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Google
senior
policy
counsel
Harry
Wingo
lauds
the
Howard
University
Middle
School
of Mathematics
and
Science
during
a presentation
of $250,000
for
a "Fab
Lab."
Hassan
Minor,
Ph.D.,
founder
of (MS)²
and
Howard
University
Senior
Vice
President,
accepted
the
award. |
|
WASHINGTON
–
Students
at the Howard
University
Middle School
of Mathematics
and Science
(MS)²
and Washington-area
students
will soon
“dream
in 3D”
thanks to
a $250,000
grant from
Google Inc.
on March
7.
The
grant, through
the Tides
Foundation,
will offset
the cost
of completing
a state-of-the-art
computer-automated
design and
manufacturing
lab at (MS)².
Students
will use
the new
“Fab
Lab”
to construct
prototypes
of their
own inventions.
A short
video about
the original
Fab Lab
at the Massachusetts
Institute
of Technology
got students
very excited.
“The
Google event
was a good
opportunity
to learn
about what
Google does
and how
Google works,”
said Deanna
Moore, a
seventh
grader at
(MS)².“Having
a FabLab
is really
cool because
at most
schools
you have
to travel
to other
places to
learn about
science,
while we
can just
walk across
the hall.”
Students
from (MS)²
and across
the nation’s
capital
attended
a panel
discussion
and expo
on science
and technology
held at
(MS)².
Panelists
Harry Wingo,
Google senior
policy counsel,
Ahna Smith,
chief of
staff for
D.C Deputy
Mayor for
Education,
and Provost
James Wyche,
Ph.D., inspired
students
to consider
a career
in science.
Hassan
Minor, Ph.D.,
founder
of (MS)²
and Howard
University
Senior Vice
President,
said the
Fab Lab
will be
an important
hands-on
engineering
asset to
students
throughout
Washington
D.C..
“It
will let
you dream
in 3D,”
he told
students.
“Students
will be
able to
conceive
designs
and then
use the
lab’s
computer-assisted
design and
manufacturing
tools to
make models.”
Wingo
said Google
is committed
to science
and technology
education
in schools
to
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expanding
opportunities
for tomorrow’s
innovators
today. If
you
can
think
it,
the
lab
will
help
you
build
it.
Google
is
excited
about
the
success
that
Howard
University
Middle
School
has
had
and
we
look
forward
to
a
great
partnership
with
this
project,”
Wingo
said.
Yohance Maqubela, the chief operating officer at (MS)², led the effort to obtain the grant. Maqubela guided attendees through the expo, which focused on science, technology and architecture. Several student-designed robotics and youth smartphone applications were showcased.
The Fab Lab will to be built in the summer adjacent to school’s existing building. The grand opening is expected in the fall.
Founded in 2005, the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science (MS)² is a public charter school committed to academic excellence, with a specific focus on mathematics and science.
Located on the main campus of Howard, (MS)², is the first charter school in the area to be established by a University. It features a rigorous academic model designed to prepare middle school students for college and careers in math, science, and engineering; a longer school day with accelerated instructional programs; small class sizes with a low student to teacher ratio; and exposure to enrichment activities led by agencies such as NASA, NOAA and programs offered by Howard University faculty, staff and students. |
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