Delaware STEM Educator Award winner throws out first pitch!

By Daniel Suchenski – Delaware STEM Council

Robert Gibson, a winner of the 2014 Delaware STEM Educator Awards threw out the first pitch for the Blue Rocks baseball team June 6th, 2015 as part of Science Day at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington DE!

Photo By Daniel Suchenski

Above: Blue Rocks Mascot with STEM Award winner Robert Gibson

Sponsored for many years by The Dow Chemical Company, Science Day at the Ballpark brings together science fans of all ages and celebrates science through hands-on and on-field experiments, science giveaways, and post-game fireworks. This year’s running, a special benefit to the Delaware STEM Council, also included a NBC 10 live broadcast from the game featuring NBC's Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz.

Families from across the region were treated to the wonder of science and STEM. From baseball-throwing robots to interactive video trivia questions, kids and adults learned about the fun and power of science. Dow STEM Ambassadors joined staff and volunteers from 10 organizations in Delaware devoted to demonstrating the science behind our everyday lives.

Some of the other organizations in attendance June 6^th equally committed to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education joined Dow with their own exhibits, including:

·         MOE FTC Robotics

·         The Delaware Nature Society

·         The Delaware Children’s Museum

·         Hagley Museum

·         Delaware Teachers of Science

“Some people think STEM is not attainable for the average person. That it is something that happens in labs and classrooms far away from daily lives. Science Day at the Blue Rocks Stadium showed kids and their families that all of us are scientists, adeptly using science and technology in our daily lives,” said Robert Gibson. “What surprises many kids is just how fun STEM can be. Once it’s clear that STEM is just an arms length away, suddenly all the possibilities of the future are right at their fingertips. This is important as they will be tasked with discovering sustainable answers to challenges around the world.”

Photo By Daniel Suchenski

Above: H.H. DowBot giving Robert Gibson the ball for the game’s first pitch.

“We look forward to partnering with organizations such as the Delaware STEM Council and the Wilmington Blue Rocks, on transformational initiatives designed to increase interest in careers and opportunities linked to STEM,” said Justin Land, Northeast public affairs manager at Dow.  “At Science Day at the Ballpark, through the support of all the organizations involved, there is a true possibility to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

With science on their side, the Wilmington Blue Rocks outlasted the Frederick Keys, winning the game 7 – 4.

Photo By Daniel Suchenski

Above: At Science Day June 6th, Dow STEM Ambassadors shared the Science of Sport, including hands-on activities focused on sports surfaces and luge.

About Dow:

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity.

About Robert Gibson:

Robert was a winner of the 2014 Delaware STEM Educator Awards held last Fall in Wilmington. A self-described ‘STEM Advocate’, Robert is a Microsoft Engineering and Technology Teacher at Sussex Central HS and is hoping to get others interested in, and to apply for, the upcoming 2015 STEM Awards

About the Delaware STEM Educator Awards:

In its second year, the Delaware STEM Educator Awards, made possible with funding from Ashland, recognize a Delaware public school teacher or team of teachers, at the elementary, middle and high school levels, who demonstrated “STEM innovation and excellence through teaching, academic collaboration, and student engagement.” First place winners in each category are awarded $7,500 unrestricted cash prize. This year’s deadline for the 2015 Delaware STEM Educator Awards are due soon. June 15^th 2015. Learn more and apply at www.DelawareSTEM.org.