NEWS Photo provided by Sylvan Learning Center
Veteran NASA Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris and George S., winner of the National Grand STEM Challenge
VETERAN ASTRONAUT URGES KIDS TO SHOOT FOR THE MOON Harris stresses the importance of STEM education during visit to Sylvan Learning Center BY RICH ADAMS
Kids at Lansing’s Sylvan Learning Center recently learned about the importance of STEM – science, technology, engineering, math – compliments of a visitor from outer space. Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. is a two-time space shuttle crew member and the first African American to spacewalk. He paid a visit to the learning center after a student, fifth-grader George Rollins, won a national competition sponsored by the National Math and Science Initiative, of which Harris is CEO. While in Lansing he spoke to the small group of students and parents at Sylvan and later appeared with Rollins for a fifth-grade assembly at Herbison Woods Elementary School.
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His message, while often couched in tales about his experiences on the shuttles Columbia and Discovery, was clear: STEM education is vital if the elementary students of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.
age when I got excited about the science and aerospace part of the business.”
“In this day and age everything is involved in technology, everything we do no matter what profession you’re in,” Harris said. “You must have some proficiency in STEM. That’s how important it is.”
“I decided to be an astronaut 50 years ago, when we landed on the moon,” Harris said. “I was enamored about space prior to that, but when I saw Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon – that was it for me.”
Harris, 63, said that when he was growing up, STEM education had not yet been established. “But we had science class and we had math class. I was inspired by my science teacher, particularly in middle school,” Harris recalled. “I was probably George’s
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FEBRUARY 2020
During his discussion with the children, Harris was even more specific, saying his interest in space began July 20-21, 1969.
In his talk with the children and parents, his message repeatedly returned to the importance of STEM education, particularly science. When noting the temperature in space can get as low as minus 165 degrees, he again gave a science lesson.
