Students explore inner geek with Mind Trekkers

San Jacinto College encouraged local students to “get their geek on” with the Mind Trekkers Adventures in STEM Festival March 9-10 at the Central Campus LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology.

During the day, nearly 5,000 sixth graders from Channelview, Clear Creek, Deer Park, Galena Park, La Porte, Pasadena, and Sheldon independent school districts and The Rhodes School engaged in more than 100 hands-on science experiments.

During the public Mind Trekkers Family Night March 9, families and children also enjoyed the same science experiments and activities.

“This was a great opportunity for our local sixth graders and community to appreciate science, technology, math, and engineering and learn more about our STEM programs at San Jac,” said Dr. Allatia Harris, vice chancellor, strategic initiatives, workforce development, community relations, and diversity.

In 2015, Dow Chemical Company invited San Jac to host this event for the Houston region. Michigan Technical University engineering students led about 100 different experiments for sixth graders and area families, with help from San Jac employees, students, and industry partners. Since 2018, San Jac has run this event with industry support.

Major sponsors this year included LyondellBasell, INEOS, Dow, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Kaneka, Chevron Refinery, and more.