The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management gave a presentation on creating and growing the STEM with LM program to the virtual Federal Partners Group meeting on March 25.
March 25, 2022
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Representatives of the Office of Legacy Management (LM) gave a virtual presentation to the Federal Partners Group on Friday, March 25 about the evolution of the STEM with LM program in a meeting titled Fed Partners: Growing from the STEM Up!
The presentation by LM staff and LM’s Strategic Partners (LMSP) was part of a monthly meeting in which workers from various federal agencies come together to discuss their programs. These meetings are meant to inspire, encourage, and inform other agencies through a series of presentations and stories.
The discussion included the creation of the STEM with LM program, the entrepreneurial spirit of growing a program from the ground up and adapting and navigating the program through the unknowns of a global pandemic. Presenters shared what LM leaders and experts are doing to inspire the next generations of scientists and engineers.
The presentation took the group through the history of STEM and the beginning processes of building a program, including how to define success, the needs and opportunities of the program, what STEM with LM wants to accomplish, and how to build support.
Students participating in a program at the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center (2019)
“The start of any program is defining what you wish to accomplish,” said LM Education, Communications, History, and Outreach Supervisor David Von Behren. “STEM with LM’s mission statement not only reflects LM’s goal to protect human health and the environment but seeks to inspire future generations to do the same.”
LMSP Education Programs Manager Kevin McCarthy discussed the next steps of the program from planning and scheduling projects, up until the launch of the STEM with LM webpage on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in April of 2020.
Groundwater model simulation with student (2017)
The presentation included examples of LM’s public activities, the importance of STEM education, LM’s continued commitment to the program, and other STEM-focused program areas like LM staff hosted programming and collaboration with DOE’s STEM Rising program.
McCarthy expanded on how all three of LM’s interpretive centers play a role in STEM programming, supporting LM’s topics and goals in energy, chemistry, social science, clean energy, and uranium mining.
“The Atomic Legacy Cabin in Grand Junction, Colorado; the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center near St. Charles, Missouri; and the Fernald Preserve Visitors Center near Hamilton, Ohio, all provide STEM programing for students of all ages,” Von Behren said. “These interpretive centers give visitors valuable information around the on-going stewardship, cleanup, and history of our sites. These interpretive centers also offer opportunities to connect to engineers and scientists and provide educational materials to students of all ages.”
LMSP Outreach Coordinator Kayla Bia announced LM’s upcoming events and tribal outreach activities with the Navajo Nation. The virtual meeting wrapped with upcoming and recent STEM events at the Atomic Legacy Cabin and STEM outreach successes from Interpretive Specialist Ashton Peterhans, before heading into a question-and-answer session.
“Our LM team has been able to adapt and grow this program, quickly implementing virtual programming even when we were unable to connect with the community in person, staying flexible, and using every available opportunity,” Von Behren said. “LM staff and I are excited for the future of STEM with LM and looking forward to continuing to educate and inspire future and current students.”