Over the holiday weekend, Miami-Dade high school students put their STEM skills to the test at the Miami International Auto Show. In a special Electrathon student race, young innovators from four Miami-Dade County schools showcased electric go-karts they built from scratch, according to WSVN. These go-karts, however, were not designed for blistering speed but rather with a focus on efficiency and distance on a single charge.
Students from schools such as Miami Coral Park High School and Terra Environmental Research Institute competed yesterday morning at the event, which aimed to push the envelope of electric vehicle (EV) technology and to consider futures in clean energy and e-mobility. Nidhi Begur, from a first-year all-girls team competing in the event, described the experience as "time" – acknowledging both the temporal investment in their creation and the precious nature of these moments where they step closer to the future. She told WSVN, “All these cars racing, it’s inspirational that all these high school times can do that, and as a first-year team, that only makes us more excited."
These hands-on learning experiences were made possible by the Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), which provided generous donations of EV-building kits as well as training and teacher stipends. As reported by Kendall Gazette, this effort by FPL to invigorate interest in STEM fields epitomizes the role of corporate support in education. In total, it requires about 60 hours spread over a few months for students to complete their karts, as noted by FPL spokesperson Isabella Burckhardt.
Accessibility to STEM fields, particularly for young women, remains an vital part of events like the Electrathon. Nidhi Begur highlighted the challenges faced by women in these areas, stating to WSVN that, "It’s never gonna be easy, especially in an under-represented field where women in STEM aren’t as commonly found." Nevertheless, she finds strength in her community, likening her team to having "20 sisters with you at all times." Burckhardt announced that FPL plans to expand their support to another 10 high schools across Florida for the upcoming year, including one more in Miami-Dade County.
