Skip to main content

Tennessee STEM Education Center

STEM Expo

Dear Members of the Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub,
I hope this message finds you well. After careful consideration and discussion, we are writing to inform you that we will be discontinuing the STEM EXPO event after several successful years.
This decision comes in light of several factors, including the recent development of independent STEM expositions by various school districts. Additionally, we have observed a decline in project-based learning initiatives in some school districts following the COVID-19 pandemic, along with an increase in competing interests and activities within our educational landscape.
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your support and dedication to the STEM EXPO over the years. Your involvement has been invaluable, and we appreciate the energy and enthusiasm you brought to this event.
While we will no longer be organizing the STEM EXPO, we remain committed to supporting STEM education in our community and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.
We look forward to working with you on future initiatives that inspire and engage students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Thank you for your understanding, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.

EVENT WEBPAGE ARCHIVE

The Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub invites 5th-12th grade students in Middle Tennessee to work individually or in teams of up to 5 students to prepare and present their STEM project at STEM EXPO at MTSU.  Students engage in projects involving a process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem or challenge. These rigorous projects help students learn key academic content and practice skills necessary for success such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The STEM EXPO will showcase original projects by middle and high school students from across middle Tennessee.  

Agricultural STEM

1st Place

Overall Creek Elementary

Dog Bed Rug

STEM Research

1st Place

Aaron Academy

Magic Science

2nd Place

Overall Creek Elementary

Safe Math Bath Bombs

Technology

1st Place

Decherd Elementary

SEL-Resource App

Overall

1st Place

Aaron Academy

Magic Science

2nd Place

Overall Creek Elementary

Safe Math Bath Bombs

3rd Place

Overall Creek Elementary

Dog Bed Rug

Agricultural STEM

1st Place

Christiana Middle School

Grow AeroTech

2nd Place

Rucker Stewart Middle School

The Revelation of Aeration

Engineering

1st Place

Blackmon Middle School

Licker Stopper

2nd Place

Lavergne Middle School

Size Down

STEM Research

1st Place

Liberty Creek Middle School

How Does CPU Core Clock Speed and Core Count Affect the Average Consumer

2nd Place

Rhodes Academy Home School

Plant, Sugar, and Test Strips, Oh My!

Technology

1st Place

Stewarts Creek Middle School

Eco Cup

2nd Place

Stewarts Creek Middle School

SEPA Buddy

Overall

1st Place

Stewarts Creek Middle School

Eco Cup

2nd Place

Blackmon Middle School

Licker Stopper

3rd Place

Liberty Creek Middle School

How Does CPU Core Clock Speed and Core Count Affect the Average Consumer

Agricultural STEM

1st Place

Stewarts Creek High

A Cost Comparison of Wheat, Barley, and Oat Nutrition and Cost Efficiency to Industry Standards in an Aquaponics System

2nd Place

Stewarts Creek High

An Analysis of How Agribusiness Can Retain Agricultural Technicians and the Effect

Engineering

1st Place

Oakland High School FFA

The Comparison of Water-based Acrylic and Epoxy-Sealed Concrete Samples to Standard Concrete in Water Penetration, Abrasion, Rapid Chloride Permeability, and Visual Testing

2nd Place

Hendersonville High School

Prosthetic Devices

STEM Research

1st Place

Pope John Paul II

The Effect of Different Types of Sweeteners on the Acidity of Tea and the Effect of the pH of Tea on the Decrease in Mass of an Eggshell

2nd Place

Pope John Paul II

The Effect of the Type of Pigment on the Voltage Produced by the DSSC

Technology

1st Place

Stewarts Creek High

Neon

2nd Place

Hendersonville High School

Programmable Fight Stick

Overall

1st Place

Oakland High School FFA

The Comparison of Water-based Acrylic and Expoxy-Sealed Concrete Samples to Standard Concrete in Water Penetration, Abrasion, Rapid Chloride Permeability, and Visual Testing

2nd Place

Stewarts Creek High

Neon

3rd Place

Pope John Paul II

The Effect of Different Types of Sweeteners on the Acidity of Tea and the Effect of the pH of Tea on the Decrease in Mass of an Eggshell

Printable Version

Projects will be entered into one of four categories (outlined below) based on teacher classification at the time of submission and will be divided into one of three age groups (5-6th, 7-8th, and 9-12th). Schools may register multiple entries per category and age group.

Technology: Computer programming, programming computer games, designing computer applications, or designing websites

STEM Research: Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Biotechnology, or Medicine/Veterinary Medicine

Engineering: Mechanical, Industrial, Civil, Aerospace, Automotive, Environmental, Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical or other Engineering fields

Agricultural STEM: Agricultural production and science

STEM EXPO is designed as a competitive event between students/teams.  At least one participating student must be present at the Expo to represent each entry.  Projects will be evaluated using a common rubric.  Please note that the rubric has been modified from the one used in prior years. Awards will be granted to the top performers in each category and age group.  

  • Projects may be submitted by an individual student or a team of students (maximum of 5 students per team).
  • Students may only be represented by one project in the STEM EXPO.
  • Completed projects must demonstrate that students went through an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge.
  • Each project must be represented at the STEM Exposition by at least one student who actually participated in the project.  Projects with no student representatives will not be evaluated.
  • Each individual or team entering a project will be interviewed by evaluators.
  • The evidence component requires students to show proof of project completion, demonstrating an end product.  Evidence will vary from project to project, but may take the following forms:
    • Physical model
    • Demonstration
    • Research log book (required for the STEM research category)
    • Video demonstration
    • Audio demonstration
    • Visual representations such as pictures, drawings, or art-work
    • Scientific poster
    • Portfolio
    • Other forms of evidence as approved by the STEM EXPO Director 

Safety guidelines:

Projects will be prohibited from displaying or using the following on the day of the STEM EXPO

  • Combustible materials, in any combination, including chemicals
  • Chemicals, including household chemicals, that are not properly contained so as to prevent accidental spilling
  • Sharp items (including blades, cutters, knives, saws and scissors)
  • Plants that are poisonous, contain compounds that are irritating to the skin, may cause allergic reactions, or are endangered
  • Firearms (including BB, soft air, paint-ball, handguns, rifles and shotguns)
  • Invertebrate animals (including insects, worms, mollusks, spiders, slugs…)
  • Vertebrate animals (amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles)
  • Human beings
  • Biohazards:  infectious agents or hazardous biological materials that present a risk or potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment, including recombinant DNA; organisms and viruses infectious to humans, animals or plants.

Display guidelines:

  • A standard display must consist of one or more panels of information and any objects the student/s wish to display within safety guidelines.  Exhibit panels must be constructed of stable and free-standing material not to exceed 48 inches in width, 30 inches in depth, and 72 inches in height.  Failure to meet these requirements will result in disqualification. Tables will be provided.

Abstract guidelines:

Each project should include an abstract of 250 words or less.  The poster should address the following eight elements as part of the presentation.  Since these are used for evaluation purposes, they should be prominently displayed.

  1. Purpose – A purpose (question or problem) is provided, and the purpose is specific, clear, and stated succinctly. The project communicates the reason it is important.
  2. Research – Evidence of background research. Background research is sufficient and has been used to inform and create the hypothesis/requirements.
  3. Hypothesis/Requirements – Hypotheses or requirements are provided, and they are clear and concise.  The project addresses the purpose question. The project reflects why the hypothesis or design solution best fits the question/problem.
  4. Materials – All materials used for the project are listed and adequately explained when necessary.
  5. Procedure/Experiment – Procedures are described step-by-step and easily understood by the audience. The project shows evidence of replication or iterative improvement.
  6. Results – Results are provided and easy to understand. Results provide information that answers the purpose question.
  7. Conclusion/Analysis – A conclusion or summary is provided. It indicates whether the hypothesis/approach was correct or not, and there is an explanation for why or why not.
  8. Originality – The project or approach is unique. The student(s) chose a novel topic or took a commonly used topic and changed it to make it different and interesting.

There are two different categories for support positions, either a Volunteer or an Evaluator.  Both are needed for a successful event!  Please consider helping out at this year’s STEM EXPO — it’s a very exciting and satisfying experience!

Volunteer positions are non-judging. This role involves activities such as working at the check-in desk, as door/hall helpers and room assistants, and helping with set-up and break-down.

Evaluators are needed to judge and score the projects. For the evaluator’s convenience, assignments will be referenced, and scores will be recorded digitally from a smart phone, tablet, or laptop. If you do not have a devise, one will be provided for you.

Please contact Dr. Kevin Ragland at kevin.ragland@mtsu.edu or 615-904-8405 if you have additional questions. 
We are looking forward to your participation in the STEM EXPO!

EVENT MEDIA AND PHOTO GALLERY