UNITAR Online Catalogue
CIFAL Miami- Steam Weather Day - FIU College of Arts, Sciences & Education Thematic Area- People and Social Justice
People
Florida International University (FIU) College of Arts, Sciences & Education, CIFAL Miami
Antecedentes
STEAM-Weather Day is a large-scale educational outreach event hosted by Florida International University (FIU) in partnership with CIFAL Miami and community stakeholders. The initiative aims to inspire elementary and middle school students to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), while strengthening awareness of weather resilience and climate preparedness in South Florida.
More than 2,100 students from 18 Miami-Dade County schools participated in the event. Through interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and real-world simulations, students engaged with engineers, meteorologists, emergency managers, scientists, and innovators.
Thematic Area: People and Social Justice
The event highlights equitable access to STEAM education, community resilience, and inclusive pathways to higher education, particularly for diverse and underserved communities in South Florida.
Objetivos del evento
- Inspire interest in STEAM fields among elementary and middle school students;
- Connect classroom learning to real-world applications in engineering and weather resilience;
- Promote disaster preparedness and climate resilience awareness;
- Showcase FIU research expertise and innovation;
- Strengthen collaboration between universities, public agencies, and community partners;
- Foster equitable access to educational opportunities in STEM-related careers.
Contenido y estructura
Engineering & Innovation Activities
- Bottle rocket launches
- Robotics demonstrations (SPOT and DOT robotic dogs)
- “Elephant toothpaste” chemical reaction experiments
- Go-cart engineering demos
- Engineering on Wheels mobile exhibits
Weather & Resilience Education
- FIU Wall of Wind wind tunnel demonstrations
- Hurricane preparedness guidance from National Weather Service
- Emergency management and disaster response education
- Climate resilience discussions
Community & Cultural Engagement
- Miami Children’s Museum physics and science activities
- NOAA interactive exhibits
- Fire rescue and SWAT vehicle demonstrations
- Athletic engagement and university spirit activities
The event integrated science education, real-world resilience, university exposure, and community partnership.
Metodología
- Experiential learning
- Hands-on demonstrations
- Interactive science exhibits
- Real-world scenario simulations
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Youth-centered engagement
The event emphasized active participation, applied learning, and exposure to career pathways in STEAM fields.
Público objetivo
- Elementary school students
- Middle school students
- Educators and school administrators
- Community youth groups
- Families in Miami-Dade County