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The Park Rapids Area Library will present the 2024 Barb Ranson Memorial STEM Superstar on Saturday, April 20th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the Park Rapids Event Room.
Participation in the event, which will “celebrate today’s stars and empower tomorrow’s leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” is free.
The event will include hands-on STEM activities and demonstrations for preschoolers and older participants starting at 2 p.m. Toddlers and their families can make and assemble their own playdough, read, explore, and help a friendly wooden robot find its way home.
Attendees will connect pipes, use microscopes, assemble a model of a human hand, and meet superstar Dr. Veronica Pinnick, NASA Integration and Test Manager. Dr. Holly Laferriere, Professor of Biology, Bemidji State University; Becky Marty, regional ecologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Kate Olinger is Director of Industry and Regulatory Affairs at plumbing manufacturer Aponar.
At 3:30 p.m., featured speaker Ms. Pinnick will take the stage, followed by a “Women in STEM” panel discussion with Ms. Laferriere, Ms. Marty, and Ms. Olinger at 4:00 p.m.
This event was planned in memory of Barbara Ranson, a former library patron, geotechnical engineer, and college mathematics teacher who passed away from cancer in 2010, with a generous donation from her family. In a letter to the library, Ranson’s husband, Ed, said the library was a “bright sanctuary during difficult times” for Barb, who loved math and technology and was a STEM superstar. She added that she hopes the event will inspire other young women. Track your interests in these areas.
Library Assistant Leanne Willenbring said library staff were excited to host this event, which was originally planned for 2020, just before COVID-19, and features the same three presenters. He pointed out that he was scheduled to appear. “I’m glad they were able to be successful again this year,” Willenbring said.
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