STEM Saturdays

Join us for the next STEM Saturdays event
10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 | Atomic Museum

Featuring engineering at the NNSS

Register here

Future STEM Saturdays:
Oct. 4 , Nov. 1, Dec. 6, Jan. 10, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4

Welcome to STEM Saturdays, a free event presented monthly during the academic year by Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS), Clark County School District Career and Technical Education (CTE), and the Atomic Museum! STEM Saturdays bring together the Las Vegas community and local subject matter experts for educational topics, activities and insights into how STEM influences various career paths. Breakfast refreshments and prize raffles are also included in the programming.

Highlights from previous STEM Saturdays

April 5, 2025

NNSS personnel presented how we support NASA Artemis astronauts with the Nevada Space Proving Grounds, a premier mission-scale testing and training center for all people and equipment bound for the Moon, Mars and beyond. Students then created a colorful scale of the solar system.

Students raise their hands in front of two presenters.
Four students smile while placing fruit on the ground during a solar system activity.

March 1, 2025

Attendees learned about the role of occupational medicine in protecting workers and the environment, including preventative screenings and surveillance, medical evaluations and collaboration with safety professionals. Dr. Etli with our NNSS Occupational Medicine team detailed workplace hazards and innovative technologies to enhance safety.

A doctor gestures to a presentation slide.
Students seated in auditorium chairs watch a doctor give a presentation.

February 8, 2025

Students explored the powerful forces that shape our planet at the February STEM Saturday presentation. With a focus on geology and seismology, participants engaged in hands-on activities that brought earthquakes and the Earth’s structure to life.

A scientist demonstrates geology concepts to students.
A scientist demonstrates a geology experiment to students.

January 11, 2025

Students took STEM Saturday by storm with a special presentation about meteorology, featuring how forecasting is conducted using STEM, weather patterns in Las Vegas, cloud types and classifications, plus the tools meteorologists use. Participants then practiced real-time weather measurements at the Atomic Museum.

A meteorologist presents to a crowd, while one student raises his hand.
A meteorologist demonstrates a temperature reading in front of a fan while students take notes,

November 2, 2024

Students learned about the real-world applications of STEM in fire investigations, suppression system protection and construction regulations. Guests then experienced the demonstrations of Fire & Rescue detection robotics, the Emergency Medical Services vehicle, response equipment plus the fan-favorite 1950 Seagrave fire engine.

A group of students wear red firefighter hats while waving.
Firefighters stand between an Emergency Medical Services vehicle and a 1950 Seagrave engine.

October 5, 2024

STEM Saturday took flight with a special presentation about drones, robotics and autonomous systems. Students were given the opportunity to pilot a drone using a transmitter and VR headset.

A group of students and parents watch a child operate a transmitter that is controlling a drone.
A student operates a drone while wearing a virtual reality headset.

September 7, 2024

During the first STEM Saturday of the 2024-25 academic year, students explored light-based measurements of temperature, laser interference for distance measurements and the transmission of light through fiber optics.

A student lists her hands in the air while looking at the resulting picture from an infrared camera.
Students hold up signs that read "NNSS" and "STEM" to an infrared camera.

April 6, 2024

NNSS industrial hygienists, who anticipate and protect employees from health hazards in the workplace, shared how respiratory equipment safeguards from hazardous particles. Students completed activities for proper hand-washing techniques and demonstrated how types of masks provide different levels of protection.

A student sprays red liquid onto a mask as part of a demonstration.
Students detect germs with a light after washing their hands.

March 2, 2024

NNSS scientists shared how NASA astronauts are using the Site’s mission-scale testbeds and infrastructure to prepare for their upcoming Artemis mission to the Moon. Students then completed an activity to model the scale of our solar system.

NNSS scientists in blue shirts speak about NASA astronauts training at the Site to an audience.
Children map the solar system using fruits and vegetables to symbolize planets.
Two children participate in an activity to model the solar system.

February 10, 2024

Students learned about geologic modeling and how it is used at the NNSS, then made their very own clay models!

Two boys prepare to create a geologic model with purple, red and green clay.
Core samples of volcanic rocks in a tray.

December 2, 2023

NNSS employees showcased geology and geophysics, using a sandbox model to demonstrate tectonic forces.

A student examines a science demonstration.
Students interact with geology-themed props on a table.
An NNSS employee demonstrates a science activity to students.

November 4, 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Nevada program team presented about groundwater and what happens when it encounters different mediums at the Site.

October 7, 2023

NNSS Fire & Rescue personnel met with dozens of students and families to share how STEM integrates with with their career fields. Special tours of the 1950s Seagrave engine and an ambulance along with hands-on demonstrations of Fire & Rescue gear and equipment followed the presentation.