Science Department receives donation of STEM equipment from alumnus
Last week, our Science Department received a generous donation from Mike Williams ’76N and his wife Sue, enabling the purchase of 12 Digital HD microscopes and a laser cutter for the STEM program. The students have already begun to use the microscopes in class!
Digital HD microscopes
The Honors Marine Science students got to use the new Digital HD microscopes on Wednesday, February 25th, as they concluded their fish/shark unit. Typically, the unit would end in an observation lab, but with the new Digital HD microscopes, students were able to view various fish scales, shark teeth, and prepared slides with small preserved fish specimens. The students were able to zoom in so close that they could actually see the serrated edges of the shark teeth as well as the chromatophores in the fish skin under the scales! The class was very excited to use such an awesome piece of technology.
CO2 Laser Cutter
A few weeks later, the STEM department received their new CO2 Laser Cutter, and students were eager to understand its capabilities. The STEM Engineering students were able to see many successful test runs in the week before Spring Break. This sparked many questions and ideas in the class and on campus, and the excitement from the students was tangible. Students began to brainstorm how they could use the CO2 Laser Cutter to make parts needed in a recent SeaPerch design problem.
The technology will be directly incorporated in their next unit, Structural and Architectural Engineering. Students will be constructing scale models and designing their own homes. The CO2 Laser Cutter will be a “game-changer” in the prototyping process for students.
“On behalf of the Science Department, thank you to Mike and Sue for this kind contribution to support the growth of our Science Department and for enlightening our students,” said Sari Deitche, head of the Upper School Science Department and teacher at Admiral Farragut Academy.
“I’m so pleased the students are enjoying the new equipment,” Williams said. “It’s been a rough year for everyone and especially so for educators. I’m glad that my modest gift is contributing to science education at Farragut.”
Donors like Mr. and Mrs. Williams are impacting the experiential learning opportunities here at Farragut with their generosity. If you are like-minded and want to invest in enhancing technology or signature programs, please contact Alumni Director Victoria Raymer at vraymer@farragut.org, or visit our giving page for more information.
