Julie M. Cohen
When Ben Libertini learned that Burbank Elementary School wasn’t going to hold its annual STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) night, the fourth-grader decided to take action.
After rallying his friends and starting a petition to save the event, parent volunteers and area groups stepped up. When he learned the student-led efforts made all the difference, the 9-year-old said, “It feels great.”
During the event, which took place on April 11 in the school’s gym, students tried out a variety of interactive exhibits that piqued their curiosity and inspired their excitement about STEM topics.
“I find it really cool,” said fourth-grader Daisy, 9, while trying her hand at spinning magnets and making them appear to float in the air.
Burbank Elementary School third-grader Andrew, 8, used a magnifying glass to look at his fingerprint during the April 11th STEM Night at Burbank Elementary School. The Belmont Police Department ran the fingerprinting demonstration. (Julie M. Cohen/The Belmont Voice) 
Right, parent Sonia Kumar demonstrated how circuits work to second-grader Lorenzo, 8½, and Ginevra, 5, during the April 11th STEM Night at Burbank Elementary School. (Julie M. Cohen/The Belmont Voice) 
From left, when Sarah and Carlo Libertini’s son Ben, 9, lamented that there would not be a STEM night at Burbank Elementary School, they encouraged him to start a petition. After gathering enough signatures, the school held one on April 11, staffed mostly by parent volunteers. (Julie M. Cohen/The Belmont Voice) 
Parent and MIT physics professor Martin Zwierlein demonstrated spinning magnets during the April 11th STEM Night at Burbank Elementary School. Here, a yellow spinning magnet seems to levitate above a wooden platform. (Julie M. Cohen/The Belmont Voice) 
Fourth-grader Daisy, 9, and her mother Bonne, learned about spinning magnets during the April 11th STEM Night at Burbank Elementary School. (Julie M. Cohen/The Belmont Voice) 
Mass Audubon teacher Sarah Sanderson brought a hissing cockroach to the April 11th STEM Night at Burbank Elementary School. (Julie M. Cohen/The Belmont Voice) 
Left, Belmont Police Sgt. Paul Garabedian shows third-grader Andrew, 8, how to make a fingerprint during the April 11th STEM Night at Burbank Elementary School. (Julie M. Cohen/The Belmont Voice)
According to the Belmont PTA, in addition to learning about the power of magnets, children were able to visit more than 30 other exhibitors, including:
Belmont High School Science Club – Air Trajectory: Students tried out a catapult that shot ping pong and golf balls.
Belmont Police Department – Drones and Fingerprints: Students learned how the police drone works and also learned how fingerprints are lifted from a crime scene and tried it themselves.
Eversource – Pedal Power: Students got to pedal a bike to learn whether an incandescent lightbulb or an LED lightbulb requires more power.
Record Robotics – Robot Fun: Students drove a robot as it shot soft, doughnut-shaped pieces at different heights, and students caught them.
Mass Audubon – Children got to learn about animals and meet hissing cockroaches
Third-grader Andrew, 8, enjoyed learning from Belmont Police Sgt. Paul Garabedian how to make a fingerprint. After looking through a magnifying glass to view the patterns, he smiled and summed up what many students felt about STEM night: “It’s cool.”
