STEAM education is crucial to Nevada’s future.
STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education. Advanced manufacturing, IT, cybersecurity, energy, and agriculture, are growing faster than non-STEAM industries in Nevada. Tesla, Switch, and hundreds of other Nevada companies need workers with STEAM skills. STEAM education prepares students for these careers and to make a difference. They can create new products, solve ecological challenges, improve how people live and make an impact.
STEAM Education Investment Nevada
Nevada invests in STEAM education and workforce training to give all Nevadans the skills the New Nevada economy requires.
To support that effort, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology created the Nevada STEM Hub. Its goal is to collect and share STEAM education information. The website includes many resources, such as a STEAM career guide and STEAM education programs and events.
Get Your Student Involved In STEAM Education
Many of the programs on Nevada STEM Hub are available year-round. They can help get students interested in STEAM or augment an existing STEAM education. Here are several to explore.
FIRST Nevada
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FIRST Nevada provides STEAM programs to K-12 students in Nevada. The program incorporates hands-on robotic projects with math, science, and engineering principles. FIRST’s four program levels include options for children of all grades, from K-12. Students explore new and developing technologies and develop leadership and communication skills. For more information, visit firstnevada.org.
Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center
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On the University of Nevada, Reno’s campus, the Fleischmann Planetarium has daily digital planetarium shows in its dome theater. The Planetarium also hosts field trips and STEAM educational outreach in Earth and space science. Visitors can also experience observatory viewing at the Redfield Campus of the University. The Exhibit Hall is open daily, with changing interactive displays and immersive fixed exhibits. For more information, visit planetarium.unr.nevada.edu.
Great Basin Institute
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The Great Basin Institute promotes environmental research, STEAM education, and conservation. The Institute offers interdisciplinary environmental field studies, courses, and workshops. At the Galena Creek Visitors Center, the Institute offers community activities and events. For more information, visit galenacreekvisitorcenter.org or thegreatbasininstitute.org.
K-12 Engineering Outreach Lab
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The Engineering Outreach Lab provides exciting hands-on lessons in various engineering topics. Students can learn about engineering and take part in hands-on learning opportunities. Lesson topics change every three to six months. This is a free service provided by the College of Engineering. For more information, visit
unr.edu/engineering/research-and-outreach/k-12-outreach/lab.
Kidzone Museum
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The KidZone Museum is a children’s museum in Truckee, California. Its mission is to inspire learning through creative play and discovery. The museum’s exhibits are optimal for children younger than 7. Its camps and school programs are designed for children through elementary school. For more information, visit kidzonemuseum.org.
McCarran Ranch Preserve
The McCarran Ranch Preserve was The Nature Conservancy’s first restoration project on the lower Truckee River. The work done there has become a model for how to fix the Truckee. The Nature Conservancy’s STEAM education and outreach program introduces students to wetlands, riparian habitats, and restoration. For more information, visit nature.org.
Nevada Museum of Art
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You can’t have STEAM without the arts! The Nevada Museum of Art’s E.L. Cord Museum School hosts many, ongoing STEAM education programs. With the Desert Research Institute’s Science Alive program, the museum hosts an annual statewide conference to explore best practices in STEAM Education. For more information, visit nevadaart.org.
Nevada Challenger
At the Nevada Challenger Center, participants become astronauts, scientists, engineers or medical team members on simulated NASA-based missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Using space exploration as a theme, the Challenger Center creates positive STEAM education experiences. For more information, visit nevadachallenger.org.
Northern Nevada Girls Math And Technology Program
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The Northern Nevada Girls Math And Technology Program provides STEAM education to girls in seventh or eighth grade. It supports and encourages girls to increase their knowledge, skills, and confidence in math and technology. For more information, visit unr.edu/girls-math-camp.
Northern Nevada Math Club
The Northern Nevada Math Club wants to create a community where math is cool, and students find their joy of math. The club does this by holding fun, social, team-based math competitions. This isn’t typical classroom math—problems are challenging and expose students to new math ideas and concepts. For more information, visit nnvmath.org.
Sierra Nevada Journeys
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Sierra Nevada Journeys delivers innovative outdoor, science-based education programs for youth. All programs are designed to foster higher cognition and build long-term student achievement. For more information, visit sierranevadajourneys.org.
Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
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The Discovery is Northern Nevada’s home for informal STEAM learning. Experience exciting hands-on activities and education in seven amazing galleries in downtown Reno. For more information, visit nvdm.org.
Urban Roots
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Urban Roots empowers students to answer the question, “Where does our food come from?” Urban Roots’ garden education connects students to their health, classrooms, environment, and community. For more information, visit urgc.org.
