By: Sydney Zinner
AWW was invited to participate amongst 60+ other exhibitors from around Alabama in the Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics’ 2025 Destination STEM Expo!
“Destination STEM Expo is an interactive experience where sixth through ninth grade students explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Students enjoy the freedom to see, touch, hear, and smell the many wonders of science!”
Destination STEM was possible thanks to the 2025 Tiger Giving Day fundraising campaign that highlights various projects and programs across Auburn’s campus.
AWW’s exhibit included information about aquatic macroinvertebrates – the little critters that call Alabama’s waters home! Students explored preserved critters, matched nymph and larval forms of critters to their adult forms, viewed video of dragonflies catching prey, and created their own critters to put in the “stream” on our table!
AWW Staffers Carolina Ruiz and Sydney Zinner helped students explore the tiny world of Alabama’s macroinvertebrates and the importance they have in our aquatic ecosystems. Some of the students were a little iffy about bugs at first… but then fascinated when they learned more about how creek critters can be indicators of good water quality!
Destionation STEM welcomed over 1,000 middle school students, 75 teachers and partents, more than 60 undergraduate volunteers, and over 200 faculty, staff, student, and industry exhibitors! AWW appreciates the invite to participate in this fantastic event!