Children’s smiles lit up a virtual classroom in South Los Angeles on June 5 when a simple, at-home chemistry experiment added a fun, new dimension to their science lessons.

The demonstration was the result of a collaboration between STEM with LM, a program of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM), and We Are R.I.S.E. Inc., a mentorship group for young girls of color.

“Even with the students’ microphones muted, the looks on their faces said it all,” Ebone Smith, Executive Director of R.I.S.E., said. Smith, alongside LM Site Manager Darina Castillo, ran the virtual experiment, which involved inflating a balloon using a plastic bottle and household ingredients.

STEM with LM’s scientists and researchers inspire young audiences and bring learning to life. Castillo has considered the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) community a support system throughout her career, and participating in STEM with LM is one way that she gives back.

“DOE understands the importance of STEM education in fostering the next generation of professionals,” Castillo said. “LM’s virtual programs introduce STEM concepts that educate the workforce of the future.” 
 

Despite the challenges of remote learning, STEM with LM has leveraged online teaching during COVID-19 to work with new partners and expand its reach. The program has seen great success with virtual engagement and continues to search for new ways to grow and strengthen STEM opportunities.

“The team is very adaptable,” said LM Senior Public Affairs Specialist Shawn Montgomery, the program’s co-lead. “Our motto is ‘Always find a way to say yes.’”

Partnering with R.I.S.E., STEM with LM said yes to a community in South Los Angeles that has a dearth of such programs for students. The team at LM was determined to give as many kids access to the lesson as possible, lowering the barrier for participation by shipping experiment materials to the students.

Students equipped with goggles, baking soda, and bottles excitedly told Smith of their plans to be scientists and engineers when they grow up. “We want to expose students, particularly girls and children of color, to different careers they might not know much about,” Smith said.

Castillo noted that an increased focus on environmental justice is building momentum behind programs such as STEM with LM that provide resources and education in underserved communities. President Biden’s executive order on the climate crisis solidified environmental justice as a top priority for the federal government, and STEM with LM is proud to support the effort.

New and exciting virtual programming is in the works this summer at LM’s Fernald Preserve, Weldon Spring Site, and Atomic Legacy Cabin. STEM with LM plans for more collaboration with R.I.S.E. and similar partners to ensure communities across the country have access to the programs, even if they aren’t physically close.

“Virtual programming isn’t a magic bullet,” said Kevin McCarthy, STEM with LM co-lead with Legacy Management Strategic Partner. “But it is an incredible tool, and I foresee us continuing to use it even when the interpretive centers do reopen.”

Lessons learned from the pandemic and the virtual learning tools it inspired will certainly continue to guide the program for years to come, according to Montgomery. “Virtual education has allowed STEM with LM to spread its support system far and wide, and the team can’t wait to see the success that evolves from it.”