MDA
U.S. Department of Defense
Skip to content. | Skip to global navigation | Skip to primary navigation
STEM outreach
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Outreach
STEM Outreach serves as an educational liaison unit for the Missile Defense Agency. STEM Outreach's goal is to increase the awareness of K-12 and college students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), in order to enhance the number of U.S. scientists and engineers capable of solving future missile defense challenges in the Government, industry, and academia. Activities provide opportunities for students, school site personnel, parents, and others involved in educational and career decision processes.
STEM Outreach Activities
The MDA’s STEM Outreach team is only one part of a wide-reaching initiative to excite students about STEM disciplines. We work to develop new activities and programs as well as support area programs already in place.
MDA Engineering in Art: 3-D ART IN MOTION
The MDA’s STEM Outreach team is proud to participate in widening students’ understanding of engineering. Engineering in Art is a program aimed to provide upper elementary school students an opportunity to explore visual arts. Students will study artists of kinetic art sculptures and will be able to identify engineering design and science concepts through the understanding of art principles. The program will culminate with students producing their own kinetic artwork.
This program is geographically limited to areas near or around MDA locations. For more information about becoming involved with Engineering in Art, please have your local museum contact us.
MDA Math Challenge Week
Are you up for a challenge? STEM Outreach’s signature outreach activity is The MDA’s Math Challenge Week (MCW). MCW challenges middle school students to apply mathematical skills in order to win a team-based competition. We offer training to teachers to facilitate implementation of this module during the summer.
Interested in having a MDA Math Challenge Week at your school? Please have the secondary education lead for the school system contact us.
MDA Classroom Speakers
Speak up! They can’t hear you! We realize great emphasis is placed on math, science and technology in classroom settings. Where possible, we offer subject matter experts who use these subject areas in their daily work and allow them to share their experiences from college to career with classroom students. Classroom speakers are geographically limited to areas near or around MDA locations.
Contact us if you would like to have a speaker from MDA discuss STEM careers.
MDA’s Target…? College!
What’s the goal? College! In a bi-monthly, roundtable format, we will share information with parents, educators, school counselors, community service and public services working with or supporting 6th -12th graders regarding STEM education, college preparation, careers and related topics. Examples include:
- Understanding the Impact of High School Course Selection
- Deciphering Standardized Test Scores
- Enriching Summer Experiences Through Co-ops, Internships, and Apprenticeships
- Extracurricular Activities Aiding STEM Academic Abilities
- Technological Innovations Relevant for Academic Success
For more information about becoming a panel or audience participant for the next “Target…? College!,” please contact us.
In addition to providing direct services and activities, STEM Outreach provides volunteer support to agencies, organizations and schools, including, but not limited to, the following.
Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) Robotics Competition
Alabama Regional IEEE Future City Competition
Sci-Quest Hands-On Science Center: Expanding Your Horizons
North Alabama Junior Achievement's Adventures in Engineering and Job Shadowing.
Contact Us
We would like to hear from you – Students, Parents, Teachers, Counselors, and other STEM community members. Are you seeking support for a STEM-related activity? Are you interested in volunteering for one of our upcoming activities? Are you a teacher, parent, or student seeking additional information about our programs and the STEM career fields?
If so, please contact us at STEMOutreach@mda.mil and we will be glad to answer your questions.
For information about other STEM resources, please visit Federal Resources for Educational Excellence, National Defense Education Program, Army Educational Outreach, AMRDEC Outreach, or NASA.