Franklin Pest Solutions is one of the Sponsors for STEM Exploration Day at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Saturday, September 28 from 10 am – 3 pm

Twelve activity stations with demonstrations and hands-on activities to encourage young girls to follow their interests in the environmental sciences.

Indianapolis, Ind., September 25, 2024 — Franklin Pest Solutions is a sponsor of the upcoming STEM Exploration Day at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Saturday, September 28 to help encourage young girls to follow their dreams of a future in the environmental sciences.

                “When we foster and encourage young girls to pursue STEM careers, it helps boost their confidence to pursue futures in what has traditionally been thought of as the domain for boys,” Janelle Iaccino, Franklin Pest Solutions Bug Girl said.

                Iaccino knows what she’s talking about, having kept a pet tarantula in her locker in high school where kids thought of her as the creepy girl who loved creepy crawlers. “I love being The Bug Girl and letting young girls know that STEM careers are fun and a great option as they consider their futures,” she said. “We’ll have a lot of fun squirmy things to show and tell including termites, mosquito larvae and giant Madagascar hissing roaches so we can talk about public health threats, structural health threats, and STEM related Franklin Bug Squad things.

                More than 65 women who are either studying to become STEM professionals or are working STEM careers are volunteering their time and expertise for the Stem Exploration Day event with 12 various stations and hands-on activities including Indiana Visiting Artist Emily Bennett from Terre Haute who is with the Community School of the Arts at Indiana State University. Bennett will be showing how she creates art using sustainable materials. “I love teaching kids as well as adults new skills and watching their eyes light up as they learn,” Bennett said. “Witnessing the moment when a concept clicks for my students is so gratifying.” Bennett’s “imaginary dreamscapes” can hang on a wall or sit on a shelf.

                Dr. Carlotta Berry, a professor and endowed department chair at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology embodies the spirit of the Eli Lilly and Company Visiting Scientist program. She is an accomplished electrical engineer specializing in controls and robotics and advocates for the demystification of STEM through innovative strategies including robot hip-hop slam poetry. “A robot is so multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted that I can find a way to connect with people no matter where their interest lies in STEM,” she said.

                Other participating organizations include 80 Acres Farms; Indiana State Police Crime Laboratory; Women in Lilly Discovery and Development (WiLDD) with Eli Lilly and Company; Society of Women Engineers; UIndy Human Identification Center, City of Indianapolis – Department of Public Works, Engineering; IU Astronomy Department; IU Intelligent Systems Engineering; IEEE Women in Engineering; Sycamore School; American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and The Gurl Code.

The STEM Exploration Day event is for all ages. Event activities will be available from10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information, see here.For more information on Franklin Pest Solutions, see www.franklinpestsolutions.com or call 1-800-GOT-PESTS?.

About Franklin Pest Solutions, LLC

Since 1929, Franklin Pest Solutions and sister company Rose Pest Solutions have been trusted in the Midwest to keep homes and businesses free from insects, rodents, and more.  Using cutting-edge technology, environmentally friendly methods, and personalized unique solutions, Franklin and Rose are dedicated to creating and maintaining healthier living environments.  Owned by the Dold Family, Franklin Pest Solutions proudly serves communities in Indiana and Kentucky, and Rose Pest Solutions proudly serves all of Chicagoland, the Greater Milwaukee area, and South Central Wisconsin.  For more information, see www.franklinpestsolutions.com and www.rosepestcontrol.com.

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis    
We ignite joy, wonder and curiosity by creating powerful learning experiences for children and adults. For more information about The Children’s Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org and follow us on social media @childrensmuseum.