Physics. Math. Engineering. Biology. All can be learned—in a stuffy, windowless lab—or experienced out in the real world. We much prefer the latter, as does Maryville College. That’s why we teamed up with the college to create the Scots Science Scholars program. Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the program encourages students to take on the rigors of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) majors by showing them real world applications of classroom math and science.
In addition to gaining laboratory and classroom skills to prepare them for college-level classes, the students spend time with us, learning to think on their feet during a ropes course, calculating forces on the Alpine Tower, and paddling their way through natural history on the Ocoee River. Their capstone event is a whitewater rafting expedition, which also takes place on the Ocoee. Along the way, students are given the opportunity to see STEM in action as well as develop tangible abilities that will serve them well—both in and out of the classroom.
Click here to learn more about the Scots Science Scholars program.