Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky has launched an innovative mobile STEM education project that takes fun and engaging science and computing in soon Eastern Kentucky. Known as STEM on Wheels, the program will involve a specially fitted van making stops at schools in some of the New York State’s most remote areas.

The program, which kicked off this week, is a joint project of Asbury University’s School of Education and its corporate supporters. This should help in trying to reduce the current split in STEM education equipment between the rural and urban regions within the state of Kentucky.

Dr. Sarah Johnson, Dean of Asbury’s School of Education, explained the program’s significance: Most schools in Eastern Kentucky provide inadequate infrastructure and infusion of assets important for enhanced STEM education. The idea is to provide these resources to students themselves as well as encourage them to become scientists, engineers, innovators of the future.

The materials used by STEM on Wheels are cutting-edge; there is 3D printer, robotics sets, headsets that trigger virtual reality, and scientific instruments. It will work on a round robin basis visiting schools and offering first-hand practical activities in school subjects such as computer science, and environmental studies.

Education majors from Asbury University will operate the van as part of their field work and act as tutors to children in the vans. This level of the program also helps resolve the shortage of qualified STEM teachers in the rural region as well as introduces the future educators to the conditions and benefits of working in such regions.

Local government and education heads have endorsed the program. State Representative John Smith supporting the idea and mentioned, “This is the sort of creativity we want to see in order to come closer to parity in education between our cities and countryside.” What Asbury University is doing should be an example of how other higher education institutions should engage their surrounding communities.

In the first week the STEM on Wheels van delivered programs to three schools in Breathitt County, the area that is one of the most affected by the floods occurred in 2022. Students at Breathitt County High School could create and use 3D printing to assemble elements of a miniature flood barrier system in order to apply engineering ideas and solve a real-life problem.

Principal Mary Johnson of Breathitt County High School expressed her enthusiasm for the program: All our students were extremely happy.” Most students have never used a 3-D printer or only basics of programming a robot were involved. They explain that it has helped them see things they had not thought of before: “It is opened their eyes of the possibility that they have not even think of”.

Another requirement of the program is to provide students with a mentor from STEM professionals of the state of Kentucky. By video conferences and student’s occasional visits to some sites, they can get acquainted with the existing professions and receive necessary advice regarding STEM education further.

STEM on Wheels is funded through the University of Kentucky, corporate sponsorships and a KDE funded grant. Many tech industries have also brought their equipment and software also hence viewing the programme as the development of talent pools of the future.

Dr. Johnson emphasized the long-term vision of the initiative: We’re not just giving customers a one-time experience.” In these cases, our aim is to do just that: cause a lifelong passion for STEM subjects in these students. Its alumni will include many of them who will continue to pursue STEM majors in college and innovation work in Kentucky’s technology industry.

The program has already attracted attention from other parts of the state with several counties expressing an interest in Asbury University to take the program to the next level. The current university officials are considering how to expand the project and they hope to get more vans and more schools for children across the city.

As STEM on Wheels travels on and on in Eastern Kentucky, students who might not get a chance to have better equipment have been given the chance they would not naturally get. Asbury University has been a true partner in helping these communities gain access to the latest in educational technology, as well as passionate educators to help all students in Kentucky have a chance to experience science and technology at its best.

The outcome of this program can be very important and can create the basis for similar programs for other schools of the state of Nebraska. With the United States pressing on its role of providing more focus to students in STEM and provide continued support to STEM programs for competitive stance in the world, initiatives such as STEM on Wheels may help develop the scientists and engineers of tomorrow in areas that otherwise may not have many fruitful opportunities for their children.