Circuits and Smiles: STEM Sparks Fly at Scripps Ranch Park

Gregory Ngantung, head of STEM Inspire Scripps Ranch, demonstrating conductivity to a parkgoer at Scripps Ranch Community Park.

This past weekend, Scripps Ranch chapter head Gregory Ngantung hosted STEM Inspire's first event at Scripps Ranch Community Park with an engaging demonstration of conductivity principles using Makey Makey technology.

Ngantung, a junior at Francis Parker School and an active member of FRC Team 2485 (Overclocked), chose Makey Makey as their inaugural experiment due to its intuitiveness and ease of access.

The interactive experiment allowed children to explore electrical conductivity through hands-on activities. Ngantung introduced an innovative improvement to the standard setup by incorporating ground wrist straps, enabling participants to use both hands more freely during the demonstration.

Guiding participants through the science behind electrical circuits, Ngantung's goal was to educate attendees while also keeping the atmosphere fun and accessible.

"What I love about STEM Inspire is how it brings complex science concepts to kids in a way that's fun and educational," Ngantung explained. "Seeing kids make connections between science and their everyday world is incredibly rewarding."

This event marks the beginning of STEM Inspire's presence in San Diego, with additional events planned throughout the spring and summer. Ngantung, who also serves as a mentor for his school's award-winning robotics team, hopes to expand the program to additional locations, including potentially working with an Indonesian church's Sunday school program.