Newport News STEM Academy

STEM Education specialist Geoff Bergen works with students during a live session of the STEM Academy.

LIVE & ON-DEMAND LESSONS

Our STEM Education Specialists provide real-time sessions featuring discussions and tailored instruction designed to meet the learner where they are.

MEET THE STEM EXPERTS

Ongoing live Q&As with STEM professionals in various occupations. In each episode, you meet a new expert, learn what that expert’s job entails and their journey to that career, and ask them your questions. Current STEM Explorers and alumni are invited.

A video call between a woman with brown hair, glasses, and pink headphones, and a young girl with long hair, wearing large black headphones, sitting in a room with white walls and decorated with framed certificates and artwork.

QUALITY MATERIALS

For each module, STEM Explorers will receive a kit of quality materials designed to aid their discovery and learning through virtual sessions and asynchronous activities. Exact module kit components may vary from picture.

Materials kit unboxed and spread out on table

STEM ACADEMY MODULES

AEROENGINEERS

Aeronautics + Aerospace Engineering Fundamentals

Embark on a thrilling adventure through the skies with our Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering module, tailored for aspiring young engineers. This dynamic program is designed to captivate young minds with the wonders of flight, from the basic principles of aeronautics to the cutting-edge innovations in aerospace engineering. Through engaging lessons and hands-on activities, students will unlock the secrets of flight and space travel and construct multiple flying craft, including a drone (sUAS)!

  • • Principles of Flight

    • Aircraft Design and Construction (fixed-wing, rotary, and sUAS)

    • Rocketry and Space Exploration

    • Engineering Design Process

    • STEM Career Pathways

  • This 5-week module includes a weekly, live virtual session guided by a STEM Education Specialist.

    Upon registration for the fall AeroEngineers module, participants will be enrolled in either a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday weekly session offering. Live sessions will be from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

    • A Chromebook provided by NNPS and an internet connection

    • A tool kit that will have the basics needed for all modules. It will be returned at the end of the year (date TBD)

ROBOEXPLORERS

Robotics + Coding Fundamentals

Robots are becoming more and more part of everyday life. We need to learn not only how to work with these machines, but also how to design, create, and program them. Embark on an exhilarating exploration of technology, engineering, and creativity with our "RoboExplorers" module for young minds. This hands-on program introduces students to the fundamentals of coding and robotics, laying the groundwork for future innovation. Robo Explorers will utilize Sphero BOLT+™ kits to delve into programming, robot assembly, and project-based learning.

  • • Robotics Fundamentals

    • Basic Coding Concepts

    • Programming Robotics

    • Sensors and End Effectors

    • Engineering Design Process

    • Autonomy and Ethics in Robotics

    • STEM Career Pathways

  • This 5-week module includes a weekly, live virtual session guided by a STEM Education Specialist.

    Upon registration for the fall RoboExplorers module, participants will be enrolled in either a Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday weekly session offering. Live sessions will be from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

    • A Chromebook provided by NNPS and an internet connection

    • A tool kit that will have the basics needed for all modules. It will be returned at the end of the year (date TBD)

EXPLORE THE COSMOS

Embark on an enchanting exploration of the cosmos in our Astronomy and Astrophysics module. Journey from the familiar shores of Earth to the mysterious depths of distant galaxies, unveiling the universe's secrets. Delve into the awe-inspiring world of astronomy as you discover constellations, identify nearby planets, and gaze upon distant celestial wonders. Venture into the cosmic unknown as we delve into black holes, nebulae, and the mysterious realms of dark energy and dark matter. Through engaging lessons and hands-on activities, students will unlock the universe's secrets, gaining a profound understanding of celestial phenomena and cosmic quandaries. By the end of the course, you'll view the night sky with newfound wonder and knowledge, forever transforming your perspective on the cosmos.

Astronomy + Astrophysics

  • • Our Solar System (formation, mechanics, scale, etc.)

    • Stars (life cycles, constellations, magnitude, etc.)

    • Deep-space Objects

    • Optics and Observation Skills

    • Celestial Phenomena + Cosmic Quandaries (meteors, aurorae, black holes, nebulae, and dark energy/matter)

    • Citizen Science + NASA Missions

    • STEM Career Pathways

  • This 5-week module includes a weekly, live virtual session guided by a STEM Education Specialist.  

    Upon registration for the fall Explore the Cosmos module, participants will be enrolled in either a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday weekly session offering. Live sessions will be from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

    • A Chromebook provided by NNPS and an internet connection

    • A tool kit that will have the basics needed for all modules. It will be returned at the end of the year (date TBD)

MEET THE CREW

  • DANA WRIGHT

    STEM EDUCATION SPECIALIST

    Dana Wright, National Science Teaching Association’s 2023 Distinguished Informal Educator, has ten years of experience in developing authentic public engagement strategies and programs in the informal STEM education field. As a STEM Education Specialist for VASFA, she designs K-12 curricula for the next generation of problem-solvers, innovators, and explorers. 

  • KENJI NOMURA

    STEM EDUCATION SPECIALIST

    Kenji Nomura is a STEM educator dedicated to fostering curiosity through interactive, hands-on learning. He has experience developing maker spaces, rocket simulations, and educational tools that engage students. His work spans aerospace outreach, bioethics, and STEM identity, empowering students to analyze data, tackle challenges, and envision themselves in science.

  • GEOFF BERGEN

    DIRECTOR OF STEM PROGRAMS

    Geoff Bergen is a STEM Educator with 15+ years of experience. As Director of STEM Programs at Virginia Space Flight Academy, he delivers innovative OST programming to thousands. He also is a certified sUAS pilot, media producer, and Almost Rocket Science co-founder, his achievements include zero-gravity flight and pioneering high-altitude imaging.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?