LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hundreds of students got to get up close and physical with science and technology at Bellarmine University. 

Mekhi Greathouse learned about friction at an interactive booth on campus at the annual STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Maker Fair. The Pleasure Ridge Park High School junior said he has always had an interest in science.

“I find it fun, interesting. It can be used for a lot of stuff.” Greathouse said.

Greathouse was one of over 400 high school students who came to the science fair.

According to event organizers, students came from local public, parochial and independent schools. 

Kristin Cook, co-director of the National Science Foundation Noyce Grant said, “I also hope they get an appreciation for the communication of science and math, the engineering, just the way that we communicate that, we teach that to each other, we get excited collectively about all of the possibilities.”

Students took part in several hands-on activities, including the use of dueling devices where they tried to pop each other’s balloons.

An electricity orb was a favorite of Marion C. Moore students, Sophia White and Amari Prince. They attended the event as part of their school club. The pair says after today they’re definitely even more interested in STEM.

Prince said, “I guess we have access to more dangerous things. That makes it more interesting.”

White added, “When we were little, it was only like the little kits that you could get at Walmart. Now, it’s access to other things.”

Presenters included Bellarmine University STEM faculty and students; faculty from Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS); and employees of the Kentucky Science Center. The Kentucky Science Center, JCTC and KCTCS are partners with Bellarmine in the university’s Noyce Knights Scholars Program.

Cook said they’re already planning next year’s STEM Maker Fair.