Disaster Relief Vehicle Teaches Cary Students About Science

Cary, NC – Usually when the Mobile Outreach Vehicle shows up, it means there’s been a natural disaster. But in Cary, community members came out in beautiful Spring weather to see the vehicle and learn about science. 

Disaster Relief on Wheels

The Mobile Outreach Vehicle, or MOVE, parked at Hopewell Academy on Saturday, April 23, 2016 to showcase its disaster relief functions.

MOVE is equipped with rechargeable power banks and communication services such as Wi-Fi to provide survivors of natural disasters or other accidents with information.

The goal of the event is to show how a career in a STEM education can be put to use helping others. “We hope to excite the next generation of engineering and technology workers with MOVE,” said Mary Ellen Randall, MOVE program director.

MOVE has been active since March but this is the first time the vehicle has been used as a learning tool. The event is part of the IEEE-USA MOVE Community Outreach program from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

3D Printer

MOVE was not the only educational exhibit at Saturday’s event. Also there was a 3D printer and a talking robot, sponsored by The IEEE Foundation. The Cary Emergency Response Team was also present with their fire truck.

Visitors could also tour Hopewell Academy and see some of the activities put on by The Forge Initiative (previously Wake Robotics), a Cary-based group focused on technological education. Both Hopewell Academy and The Forge Initiative were sponsors of the event along with IEEE-USA.

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Story from staff reports. Photo courtesy of IEEE-USA.