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Program to cultivate ‘the next generation of Wright brothers’

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By Jim DeBrosse, Staff Writer 12:18 AM Sunday, November 15, 2009

Building working robots from Legos, re-creating a plaster human torso from the inside out, or learning the basics of the printing trade are among the many dozens of hands-on science and technology activities awaiting Dayton area children in a free after-school program being launched this week by Time Warner Cable.

Students in fourth through eighth grade will be invited to attend programming provided by Time Warner’s partnering organizations, including Carillon Historical Park, Invention Convention, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Cox Arboretum and K12 Gallery for Young People in Dayton, as well as iSpace and the Fusion Center in Cincinnati.

It’s part of a national effort by Time Warner to raise interest among young schoolchildren in STEM careers — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — before they reach high school. Time Warner divisions will air spots informing parents and children of the opportunities in their area.

“Kids are naturally curious, but at a certain age, they’ve been losing that curiosity toward science and building things,” said Mike Pedelty, vice president of communication for Time Warner in Southwest Ohio.

“Dayton has such a great tradition of innovation and invention. We want to make sure we’re cultivating the next generation of Wright brothers.”

Eighty percent of jobs in the next decade will require STEM skills, but studies show kids are losing interest in science and technology at an early age, threatening the country’s position globally, according to the National Science Foundation.

One NSF survey found that 84 percent of U.S. middle school students would rather eat their vegetables, clean their room or take out the trash than learn about science and math.

In Southwest Ohio, Time Warner Cable is pledging $11 million in cash and in-kind support for the STEM after-school program over the next five years, with many of its 2,100 employees volunteering to help, Pedelty said. Nationally, Time Warner has made a $100 million commitment in cash and services to the effort over the next five years.

Pedelty said Time Warner is hoping its support will mean most if not all of the activities provided by their partner organizations will be free. Carillon Historical Park, for instance, has designed four different after-school programs to be rotated each month, starting with a workshop for kids on how local inventors like Charles Kettering, Edward Deeds and the Wright brothers developed their ideas for new products.

Pedelty said the program will pay special attention to recruiting minorities and girls.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2437 or jdebrosse@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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