On Saturday, August 3, teens in the Saint Louis Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science (YES) Program participated in the EPIC (Electric Propulsion Innovation Challenge) STEM Challenge, a 4-day program from Starfish Education delivered in partnership with the Lindbergh Foundation. Science Center guests were able to watch the competition inside Boeing Hall, where 13 YES Teens took part in a “fly off” of electric glider aircraft that the teens designed and built themselves. For the YES Teens, preparing for the challenge was nothing short of a test of resilience and innovation. The teens tackled a curriculum—designed by Starfish Education and sponsored by the Lindbergh Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable aviation—exploring aerospace engineering and aviation, pushing their skills to the limit over 3 days to design and build a glider aircraft that could successfully complete two laps around an air track. When it came time to fly on the first attempt, not a single glider was successful. However, the YES Teens were resilient. Grabbing soldering irons, sandpaper, rulers, and pencils, the teens iterated and innovated on their designs, redesigning and reconfiguring their gliders. Their persistence paid off. By the end of the competition, many of the gliders soared to complete multiple laps around the air track.
“It was an inspiring moment,” said Maya McGregory, manager of the YES Program’s Aerospace STEM focus area, “watching the teens overcome challenges and achieve success through determination and hard work.” In the EPIC STEM Challenge, participants get an experience that helps them develop critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork skills while also igniting their passion for STEM fields—experiences that align perfectly with the Science Center and the YES Program. After popularizing the EPIC STEM Challenge in the Pacific Northwest, the Lindbergh Foundation is in the process of relocating its headquarters to St. Louis to benefit from the region’s growing role as a leader in innovation. As the 100th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis approaches, the Lindbergh Foundation hopes this new collaboration with the Science Center will help inspire the next generation of engineers in St. Louis, continuing the region’s rich history of aviation innovation. “The Science Center’s mission is to ‘inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science,’” said Dr. Becky Thompson, Chief Science and Education Officer at the Science Center. “Partnering on events like the Lindbergh Foundation’s EPIC STEM Challenge helps feed into this region’s efforts to encourage deeper bonds with science and technology in our world.”
The EPIC STEM Challenge from Starfish Education is a first-of-its-kind program within the Science Center’s robust STEM offerings for local students. The program is delivered in partnership with the Lindbergh Foundation and is sponsored by local aerospace supplier Seyer Industries and global manufacturing leader Starrag.See more photos from the EPIC STEM Challenge:
Want to support impactful STEM learning programs like YES? Make a gift to the Science Center’s Curiosity Fund here.
