MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University is again participating in the Tennessee STEAM Festival, back for its 10th year of offering community learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and math across the state.

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in Murfreesboro founded the festival in 2016, and over the past decade, it has spread across 25 counties, featuring 618 event hosts. Last October, more than 47,000 people attended a STEAM Festival event.

MTSU will host several events in collaboration with the Tennessee Steam Festival, both on and off campus, highlighting learning opportunities across disciplines.

“Our faculty and students are doing work every day that has a direct impact on the world around us, from scientific research and emerging technologies to engineering and mathematics,” said Greg Van Patten, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.

“Participating in Tennessee STEAM gives the College of Basic and Applied Sciences an opportunity to share that work with people across our communities, particularly young students who may be discovering an interest in these fields for the first time. We want them to see what is happening at MTSU and recognize that they can be part of it.”

For more information about the Tennessee STEAM Festival, visit their website here.

MTSU STEAM Events

Oct. 16

• Chemical biologist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza’s lecture, “The Spirit and Science of the Rainforest,” explores how traditional ecological knowledge and modern science can work together for a sustainable future. Join the award-winning author and National Geographic Explorer in room 102 of Wiser-Patten Science Hall from 3:30-5 p.m. for a meet and greet followed by her lecture, which will also be livestreamed on Zoom. Wiser-Patten Science Hall is located at 422 Old Main Circle. A searchable campus parking map is available at bit.ly/2026parkingmap.

• This hourlong walk hosted by the MTSU Geosciences Department will highlight fossils, rocks and nature as well as Civil War, Revolutionary War and pioneer history. Meet at the Fortress Rosecrans Trailhead on the Murfreesboro Greenway by 1 p.m. The trailhead is located just off Golf Lane inside Old Fort Park.

Oct. 17

• An array of aircraft displays, including some from the MTSU Department of Aerospace, at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport will engage all ages from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can get up close to helicopters, experimental aircraft, jet and piston engines, emergency vehicles and more, and learn from the operators how their equipment works. MTSU geoscientists will discuss weather’s impact on aircraft. The airport is located at 1930 Memorial Boulevard.

• MTSU’s Astronomy Club will host a special Star Party from 7-10:30 p.m. at the university observatory. Take in the cosmos through the giant telescope and learn about constellations, planets, other solar systems and more. The MTSU Observatory is located just south of Wiser-Patten Science Hall, 422 Old Main Circle. The closest lots are located on the north side of Alumni Drive. A searchable campus parking map is available at bit.ly/2026parkingmap.

Oct. 20

• Join MTSU Engage, Center for Energy and Sustainability and Geosciences Department for a special screening and conversation. John Guider’s “Down the Duck: Where River Science Meets Story” takes place in room 221 of the McWherter Learning Resource Center, at 1301 East Main Street. The screening begins with refreshments at 5 p.m., the film at 5:30, followed by a student-led discussion. A searchable campus parking map is available at bit.ly/2026parkingmap.

Ongoing

• The MTSU Arboretum offers a self-guided tree walk through the campus’s wide variety of tree species, highlighting native ecology and the ways science and sustainability can shape the environment. Visit the MTSU Arboretum website for more information.

— Cat Curtis Murphy ([email protected])