North Bergen STEAM Academy Students Participate In NASA Earth Day Video Conference

5th and 7th Grade STEAM Academy students from North Bergen were among 30, nationwide school districts taking part in an Earth Day video link with NASA officials.  The conference let students know that NASA is much more than rockets and space exploration.  The Administration studies natural habitats, animal and plant species and so much more.

Students from each school district sent in questions to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida about the environment, NASA and its role beyond space exploration in the hope their student question would be chosen for inclusion in the video conference.  With about two minutes remaining in the hour long event last Thursday, a roar went up in the North Bergen High School classroom, as a NASA scientist said “We have a question from North Bergen.”  That’s when 7th grader Mohamed Elshabeiny appeared on the video conference link and asked his question about climate change.

It was an exciting moment for his fellow STEAM Academy classmates and North Bergen District STEM and STEAM Academy Specialist Stephanie Stern.  The relationship the North Bergen Board of Education has with NASA is expanding the educational opportunities the district’s students are receiving.

Last year the North Bergen STEM Academy high schoolers participated in a live, video link with the United States’ Space Station, communicating directly with two astronauts.

The partnership North Bergen’s Board of Education has with NASA is providing students an education which goes beyond words, opening up all sorts of career possibilities following graduation.  Thursday’s event just enhanced the cooperative connection the two entities have formed.