Bellarmine University hosts annual STEM Maker fair for local high school students

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Bellarmine University hosted hundreds of high school students on Thursday for its annual STEM Maker fair.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

More than 350 students from local schools took part in hands-on activities, experiments and demonstrations in Bellarmine's Frazier Hall.

The goal is to inspire students to consider a future in STEM and recruit for the Noyce Knights Scholars Program at Bellarmine, which prepares, supports and certifies highly-qualified science and math teachers for middle and high schools to fill the many STEM teaching vacancies in Kentucky.

"We hope the students get energized," Kristen Cook, Bellarmine professor of science and education, said. "We have a huge need for STEM careers in our community, but we'd also love to inspire the next generation to think about STEM teaching. Gotta have great teachers if you wanna have great people coming out of the STEM fields."

Some of Thursday's presentations included drones, robot dogs, genetic taste testing, bee keeping and more.