On July 21, the Arizona Chief Science Officer program began its summer Leadership Training Institute (LTI) at the University of Advancing Technology. CSOs are 6th–12th grade student ambassadors for STEM who focus on raising awareness for STEM in their community and school. It was started in Arizona eight years ago as an idea to get kids at the table with adults who were having conversations about STEM. The program has grown to multiple states across the nation and even to other countries including Mexico, Kenya and Kuwait.

We have participated in the SARSEF Regional Science and Engineering Fair for six years! Each year we develop a project that is of interest to us.

 You probably won’t get a chance to take a trip to the moon, but NASA is giving you an opportunity to participate in their ‘Send Your Name to Space’ project.

 NASA’s Artemis I mission will be the fi rst uncrewed fl ight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion Space craft. The flight will pave the way towards landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon.

 I was given a special opportunity to attend the Barrett-Jackson and SciTech Event in Scottsdale at Westworld. When we went to the event, the first thing I noticed was the huge banner that said, Barrett-Jackson, the World’s Greatest Car Auction. 

 I read an article titled “World’s first electric autonomous cargo ship takes to the water” by Nick Lavars. This article was published in November 2021 by New Atlas. It talks about electric and autonomous transportation.

I like this article because I love working on anything solar and electric. Also, this is a topic I am very interested in because at my school we are researching solutions connected to cargo transportation. I am focusing on autonomous and solar powered vehicles for my solution to problems with cargo.

 Recently I was able to participate in the 20th Annual Student Design & Build Contest, KIDStruction competition. KIDStruction is a competition in which sixth, seventh, and eighth graders can participate.

Using only business cards, toothpicks and hot glue, teams design a building that fits on a 12x12 inch foam based on one of five categories within the overall theme. Every year KIDStruction’s theme is different, this year’s theme was “The Path Ahead.” The Path Ahead focused on how the pandemic has changed our everyday lives and the spaces where we learn, live or work.

 Have you ever heard of SK Day? SK is an amazing female mathematician named Sonia Kovalevsky. Kovalevsky was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1850 and was the first woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics. The UofA hosted middle and high school students virtually for SK Day this year to encourage young women to study mathematics.

I attended the Zoom meeting about mathematics on SK Day. Team members from the UofA delivered a shirt and supplies to our homes prior to the event!

The recent influx of new industrial models and carbon dioxide emissions is causing the oceans to undergo increased acidification that could pose a severe threat to humans and aquatic animals alike.

Habitats for animals are gone because the mines destroy them. But can the mining industry be sustainable?

Telsa Motors continues to make the push for the future of electric cars.