 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math play a role in almost every sport today...but perhaps none more than cycling. July, 2013 marks the 100th year of the Tour de France. The science of cycling relies on aerodynamics, physics, materials engineering and digitized team communication. |
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In My eSTEM-ation:
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In my eSTEMation, Le Tour de STEM in Iowa is a team sport, a lot like Le Tour de France. In its 100th year, Le Tour de France is a bike race that covers thousands of kilometers of European landscape, peppered with brutal mountain passes and daring descents. Twenty-one grueling stages test the endurance of every rider individually, but cannot be won alone.
Le Tour de STEM has specialized team members in its peloton:
Climbers: these guys are strong. With a million miles in their legs, they will not give up on even the steepest of grades. The members of the STEM Advisory Council have invested heavily in the success of the STEM Initiative, and they inspire us all to keep climbing, higher and higher.
Sprinters: the fastest to the line. Our Scale Up programs accelerate as if they are rocket powered. The summer sprint to launch the 2013-2014 Scale Up programs has broken all records. Check to see if your school district is in the race HERE.
Lead Out: pulling other riders to the front of the race. Lt. Governor Reynolds, new co-chair Mary Andringa and Executive Director Jeff Weld lead out, helping the whole peloton to reach the finish line strong for the win.
Domestique: French term for "servant" of the team. The Regional Manager at each Hub rides to re-fill water bottles, replenish supplies and do road-side repair with a single goal: keep Iowa STEM rolling.
In my eSTEMation, the Iowa STEM Initiative wins the yellow jersey. We are cycling strong: covering miles, climbing mountains, sprinting for the line and most importantly, staying together as a team.
Kari Webb
NW Iowa STEM Regional Manager
Iowa Lakes Community College, NW Hub
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 Robots and Rollercoasters!
Can you calculate how fast a rollercoaster is traveling at its lowest point? Can you program a mobile robot to follow a path and recognize obstacles? Summer fun at Iowa Lakes Community College now includes STEM Camp! Computer games, the physics of roller-coasters and robotics equal learning and fun. Read more HERE.
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