Today on National STEM/STEAM Day, Binkley & Barfield would like to focus on the involvement of those in our Family of Companies!
Laurie Welsh has been involved with Destination Imagination serving as the Affiliate Challenge Master for the Engineering Challenge for the State of Texas. Destination Imagination is a global educational nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders, and creative problem solvers. It gives students an opportunity to have a hands-on, fun experience while helping them develop extraordinary creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.
Brandon Boatcallie, PE has recently gotten involved with FIRST by sponsoring a robotics team called the Gotham Inventineers. They will be participating in the FIRST LEGO League where they will be creating robots out of LEGOs! FIRST is a not-for-profit public charity designed to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, and to motivate them to pursue education and career opportunities in STEM fields.
Every day is STEAM day in Annie Berry, EIT’s house! Her daughter, Asilynn, is creating a light shade to go in the backyard clubhouse that she has been working on for the last couple of years (blueprints, bill of materials, and everything). Her son, Hunter, is creating a balisong out of wooden skewers and popsicle sticks! So creative!
Claudia Alanis was recently was a guest presenter and volunteered at Rice University’s Reach for the Stars! STEM Festival. Claudia had the pleasure to work with other members of Houston Hispanic Architects and Engineers (HHAE) to present to a group of young girls about Civil Engineering with a focus on utility engineering and construction.
STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. The end results are students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process. These are the innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st century!