LM Support team members Allison Reynolds, Kayla Bia, Anthony Ranalli, and Jennifer Grossheim Harris participate in a STEM-sation event on January 23, 2020, at Tohatchi High School in Tohatchi, New Mexico.
An estimated 7,500 students have participated in STEM-sation events on the Navajo Nation since the first event rolled out at Shiprock High School in New Mexico in spring of 2018, according to Nathan Tohtsoni, one of the event’s key organizers and an education coordinator for Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC).
STEM-sation features hands-on activities to engage students and teachers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The events also provide opportunities for students to seek internships with local organizations and companies.
“The purpose of STEM-sation is to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career fields to our Navajo students to show them opportunities that they have in these fields,” Tohtsoni said. “They don’t have to go to the cities when there are quality STEM jobs here on the Navajo Nation.”
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) is part of a partnership of federal and tribal organizations behind STEM-sation, which was founded by NTEC and Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands (AML)/Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Department. Sponsors include NTEC, AML, Arizona Public Service, and BHP.
LM Support team member Lawanda Scott speaks with a group of Monument Valley High School students about the Tuba City disposal site during a STEM-sation event in Kayenta, Arizona, on November 13, 2019.
Across the Navajo Nation, 17 STEM-sation events have taken place at 15 high schools, with Chinle High School in Arizona and Navajo Preparatory School in New Mexico each hosting the event twice.
“DOE has really grown with STEM-sation and we would like to see more companies do the same thing,” Tohtsoni said.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in late March on the Navajo Nation, STEM-sation events scheduled for the high school spring semester have been postponed.