Science, Technology, Engineering and Math got a chance to shine on campus with the annual STEM Open House. Children, parents, students and the community at large got a chance to see a variety of STEM focused activities and lectures.
The event took place on Friday, Sept. 26, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., inside various buildings on campus. It included 15 different sub-events, all relating to the STEM and the department. Some of the titles of these events included “Fun Physics,” “Chemistry can be FUN,” “Cyber Security” and “3D Printing Demonstration.”
Something new this year was the arrival of three food trucks. The Piaggio, Ta-Bom and the Kogi food trucks were there from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and offered Argentinean, Brazilian, Korean and Mexican options, respectively.
Marnie Arcilla, president of the STEM Club, says that she likes the idea of having the food trucks on campus for the event. “I went to the Kogi truck. The only Kogi that I’ve gone to is the one in (Los Angeles) and that was too far of a drive, so then when I heard that (STEM was) organizing to come here, I was like ‘I’m definitely going to be there.’”
One of the main attractions outside were the telescopes that professor Thad Szabo and the Astronomy Club placed by the Physical Science and Technology Building.
Attendees were given the chance to see through a variety of telescopes. Luz Brandsgard, a sociology major, brought her daughter, Haylee, along with her. “She loves learning. We love to expose her to different stuff.”
Brandsgard says she enjoys telescopes. “Who wouldn’t want to look through a telescope?”
She says she takes her daughter to observatories to look through telescopes and hopes that her enthusiasm for learning grows.
Ace Caguioa, an english major, was one of the volunteers present for the event. His role in the event was to sign attendees up in the sign-in booth. He says that he considers the STEM program an important part of Cerritos College and likes to let high school students know that STEM is a good field to go into.
Glen Horn, mechanical engineering major, was at the Open House representing the Cyber Security Club and says that he enjoys letting others know about what STEM has to offer. “I like to promote the program to other students here on campus because it’s a really good program.”
Clubs that participated in the event were the Geology Club, Women in STEM, Biology and Chemistry Club and the Cyber Security Club.
Arcilla, president of the STEM Club, enjoyed the attention that the STEM department was getting from the community. She believes that the sciences, technology, engineering and math should get more exposure so that students will see them as the future.
Ice cream a-la-chemistry was made in the booth where the Biology and Chemistry Club was stationed. Club members were seen shaking bags of ice to create club-made ice cream.
This Open House was a first for Richard Hargrove, biology major. He is in the Biology and Chemistry Club and took part in the ice cream making.
“(We’re) giving people free ice cream. It’s cool, you’re letting people do Chemistry. People who never really actually get to do Chemistry or never had Chemistry, they could do some. I think this Open House is pretty good,” he said.
Hargrove made two ice cream servings but playfully said that one of them didn’t come out good.
To keep up to date with the STEM deparment, follow them on their Facebook page.
