Science

Summer Camp STEMtastic (USA)

In the United States, promoting the education of young people in STEM subjects is regarded as important. That is why Thomas University in the state of Georgia, United States developed an education programme aimed at raising the interest of socially disadvantaged youth in STEM professions.

North America

USA

Thomasville, Georgia

Funding period: 2015-2022

One of the key funding aims of the Wilo-Foundation in the areas of science and education is to raise young people’s interest in innovative topics relating to engineering and natural sciences along the entire education chain. There is huge demand for highly qualified young people with a degree in STEM subjects. Empirical data shows that socially disadvantaged persons and minorities are underrepresented in STEM degree courses. That is why the Education Department at Thomas University in the U.S. State of Georgia launched the "STEMtastic Summer Camp" in 2014.

Kinder mit Rucksäcken der Wilo-Foundation — Wilo-Foundation visits the STEMtastic Summer Camp in Thomasville 2017. Photo: Thomas University, Thomasville (GA), USA

Summer Camp STEMtastic (USA) - Ein Schüler freut sich über seinen Fang aus dem Meer — Summer Camp STEMtastic (USA). Photo: Thomas University, Thomasville (GA), USA

Since then, there have been workshops during the summer holidays for a group of selected young “campers” (grade six and above) every year, on topics such as water systems, the science of flight, natural resource management, food/nutrition and sustainability, medical science, robotics or archaeology. The project will end after 14 years (in 2021). By then, it will have produced valuable data for analysis to prove – or disprove – that the proportion of young people from disadvantaged groups studying STEM subjects has increased as a result of the "STEMtastic Camp".

Photo Header: Thomas University, Thomasville (GA), USA

Our funding partner

Thomas University in the U.S. state of Georgia is a public university and was founded in 1950. With its small number of students (approx. 1,100) and innovative methods, it provides an outstanding learning environment. The university offers 17 bachelor’s and 15 master’s programmes. The university places a special focus on the fields of business/economics and health.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs?