Cracking the Code: STEM Expo
Updated: 5 days ago
In SOAR High School Palmdale, the STEM Expo is a major event in which students present a semester-long project within the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math. All freshman, sophomores, and juniors are required to participate in this event. Depending on the classes they are in, they may or may not have the freedom to choose their category. For example, student in AP Computer Science is required to complete a STEM Expo in the Computer Science category. This article will be going over the computer science category and will provide advice to students interested or required to participate in this category.
In the computer science category is a dedicated space for students to showcase projects involving computation, information, automation, and related concepts, offering both competitive and non‑competitive opportunities to connect with peers, mentors, and the community.
In last year's event, Luci Dunbar placed first in the school level competitions and went to district competition. As a passionate coder, control team member of Draco Robotics 25813, and avid gamer, her STEM Expo project was a modification which can be equipped to the popular game, Minecraft. She titled it The Sick Bay. View the interview below to learn more about her experience as she went through the competition:
Luci’s experience demonstrates the creativity and flexibility that the computer science category can offer. While developing a successful project takes time, experimentation, and plenty of problem-solving, students have the opportunity to build something that connects their technical skills with their own interests. Whether that means creating a game, developing an application, or experimenting with an entirely new idea, the category leaves plenty of room for students to make their project their own. For students preparing to take on the computer science category this year, learning from previous competitors can provide valuable insight into what it takes to turn an idea into a finished STEM Expo project.
Additionally, Luci Dunbar has generously shared her previous STEM Expo work as a reference for students interested in the Computer Science category. For those struggling to find a starting point or develop an idea of their own, she hopes the materials below can provide inspiration and help spark creativity as students begin building their projects.
Game modification was developed for the following Minecraft version: 1.21.11 for Fabric
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