University of Southern Indiana Launches STEM Discovery Lab to Enhance K-8 Education
The University of Southern Indiana (USI) has inaugurated a new STEM Discovery Lab designed to provide hands-on learning experiences for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Located on the first floor of the David L. Rice Library, the lab aims to enhance field trips for regional elementary and middle schools. The initiative is a collaborative effort funded by a $200,000 gift from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation and a $50,000 donation from the Alcoa Foundation, with additional support from READI 2.0 and private donors. The lab is managed by USI’s Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center (SwISTEM) and was developed in response to local educators' feedback seeking more interactive field trip experiences. Evan Rebar, a STEM curriculum development and outreach specialist with over a decade of experience, has been hired to design and lead lessons. The lab has already piloted successful field trips, including activities like designing mini-golf course holes to teach perimeter and area, building earthqu... 
