Through the Starbase program, the Department of Defense holds events for children that promote the hands-on application of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. There are 87 Starbase programs around the world, but the largest of them is in Maxwell, Alabama.
"Starbase is about sparking curiosity," explained Ted Welch, who is the Starbase Maxwell director. "We want students to see that science and engineering aren't just subjects in school — they're ways of thinking, creating, and solving problems that shape the world around us."
Through partnerships with local schools, the program provides 25 hours of instruction to fifth graders, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). For example, the students learn to code by playing with "astro" which is a robotic dog. "Astro brings robotics to life," Welch said. "It makes coding tangible and exciting, and students leave wanting to learn more."
To help connect the dots between what they are learning and the real-life applications, active duty service members come to speak to the kids about their career field. This includes pilots, air traffic controllers, firefighters, nurses, engineers, and Space Force guardians, according to a recent press release.
During the previous year, Starbase worked with 3,266 students, which sets a new record. Next year, they hope to expand that to 4,000 students.
"Whether these kids join the military, work in engineering, or start their own tech companies, they'll carry the confidence and problem-solving skills they learned here," Welch said.