STARBASE Louisiana is working with Bossier Schools to build the next generation of innovators by presenting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a new way.

Department of Defense (DoD) STARBASE is a national STEM program in 90 locations throughout the U.S. It funded the same DoD banner as programs such as JROTC, STARBASE originally began life as a pilot program from Kellog Foundation to work with DoD to develop new engineers from American schools. 

STARBASE Louisiana Director Richard Scott noted that research shows that the make-or-break time for students in math and science is fifth grade. STARBASE seeks to inspire kids to explore STEM by exposing them to different fields within the STEM disciplines. 

The goal is to let students know what success in STEM looks like and inspire them to try new things.

“Here, we say ‘Hands-on, minds on’ because all our experiments are designed with touching something,” said Scott. “We use STEM concepts and apply it so students can see the connections.”

STARBASE’s partnership with Bossier Parish Schools sees middle school and high school students undergoing five days of expeditionary learning in the STARBASE’s building at Barksdale AFB.

“STARBASE started with one class per day and Bossier Schools wanted to get more schools involved, so that turned into a relationship where they provide a teacher and our schedule gets filled with their students first,” Scott explained. 

This partnership has led to an increase in test scores. Previous pre- and post-testing showed a 168% verified increase in STEM skills over the past 20 years. That testing was stopped to give more time back to teachers in the classroom. 

“The students get to do something fun and different, and they don’t realize that they were exposed to algebra or chemistry in the process,” said Scott “For example, the whole purpose of using robots is to teach algebra and the scientific method. Students don’t know that they just want to play with a robot.”

As one of the premier programs in DoD, STARBASE Louisiana has won multiple awards during its 25 years of helping inspire a love of STEM in students. But the real award is building the next generation of engineers and aviators.

“We hear about success stories. We hear anecdotal stories about our graduates who went on to aeronautic careers at companies like SpaceX,” Scott said.

So, what does the next 25 years look like for STARBASE Louisiana? Scott said the mission is the same but different. 

Bound by a national curriculum, STARBASE will continue to evolve. Especially as the STARBASE Louisiana branch has a history of shaping that curriculum.

“We are one of 90 across the country, but this one in Bossier City wrote half of the national curriculum,” Scott said. “We’ll continue to evolve.”