Brayden Nall, 6, of Graham, manipulates a surgical simulation program with joysticks Tuesday morning. (Brian Rash)

TAME’s Trailblazer II mobile science museum made headlines in the Graham Leader this weekend with a recent visit to the Library of Graham. Featured front and center is a photograph of a six-year-old boy completing a successful surgery with the Trailblazer’s Robotic Arm exhibit in the Bio-Technology area. The student “seemed calm, even upbeat and smiling, as his patient’s health hung in the balance. Several other local kids watched him maneuver high-tech hand controls as he guided the surgical process through a video feed. And suddenly, for whatever reason, they all started laughing.”

Studies show that hands-on activities boost learning and comprehension, which is why the Trailblazer museums are designed around interactive exhibits like the one used by the student in the article.

“Right now in the state of Texas, there are over 75,000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs that are not being filled because we don’t have qualified people,” said Trailblazer Facilitator V.J. Willis. “We’re having to pull them from other states and even other countries to be able to get the qualified people. And when we have people unemployed, that just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Let’s get some homegrown people in there.” 

TAME is grateful to the sponsor of this visit, the Tocker Foundation, for sparking students’ excitement in science. 

To learn more about how to schedule a “field trip in a box” for your very own school or community, please visit TAME’s Trailblazer page or contact the TAME State Headquarters.

By Lindsey Carmichael, June 15, 2015.