Recently, at Alta, science classes and teachers had access to several presentations given by the staff of The Leonardo.  The Leonardo has been touring around all the High Schools in the area showing exhibits on STEM Works: Biotechnology.  STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering Mathematics.  The goal of STEM is to start programs in our schools that will increase children and teen’s interest in these areas of learning.  The STEM brochure states “the related industries will continue to grow.” 

In the past five years, the STEM Works program has served nearly 12,000 students a year.  Biotechnology is the use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to improve the quality of life and the planet.  According to STEM Works, careers in this area will grow and stabilize to some of the most reliable jobs you can get.   Some of the careers you can acquire in this area are Anatomy, Biomanufacturing, Botany, Cell Biology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Paleontology, Pharmacy, and Zoology. 

The Leonardo’s presentation at Alta focused on three different large aspects of science.  There was a section for photosynthesis, molecules, and cells.  The area displaying cells featured a devise that gave 500X magnification with crystal clear images displayed on the computer.  Students seemed to enjoy looking at their skin, hair, jewelry, and even teeth at the cellular level.  The display for molecules boasted a devise that was able to measure the amounts of oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in the air and show the numbers by a graph on the computer. 

The Leonardo opens in 2011.  “The Leonardo is a science, technology, and art center for young people and adults located in the heart of Utah’s capital city.”  Not long ago, The Leonardo featured Body Worlds.  Body Worlds is a touring program that is meant to expose its’ visitors to the complexity and beauty of the human body.  The Leonardo’s homepage states “It will not be a typical science and technology center, and it definitely won’t be like any art gallery you’ve ever visited before.”  That was the general reaction to the Body Worlds exhibit, we’ll have to wait and see what happens when The Leonardo opens.