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Engineering

Engineering

How 3M Uses Childlike Wonder and Curiosity To Drive Sustainability

Posted on February 9, 2018

Nerd Profile: 3M Sustainability Director Maureen Tholen

 

“I think I love engineering because it’s inherently problem solving.”

 

When 3M tells you – an upstart STEM blogger – that they “love what you are doing to help inspire a future generation of Nerds like us,” you are not only flattered, but you also feel compelled to find out… why, exactly?

Last fall, the innovative giant formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company reached out to Raising Nerd to raise awareness for its long-standing commitment to building a culture of sustainability, wonder, and purpose-driven business. As part of … READ MORE

Engineering Nerds In Real Life

Meet Matthew Reinhart and His Amazing Paper Art

Posted on May 24, 2017

Taking Story-Telling and Origami to a Whole New Level

reinhart_monster2

 

“I think everyone is born an artist – we just forget it or lose confidence as we get older because we think we aren’t good enough. Kids don’t have those art hang-ups. I envy them!”

– Matthew Reinhart

 

Even before they get to preschool or elementary art class, our kids have explored and expressed their creativity through paper. They’ve feverishly scribbled with crayons into coloring books (and, sometimes, onto walls, furniture, and family pets), made collages with construction paper, and dipped curious fingers into paints to turn blank sheets … READ MORE

Engineering

This Tinkerer’s Toy Coasters Will Make You Yearn for Your Childhood Summers

Posted on May 9, 2017

Professional Tinkerer, Adam Hocherman’s Marbleocity
Ignites The Imagination Using Crazy Physics of
The Rube Goldberg Machine

Tinkerer

In the recesses of my kid memory, one of the coolest short films produced by Jim Henson during the first two years of Sesame Street was the marble run. It depicted a red ball traveling along a metal track and through various trios of obstacles.

For a child, of course, there was some educational benefit to the repetition of counting 1-2-3 as the ball zigged and zagged its way to the finish line (There was more than one version, both with surprise endings, … READ MORE

Engineering

Raising Nerd Profile: The STEM Champion for Women & Girls of Color

Posted on February 24, 2017

In at least one way, Trina Fletcher is a lot like her mother. She’s a very busy and driven woman. But her love for STEM and helping others has set her on her own path.

After growing up in rural Arkansas, raised by a single mom who worked full-time, Trina earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a master’s in operations management from the University of Arkansas. She interned with Norfolk State University, Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar, and Kellogg’s. And she also completed the Global Operations Leadership Development program with Johnson & … READ MORE

Engineering Product & Book Reviews Science & Tech

How to Extend the Magic of Santa by Appealing to the STEM/STEAM Side of Kids’ Curious Minds

Posted on December 23, 2016

How to Extend the Magic of Santa by Appealing to the STEM/STEAM Side of Kids’ Curious Minds

Are your kids at that age when their curiosity has them pondering the truth about Santa Claus? Raising Nerd’s Imperfect Dad is in this situation and was wondering how much longer he could stave off a potentially harsh reality for his inquisitive 7- and 9-year-old Nerdlings. In our first-ever guest post courtesy of We’ll Eat You Up, We Love You So  blog, he decides to continue nurturing their imaginations and holiday spirit with – you guess it – a heavy dose of STEM/STEAM and Rifftrax Live! He hopes to extend the magic of Santa and that wily Elf on … READ MORE

Engineering Science & Tech

Carving out a Makerspace for Your Nerds at Home

Posted on November 15, 2016

“Today, the cool word is ‘maker.’ It’s a little part of our DNA and we’ve somehow forgotten how to do it. We became consumers vs. makers. I would encourage parents to give their kids a creative corner or a designated space to be messy and create.”
– David Yakos, Co-Owner, Director of Creativity, Mad Scientist, Inventor at Salient Technologies

Discovery Elementary’s first annual PumpkinFest was a hit. Besides bringing our local community together for colorful Halloween fun, games and good food, it highlighted something my Nerds’ school does very well. It not only encourages creative problem-solving, but also … READ MORE