27-04-2025
ASCENT's Technology Expo aims to inspire careers in STEM fields
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Gadgets and gizmos galore, the ASCENT program hosted its third annual Technology Expo at Florida State University, Panama City, on Saturday.
ASCENT stands for Advancing Science and Career Education in New Technologies. It's a $23 million program, partially funded by Triumph Gulf Coast and Florida State University, Panama City.
The program is designed to build up the IT and cybersecurity workforce.
Ascent built a K-12 program for students, serving eight coastal counties on the Gulf Coast that were impacted by the BP oil spill.
The tech expo provides a variety of STEM activities to get kids interested in technology. They can launch a bottle rocket, play Minecraft, visit the mobile planetarium, and operate sphere bots.
The activities help prepare kids for the future of artificial intelligence.
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'We all are going to rely on these kids to keep our information secure and work for the companies that we use every day. And so getting them started and getting them excited, you know, helping them to learn how to utilize A.I. appropriately,' FSU Panama City Ascent K-12 Program Manager Brianne Biddle said.
'A.I. is going to take over the world. But at the same time, you have to have somebody that knows how to speak to it because it can't do it alone. And that's one of the things that this tech expo is supposed to do. It teaches people how to utilize things like A.I., how to utilize systems engineering, how to where electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, where that fits in your day-to-day life,' FSU Panama City Ascent Program Director Duriel Crittenden said.
The tech expo also showcases local integrated technology clubs.
Students can show off the projects they've been working on throughout the school year, such as their self-made robots.
While on campus, students can learn more about the engineering programs offered at FSU Panama City.
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