Housatonic Community College’s 3rd Annual STEAMFest Goes Green

With the theme of ‘Green,’ hundreds gathered at Housatonic Community College (HCC) on November 6-7 to participate in the 3rd annual STEAMFest, a two-day celebration of advances in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. The event, which focused on sustainability, showcased creative solutions to real-world problems.

“We have many exhibitors and speakers educating us on how to incorporate sustainability in our lives,” said Janet Yarrow, STEAM Coordinator for HCC. “From stories on beekeeping to hearing how one artist is turning trash into art, from watching a life healthy food demo to learning about HCC’s future edible campus project, STEAMfest 2019 highlights future trends.”

Indeed, participants left the event more environmentally aware citizens, educated on technological developments in store for us all. Students and community members alike interacted with electric cars, 3-D printing and virtual reality, listened to presentations on climate change, and learned how to bring sustainability into everyday life.

Representatives from Sikorsky, a Lockheed-Marin company presented on the topics of creating energy-efficient products, reducing pollution and careers in sustainability. The firm, which sponsored STEAMFest, is committed to energy conservation through the creation of greener facilities and products, as well as a ‘go green’ employee network, yielding a savings to date of over 5,021 metric tons of CO2.

“Through hands-on learning, this annual celebration sparks student interest and creates connections to STEAM-related careers,” said Robin Avant, Dean of Students at HCC. “This event provides a chance for our community and business members to collaborate on ideas, curriculum and other ways to improve STEAM offerings on campus. We’re grateful for their partnership.”

To learn more about STEAMFest or STEAM programming at HCC, please contact Janet Yarrow at JYarrow@Housatonic.edu and to learn more about Housatonic Community College, visit www.housatonic.edu.