Old Dominion joins Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology program

More than 600 Virginia students have engaged in team-based BLAST activities.
More than 600 Virginia students have engaged in team-based BLAST activities. | File photo

Old Dominion University announced that it has joined the Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) program.

The program was recently awarded the 2016 “Programs at Work” award by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, which recognizes outstanding science and integrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs that increase student or teacher learning.

The BLAST Program offers rising ninth- and 10th-grade Virginia students the chance at a free, three-day residential summer science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experience. Students will learn from faculty members and staff while exploring the excitement of STEM-related fields, all while living in a college dormitory.

Old Dominion will act as a host campus for these events from June 26-29.

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium is a coalition of Virginia universities, state agencies, NASA centers and other institutions looking to help the future of STEM education, research and workforce development. Since 2013, more than 600 Virginia students have engaged in team-based BLAST activities designed to solve engineering and scientific problems under faculty and staff guidance.