Corporate Spotlight
Driving SCIENCE Returns to Daytona International Speedway
DuPont Motorsports and Clemson University Unite for the Daytona STEM Cup Challenge
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 15, 2012 – Some 24 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers from middle schools and high schools in the Volusia, Flagler and Seminole school districts will come to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway (DIS), Feb. 21-23, for the Daytona STEM Cup Challenge to improve teacher knowledge about STEM disciplines and best practices, using the world of auto racing as the classroom.
The Daytona STEM Cup Challenge is the center piece of Driving SCIENCE, a three-day professional development institute sponsored by Daytona International Speedway, Clemson University - International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) and DuPont Motorsports. The curriculum, developed in Clemson University’s College of Engineering and Science with a grant from the DuPont Office of Education, is designed to strengthen content knowledge in STEM disciplines, model best practices for student achievement and promote awareness of motorsports careers. The institute concludes with a day at the races, applying STEM knowledge and motorsport career awareness during a garage tour where participants will make connections to STEM and its careers and the cars being prepared for the Gatorade Duel, Feb. 23 – two 150-mile qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for the DAYTONA 500®, Feb. 26.
The analysis of speed, understanding force, energy and motion, experimenting with “mouse trap” cars and figuring out how safety applies to major super speedways are all a part of the curriculum. The Daytona STEM Cup Challenge is a hands-on experience. Inquiry-based teaching techniques are used and learned during this professional development course. Dr. Robert Prucka, professor of automotive engineering at CU-ICAR, will bring it all together just before the teachers take a garage tour before the Gatorade Duel when he discusses “Connecting Math and Science through Data Analysis.” Dr. Prucka also will assist with the presentation of the Daytona STEM Cup trophy to the winning team.
"We're providing teachers with ideas and tools to inspire their students — practical everyday ideas that will spark interest and meaningful discussions," said Dot Moss, director of Clemson University's "Math Out of the Box" program. "This institute allows teachers and students alike to see the many career opportunities available to them in the STEM sciences, motor racing and in business.”
"Race teams depend on science and technology to help their drivers gain every second of speed possible on the race track," said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. "The teachers in Driving SCIENCE can take what they learned in the classroom and see it as it is applied in person on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway."
“DuPont is a leader in supporting STEM education. We all win when we help develop a greater understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including local communities, businesses like DuPont, the United States and the world,” said DuPont Motorsports Manager Larry Deas.
The emphasis on STEM education is driven by business and industry leaders who envision a workforce with literacy in STEM disciplines, problem solving abilities that include being able to apply understanding to new problems and implement solutions, self-reliance in setting goals, working within time frames and applying design processes, and; ability to collaborate with others in the workplace and understanding that teamwork is essential for success in many situations.