What is the Science Alliance?
The Science Alliance is a STEM education outreach program based at St. Olaf College. We currently serve Northfield and Faribault public and private schools, but hope to expand the Science Alliance to other communities.
Our Mission:
To build relationships between teachers, community members, and college students in the Northfield and Faribault area. The Science Alliance is a science education outreach program designed to make science education accessible, hands-on, and fun for K-8 students and their teachers.​
What makes the Science Alliance different from other outreach programs?
Incorporating Existing Standards
The Science Alliance develops meaningful, unique curriculum through incorporating district and state standards, complementing existing classroom activities, and creating engaging, inquiry-based opportunities using exciting materials.
Hands-on, Exciting Materials
Through our hands-on, interactive curriculum, the Science Alliance changes the way we think about science education; instead of having students see science, read science, or write science, we DO science! Studies show that a hands-on learning environment in the sciences improves the student's ability to solve scientific problems and influences their approach towards science in the future.
Meaningful Outreach
The Science Alliance builds relationships between teachers, college students, and elementary students: teachers receive relevant support in the classroom, college students gain meaningful service experience, and K-8 students leave the classroom with a renewed interest in STEM subjects.
Meet the Current Leadership Team
Co-Coordinator
Hi! I'm Elisabeth Sepulveda, a senior at St. Olaf College with a self-designed major in Cognition, Problem-Solving, and Education. I'm part of the Science Alliance because I believe that it's exactly what science should be--inquiry-based, exploratory, and creative within appropriately-structured parameters. I only discovered the excitement and creativity involved in the scientific process in college, and am excited to watch these students catch on as early as 1st grade! The iterative process of creating and testing ideas is a valuable learning skill to foster--and one that benefits students across disciplines, regardless of what direction they ultimately go in! Science Alliance does this so effectively and it's a joy and a privilege to be a part of.
Co-Coordinator
Hello! I'm Michael Ahn, a sophomore at St. Olaf college, majoring in math and chemistry with a concentration in education. I love Science Alliance because I believe that science education in our next generation plays a vital role for our future, and that the subject requires research to foster the growth of elementary and middle school students. I am very excited to interact with the kids and to watch them learn and truly engage in our activiites.
Co-Coordinator
Hello! I'm Emma Schnuckle, a senior at St. Olaf College, majoring in math with a concentration in biomedical studies. I love the Science Alliance because it allows me to investigate my own interests in science, while working with kids in the classroom. It is such a unique experience to be able to create hands-on learning opportunities with the kids and to watch them truly engage in our activities. I am so excited to be a part of this amazing program!
Middle School Team Leader
Hello, I am Liam John. I am a senior art history major at St. Olaf College. I joined the Science Alliance because I wanted to give back. As a kid, I attended summer day camps that prompted my interest in science and the natural world. Looking back I realize how important those programs were to my education and to my awareness of the world. It is more important than ever to have programs like the Science Alliance work with kids. It is our goal that hands-on STEM education projects will generate an awareness of sustainable technologies and will help develop an environmental conscience in the minds of the next generation.
Elementary Team Leader
Hey, my name is Michael Burgdorf. I'm a senior at St. Olaf college, majoring in religion with concentrations in environmental science and biomedical studies. I started working with Science Alliance because I believe in the importance of teaching about environmental sustainability. I enjoy working with Science Alliance because the student volunteers enjoy it just as much as the kids! Hands-on learning keeps everyone engaged and excited. I am grateful to be a part of such a wonderful organization.
Contact Us!
Send us an email to sciencealliance-co@stolaf.edu to schedule a visit to your classroom or community event! We are completely flexible and will work with your schedule to provide the bet experience possible.