EPICS at Imagination Station
Executive director, Sujatha Ramani, and the team at Imagination Station are playing a vital role in enhancing STEM literacy among children through hands-on learning experiences. Their collaboration with the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program at Purdue University, led by graduate students like Emmanuel Babalola, is making a significant impact on the community.
Imagination Station, a hands-on science center located in downtown Lafayette, serves as a hub for STEM education, supporting both children and adults in the community by integrating STEM with arts and humanities. Through partnerships with programs like EPICS, students like Babalola can create engaging environments for STEM learning.
The EPICS program, utilizing human-centered design methods, empowers students to address real-world challenges and develop technical skills while serving the community.
Babalola’s project ‘Physics is Fun’ program exemplifies this collaborative effort. By organizing volunteer events at Imagination Station and utilizing STEM kits purchased with funding from a Purdue Community Engagement and Service-Learning grant, Babalola and the team provided hands-on learning experiences that engaged children’s minds through interactive instruction.
The approach emphasizes auditory, visual, and hands-on learning methods, framing information through storytelling to demonstrate physics concepts in action. The use of STEM kits not only enriches the learning experience but also allows children to take home tangible reminders of what they have learned.
Other EPICS designed exhibits are located throughout the museum. The most recent addition is called Hydroponics. Within the next year, there will be exhibits on the Mars Rover, Satellite Scrambler, Hands on Generator, and Magnetic Racers.
Imagination Station hosts various weekly events such as Beginner Scientist on Thursday mornings and Sunday afternoons, Science Saturday, and Family Science Sunday, supplemented by presentations from volunteer groups and experts recommended by Purdue’s Office of Engagement. These events aim to spark children’s curiosity and foster a love for learning.
Imagination Station also offers several camps for children throughout the year with three camps being offered this summer. The Astronaut Commander Camp runs from June 10-12. The Art in Science Camp runs July 8-9. Science camp will be on July 29-30. For information about all their programs and to register for any of these camps, go to imagination-station.org.
Ramani and the team’s dedication to STEM education and community engagement underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in promoting lifelong learning and inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators.
Check out the Visit Imagination Station flyer.