Traveling STEM trailers hit the road in Northern New Mexico

September visit draws students, educators and community leaders

October 5, 2022

@theBradbury Challenge Oct 01 Opt
A Challenge Ambassador coaches local students at an activity station.

The Bradbury’s two brightly colored Challenge Tomorrow trailers, offering an interactive Lab-inspired experience, were a hit in Northern New Mexico in September. Inside, visitors tried hands-on STEM education activities and learned about a variety of careers from the volunteer Challenge Ambassadors, who shared about their work at the Lab. Visitors were also treated to a special appearance by Spot, the robotic dog from the Lab’s Process Modeling and Analysis group. 

Challenge Tomorrow spent two days at Ohkay Owingeh, serving 100 sixth-grade students from Ohkay Owingeh Community School and Pojoaque Middle School, as well as local educators, parents and teachers.

@theBradbury Challenge Oct 02
Local students at Ohkay Owingeh try out Challenge Tomorrow activities.

The traveling trailers also offered a hands-on look at the Lab’s work for more than 100 community leaders at Ohkay Owingeh Conference Center in Rio Arriba County during a Community Conversation with the Laboratory on Sept. 21. 

The Community Conversation event included a conference where local educators had a chance to discuss STEM education with Lab Director Thom Mason and National Nuclear Security Administration Field Office Manager Ted Wyka. A group of education specialists from other national laboratories and Battelle and the Battelle Education Community of Practice also attended the event. 

The trailers’ first foray out of Los Alamos was a great success! Catch Challenge Tomorrow at its next public appearance at the Discovery Festival in Albuquerque on Nov. 18.

@theBradbury Challenge Oct 03
A community leader chats with one of the Lab’s Challenge Ambassadors.