Adventures in STEM: Research Centers at the University of Tennessee Host Summer Camp for Local Middle Schoolers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The National Institute for Modeling Biological Systems (NIMBioS), the Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE), the Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT), and the University of Tennessee (UT) collaborated this summer again to host the annual “Adventures in STEM” camp, where middle school students learned the basic concepts of science, technology engineering and math (STEM) related concepts through fun, hands-on activities, teamwork, field trips and engagement with scientists and engineers. The camp took place July 8-12, 2024.

The camp, designed for rising seventh through ninth grade students, involved activities focused on chemistry, physics, electric circuitry, transportation systems and more. Its goal was to introduce students to the interdependencies of organizing, managing, and running a complex supply chain, particularly in events of uncertainty. Generous financial support given by ISSE and ClearLoop, a Nashville-based solar energy company, along with additional support from NIMBioS, enabled the three centers to host this active learning experience.