BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – A group of MIT student teachers pedaled into Bowling Green this week as part of a cross-country journey to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Their mission: host free, hands-on STEM festivals in 11 cities across the U.S. with a stop at the WKU Innovation Campus.
The effort, in collaboration with the nonprofit Accelerate Kentucky, brought dozens of local students together for interactive stations on topics such as 3D printing, chemistry, artificial intelligence, and more.
Tian Lin, an MIT student teacher who led the AI session, said the goal is to make emerging technology less intimidating and more engaging.
“I truly believe that AI is something we have to learn to work with,” Lin said. “It’s always scary at first, but we just have to learn to live and adapt and learn how to integrate it into our lives.”
Organizer Sam Ford said this event helps students in South Central Kentucky imagine a future in high-tech fields.
“We want kids to understand what’s possible for them as Kentuckians to get educated, learn, and find career pathways working with emerging technologies,” Ford said.
MIT student teacher Ruth Shiferaw, who ran the 3D printing station, said the experience is personal.
“At eight years old, I knew I wanted to be a mechanical engineer,” she said. “That happened because people like me took time to mentor kids, and now, I want to pass that on.”
Organizers hope events like this help spark long-term interest in STEM fields, starting with a single hands-on experience.
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