GEMS at U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – U.S. Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL West) is a STEM enrichment program for students. This year, DEVCOM ARL West will be hosting the program in-person at DoD STARBASE in Los Alamitos, CA. STARBASE is a school-like campus at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos that is dedicated to year-round STEM activities with middle and high school students including a chemistry lab, a robotics room with Mars table, a computer room, and a lunch area with a basketball court.

GEMS Los Alamitos is a FREE one-week session for middle and high school students. This year we have three offerings:

• GEMS I: rising 6th-8th graders
• GEMS II: rising 9th and 10th graders
• GEMS III: rising 10th – 12th graders

No prior experience required! If you’re interested in learning more about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with activities that go beyond the normal classroom offerings, then this program is for you!

Past hands-on STEM Activities include:

• Chemistry (silly putty/bouncy balls, endothermic/exothermic reactions, creating biodiesel fuel, pH challenge, Tollen’s reaction)
• Biochemistry (gel electrophoresis, micropipette, crime scene investigation)
• OnShape CAD and 3D printing
• Flight Simulation
• Arduino, microchip design
• Lego Spike Robotics challenges
• Engineering challenges
• Rocketry (building and launching model rockets)
• Various topics presented by career academic and government scientists/engineers (i.e. neuroscience, statistics, robotics, biomimicry, and more!)

About DEVCOM ARL West and DoD STARBASE

Started in April 2016 as part of the DEVCOM ARL Open Campus Initiative, DEVCOM ARL West is the Southern California hub of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory with a research focus on Human and Information Interaction. DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. At DoD STARBASE students participate in challenging “hands-on, minds-on” activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The GEMS Los Alamitos program represents a unique partnership between DoD STARBASE and DEVCOM ARL West.