Visitors Explore Indigenous Science, Artificial Intelligence, and More on STEM Day

On Saturday, May 10, The Lawrence invited visitors to STEM Day, a celebration of our innovative work in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Visitors got a glimpse behind the scenes into some of our recent and ongoing projects, including new experiences around artificial intelligence (AI), environmental justice, and more.

STEM Day was originally envisioned, in part, as a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation and the many innovations and discoveries that have been made possible by NSF support over the years. Our interactive Planetarium, Forces That Shape the Bay outdoor science park, and other beloved exhibits and programs were developed thanks in part to the NSF and other agencies.

In addition to public programs, the NSF has funded innovative research that led to the creation of new approaches to teaching science. Thanks to past federal grants, learning experts at The Lawrence have studied how kids best learn STEM in schools, museums, and other learning spaces. We’ve also developed materials and practices to support teachers in effectively serving the needs of all students. Our curriculum projects and professional learning programs reach 20% of US K–12 students and millions of people worldwide.

“We wanted our community to be able to experience and see examples of the impactful projects and programs made possible by past NSF support. On STEM Day, visitors engaged in science discovery and learning made possible by these investments and learned more about STEM learning and research across UC Berkeley,” said Rena Dorph, Ph.D, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science.

Intrepid science enthusiasts have explored the frontiers of AI in our Virtually Human exhibit since it opened in 2023. On STEM Day, visitors were invited to explore new prototype activities in development for a new iteration of the exhibit. These new activities focused on generative AI, aka the tools people use to create stylized images from scratch. After experiencing some of these tools firsthand, visitors were asked to reflect on how generative AI is used and the ethical questions that arise.

Just down the hall, visitors explored a pop-up exhibit from our East Bay Academy for Young Scientists (EBAYS) program. Talented local high school students engaged with visitors about environmental science research they conducted in their communities, measuring levels of lead and other pollutants in soil. The students’ impressive work examined the potential impacts of these chemicals, and encouraged visitors to pick up a free lead testing kit for their own homes and yards as a first step towards keeping their environment clean and safe.

Special guests from the Ohlone community were invited for a celebration of tappenekšekma, the Ohlone Science Diplomats Program. Tappenekšekma is a Chochenyo word that means both teacher and learner. For more than a year, Ohlone youth and their families participated as teachers and learners in exhibit design workshops to develop new experiences that share Ohlone culture and traditional scientific knowledge. They showcased three augmented reality exhibit prototypes inviting visitors to paddle a tule boat around the San Francisco Bay, learn the traditional practice of acorn gathering, and discover traditional Ohlone music.

Beyond the new exhibits, the goal of tappenekšekma is to instill a sense of rightful presence at The Lawrence for the East Bay indigenous community. “This is change happening before our eyes,” said Vincent Medina, a leader of UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative and a Co-Principal Investigator on the project.

Several other groups from The Lawrence and beyond also showcased their innovative work, including representatives from our K-12 curriculum projects, The Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), the NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C-GEM), and 10k Science.

While we think every day is STEM Day at The Lawrence, it was a wonderful opportunity to bring together so many of our innovative projects and programs for one big celebration. Thanks to all of our visitors who joined us to make STEM Day special!