The Lorain Public Library System is hoping to get youth more interested in STEM.
A Mars Robot Challenge took place Dec. 12 at the North Ridgeville Branch, 35700 Bainbridge Road.
“I wanted to find a good way to talk about the difficulties of space exploration that isn’t just staring at a book,” said Librarian Robert Cox. “It can be hard to find something here for us to do to incorporate space, so this was what we came up with using all in-house supplies.”
The activity encouraged school-aged children to guide the Mars explorer robot through several challenges in an obstacle course.
Youth also read space-themed literature to further expand their knowledge.
“For me, the fun of space are these types of challenges like landing the craft and going through the terrain,” Cox said. “We want to show people that we have resources that they can browse and explore their interests.”
Cox said he hopes to encourage youth to think about space more accurately.
“One common misconception is when people, and especially youth, think of planets, they only see distant photos and only think of the flat, monotonous surfaces,” he said. “In reality, it’s so much more than a huge rock, because it’s filled with places like canyons and mountain ranges.
“In this instance, we’re focusing on Mars, and it’s not just one plain of red sand.”
Cox said he hoped the challenges spark a continued interest in space exploration.
“I really want them to take away the fact that it’s more than pretty pictures, and it’s challenging,” he said. “The reason people go to space in the first place is to learn practical things that can be brought back to Earth.”
Cox said the event had been held before the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“I held this program a few years ago before the pandemic, so it was fun to bring it back again,” he said. “We rotate through our various ideas, and as kids get older, and we get newer participants, it’s all fresh and exciting for them.”
STEM programs take place at multiple Lorain Public Library System branches.
“This is a one time program, but several of our branches hold science series programs,” Cox said. “Each session focuses on a different topic within science and includes space.”
For more information on library programs, visit https://www.lorainpubliclibrary.org/events.
