LANL News:

Investing in Northern New Mexico students’ success

Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Security, LLC are sponsoring and/or working closely with corporate partners and other national labs to promote science education in Northern New Mexico.

Education outreach is one of the pillars of the LANS Community Commitment plan, which the Community Programs Office manages for LANS.

A number of science competitions and events are designed to engage Northern New Mexico students in critical thinking, skills-building, research and teamwork, said Janelle Vigil-Maestas of Community Programs. Among them are:

• Science Bowls for high school and middle-school students Feb. 7 and Feb. 28 at Highland High School in Albuquerque.
• MATHCOUNTS Feb. 21 in in Pojoaque. MATHCOUNTS promotes math achievement by middle school students through “bee-style” competitions. Winning student advance to statewide competitions.
• Robo Rave (link to http://roboquerque.org/northernnmrally/ ) Rally Northern New Mexico March 7 at Northern New Mexico College in Española. The RoboRAVE International takes place at the Albuquerque Convention Center April 30-May 2. Students from grades 3 and above work in two-to-four person teams to design, build and program autonomous robots that compete a variety of tasks.

“Introducing students at an early age to science, math, technology and engineering, the so-called STEM fields, is important for students and for the Lab,” Vigil-Maestas said. “The Laboratory’s sponsorship and participation in these science activities also positions the Laboratory as a potential future employer of choice. If we can get students excited about STEM subjects at an early age we create a pipeline for future employees and help create the next generation of scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs to help solve the most pressing problems future generations may face, or develop innovations that might change the world.”

Other partners in these science competitions include Sandia National Laboratories, Department of Energy, Lockheed-Martin, Northern New Mexico Society of Professional Engineers, Inquiry Facilitators, Northern New Mexico College, Northern New Mexico College Foundation, Española Public Schools, the city of Española and Rio Arriba County.

Questions? Contact Vigil-Maestas at 505.665.4329.