A version of this article was first published by Aramco Americas.
With a strong commitment to research and development, Aramco Americas debuted its “Aramco iExplore: Energy” program in Detroit through a collaborative partnership with the Michigan Science Center, Michigan State University’s CREATE for STEM Institute, and the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD).
The program was created in 2013 with 50 students from the Galena Park Independent School District at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It has grown to reach nearly 2,000 students and science teachers in the Greater Houston area alone. The curriculum has also expanded its focus areas: energy, chemicals and biodiversity.
The curriculum for “Aramco iExplore: Energy” in Detroit will reach more than 4,000 students, who will visit the Center with field trips in February and March. The collaborative energy literacy program integrates Next Generation Science Standards—nationally benchmarked K-12 science content standards—into the learning experience. This is the first time in MiSci history in which a program was developed and specifically tailored to high school students and to a specific school district’s science curriculum.
Students toured various areas within MiSci, including the Science Stage, which focused on components of atoms; Sparks Theater, where they participated in an electricity presentation; the Science Hall, where they demonstrated experiments related to static energy; and various MiSci galleries to explore energy transformation and atomic interactions.
Each student used their smartphone to download and utilize a digital app called “Nearpod” containing a custom activity guide—all part of the collaborative effort to create a comprehensive, branded curriculum for the students as they journeyed through the Center.
“This is a rare opportunity to give the next generation of scientists and engineers the tools to tackle the grand challenges of energy,” said Christian Greer, President and CEO, Michigan Science Center. “This makes STEM education more accessible and shines a light on career pathways for our future workforce.”
Aramco iExplore continues through the end of March. To read the rest of this story, please visit Aramco Americas.