportunities and what became an energetic marshmallow construction competition were the key facets of the first-ever OW STEAM Kickoff event held to launch the program for the 2024-2025 academic year.
OW STEAM is a comprehensive and innovative educational program for Old Westbury students that are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). This program features the application of STEAM topics to entrepreneurship and media.
“Our goal is to engage students in transformational educational experiences around science, technology, the arts, math and more,” said Associate Provost Michael Kavic, who directs efforts around OW STEAM. “By projecting these experiences across the diversity of our student body, we are allowing students who might traditionally be discouraged from and denied opportunities in these fields to be educated and prepared to lead successful careers in areas of vital need.”
Funded through $1,870,000 in federal monies secured by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, OW-STEAM provides for involved students research funding, STEAM oriented courses with pedagogy using internationally recognized High Impact Practices, and opportunities for OW STEAM courses with guidance and support for a career in STEAM.
Other special events and activities that either have taken place this fall or are upcoming include:
- An “Astronomy Night,” jointly hosted with CSTEP and the Physics Club on October 10, brought students outside the campus’ Natural Science Building to at the stars, the moon, and Saturn – with an unexpected treat as the aurora borealis was visible in the night sky, a rarity for the Long Island region.
- The “Barbenheimer Double Feature,” which will include showings of the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” movies followed by discussions. “Barbie” will be the subject on November 18. Cohosted by the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Center and the Social and Environmental Justice Institute, the evening will feature Elizabeth Schmermund of the English Department along with and students Sarah Nasir and Caity Paige. “Oppenheimer” is scheduled for November 20, co-hosted with CSTEP and SEJI, and will feature conversants Karl Grossman of American Studies and Andy O’Bannon of Chemistry and Physics.
- On November 1, students visited Brookhaven National Lab to learn about its history and current research being done there. The group saw how protein structures are studied using x-rays produced by the National Synchrotron Light Source, visited the Center for Aerosol Measurement Science, and experienced the Relativist Heavy Ion Collider and its STAR Detector, which specializes in tracking the thousands of particles produced by collisions between gold nuclei within the collider.
Visit the OW STEAM website to learn more.