TOPEKA (KSNT) — The Ad Astra Kansas Foundation celebrated its 250th birthday on Saturday, April 11, with its 17th annual STEM and Space event on Washburn University’s campus.
The free, family-friendly event was held at the Department of Physics and Astronomy and featured over 20 interactive activities, demonstrations and displays designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and math across the state.
Several attendees said the drone demonstrations were a highlight of the event. 27 News’ Storm Track Meteorologist, Ashton Rizzo, gathered several crowds while showcasing the Storm Tracker and talking about meteorology.
Organizers said the event’s goal is to celebrate space science and encourage future generations to explore STEM-related careers by giving researchers and educators the opportunity to showcase cutting-edge technology.
“I hope that we can foster the next generation of scientists and get these kids interested in a whole new generation of future scientists — future Nobel Prize winners, potentially,” said Joseph Havens, a presenter with the University of Kansas Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Havens said interest in astronomy has been steadily growing, even at KU. While the demand can create what he calls a “backup,” he said it was encouraging to see so many people eager to get involved in science.
He also added that the continued success of technology and even the safe return of Artemis II demonstrate that advancements in STEM and space science will continue.
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