Mazda just launched a program that shows high school students how math and science can turn into motorsports careers, and the first one was held this morning in DeLand, Florida, about 20 minutes west of Daytona International Speedway.
I went to check it out--plus a friend of ours teaches science and math there. Neat stuff, and no one ever brought a race car to our school for show and tell. Mazda plans on visiting one high school before each IMSA race weekend. You can learn more here, while there's a pic on our Facebook page: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mazda-kicks-off-national-education-program-to-rev-up-the-intellectual-engines-of-future-stem-thought-leaders-and-auto-enthusiasts-239985591.html
Best in-school field trip ever.
It was nicely done. John Doonan, director of Mazda Motorsports, MC'ed the event. Joel Miller, a Mazda driver who's also an engineer, was there, too.
High schools are awesome! Kudos to Mazda -- any ideas on how I can get them to my school before the Mosport IMSA race?
Nice!
My wife and I did a elementary school last year. Fun but exhausting. The kids had a lot of fun.
Not much math in our curriculum, it was more history oriented.
I think they liked the trailer as much as the car.
Big props to Mazda and you for getting involved.
I did one like that a few years back. It wasn't about motorsports so much, it was a chance for the kids to meet someone who writes professionally and can therefore do fun things such as run the Targa. I am a role model for why you should pay attention in English class! I brought the car along to show off and to liven things up a bit. It was a lot of fun.
I didn't lie and say I liked reading Jane Austin.
Did the girls look like that back when you were in highschool?
All kidding aside; cool project.
ZOO wrote:
High schools are awesome! Kudos to Mazda -- any ideas on how I can get them to my school before the Mosport IMSA race?
Good question. Drop me a note and I can forward it to the right person.
Just happened upon an article that discusses STEM--science, technology, engineering and math.
http://ideas.time.com/2014/01/16/why-i-let-my-daughter-get-a-useless-college-degree/
Until yesterday, I didn't realize that STEM was a "thing." So, if you had school to do all over again, would you go the STEM route? To be honest, that's where I was originally heading--engineering, specifically.
If you have the dedication to stick through the challenges, STEM is the way to go. I got my degree in Materials Science Engineering.
I was involved in events showing STEM to kids while I was interning as a research assistant in a nanotech lab. Kids really do need to be more encouraged to pursue the STEM route. Many go through school more just hearing how difficult it is. One of the best quotes I gave a school paper was "We all have a little mad scientist in us"
I figured STEM was just a cool acronym - it's not a special program or anything, is it? It's just a way to distinguish from, say, arts.
I would have stayed the route and got my metallurgical engineering degree if I had to do it all over again.
Programs like that are awesome. Who knows...That one trip may spark a kid to become a race engineer.
