Bradbury Science Museum Association receives $5K from Los Alamos National Bank

On February 15, 90 eighth graders from Albuquerque’s El Camino Real Academy filled the lobby of the Bradbury Science Museum (BSM). A teacher swiftly divided them into groups, and they spent the next two hours observing science demonstrations, watching a video about Los Alamos history, and exploring the museum’s various galleries.

The gathering was the first of many field trips made possible by a $5,000 gift from Los Alamos National Bank (LANB) to the Bradbury Science Museum Association (BSMA), the non-profit partner to the museum. 

The donation is intended to provide science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education outreach to area schoolchildren in the form of field trips to the BSM. On average, field trip transportation for 25–90 kids costs between $400 and $500, which means that the gift could fund more than a dozen field trips.

“The gift was not a surprise, but we are thrilled nonetheless,” explains BSMA Secretary KayLinda Crawford. “The BSMA Executive Board has been reaching out to local businesses about the various sponsorship opportunities within the BSMA, all in support of STEM education efforts.”

These opportunities include sponsoring field trips, the souvenir kiosk (the BSMA’s main source of revenue), a family science night, or even positions such as an executive director and a kiosk manager. LANB was the first to respond to the opportunity and chose to sponsor field trips for the most low-income school districts.

“The Association’s focus on educational field trips was appealing to us as educational investment in these challenging economic times,” explains LANB Market President Liddie Martinez. “We understand that when schools are faced with budget cuts, these types of outings are often the first to be cut; however, experiences like these are vital to a student’s educational experiences, and it is important to provide access, especially for students who live in neighboring communities.”

Schools across Northern New Mexico had until February 27 to apply for a field trip. “No specific districts were targeted, but all schools could apply,” specifies BSMA President Andy Trottier, noting that the BSMA education subcommittee will evaluate each application. “Schools must qualify by submitting the percentage of students participating in free or reduced lunches and the participation in Federal Title 1 funding for reading and math, and they must document how the trip will help them meet New Mexico Standards and Benchmarks or Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).”

“The museum provides a link to our community’s history, and our youth should be able to see and experience that,” Martinez says. “That history includes significant contributions made—and continuing to be made—by regional community members both on and off the hill. It is a story that has many facets, and our regional communities are part of that story.”

The Bradbury’s Gordon McDonough pours liquid nitrogen “tea” in front of a group of eighth graders from El Camino Real Academy.