Baptist recently agreed to help sponsor a Lemoyne-Owen College mobile lab designed to excite students about science. Known as “Science on Wheels,” the retired 40-foot Memphis Area Transit Authority bus visits fourth and fifth graders at elementary schools in communities with a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged minorities. The overall goal of the program is to increase the number of students who pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees.
Students can perform various experiments – including DNA extraction, asthma and lung function exploration, exercise and cardiac function, nutrition and obesity, and exploring alternative energy – at the lab’s 12 workstations. They can also observe samples using the latest technology, process DNA samples and learn how an echocardiogram works.
The lab equipment is powered by four solar panels provided by the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education. TN-SCORE also donated energy related-modules, and Baptist supplied funding for health-related instrumentation and equipment. SchoolSeed and private donors contributed additional financial support.
For more information on “Science on Wheels” and how you can support it, visit loc.edu or follow it on Facebook (Scienceonwheels) and Twitter (@LOCSciLab).