Mississippi School for Mathematics and Sciences (MSMS), in collaboration with the Mississippi Development Authority’s Energy & Natural Resources Division, conducted a traveling science carnival as part of Energy Awareness Day on Thursday, October 5th. Hundreds of students from across the Magnolia State flocked to the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum in Jackson for the first annual Energy Awareness Day. Students and teachers alike enjoyed a myriad of exciting exhibits, interactive workshops and hands-on presentations focused on sources of energy, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and conservation of natural resources.
Lisa Campbell, who manages conferences and event coordination for the Mississippi Development Authority’s Energy & Natural Resource division said, “Energy Awareness Day, is best described as an outdoor classroom, designed to encourage scientific literacy and energy education through interactive displays and presentations.”
For their part, MSMS students conducted experiments related to chemical, mechanical and electrical energy designed to capture the attention of middle school students and stimulate an increased interest in science. Additionally, MSMS students assisted with overall event logistics, serving as group guides and greeters, as well providing additional manpower to run the “Fun Tent”, which offered a handful of interactive energy games and associated prizes.
Keegan Lindsey, current senior at MSMS, said, “MSMS is an opportunity for excellence. Today we provided that opportunity to students all across Mississippi.”
Energy Awareness Day was a great opportunity for Mississippi students to gain exposure to energy education in a fun and engaging setting. This recent partnership between the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science represents a natural extension of MSMS’s own science carnival and builds on the school’s mission to serve as a bridge between classroom STEM education and Mississippi’s workforce needs in these critical areas.