A University student society hopes to inspire future generations to shoot for the stars using an old truck.
With funding from physics professor Gregory Guzik’s research, the Society of Physics Students is renovating the Mobile Astronomy Resource System — MARS — truck to kickstart an outreach program aimed at teaching children and young adults about science.
“The main goal of the project is to promote [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics],” said research associate Bethany Broekhoven. “We want to reach out to younger kids and make them see that science is fun.”
Society members will use the MARS truck to bring space exploration to Louisiana schools from pre-K to high school free of charge.
The MARS truck will carry a portable planetarium, telescopes the children can use, large projectors to show NASA videos and neat kits — small experiments the children can do themselves for a more hands-on experience, Broekhoven said.
“[In] most of the outreach programs that I’ve gone to, the kids just sit there and watch while the people do the demos,” Broekhoven said. “With these neat kits we can actually have the kids involved. They do their own experiments, do their own little research and collect their own data. This makes the experience more special.”
The MARS truck was first introduced in 2004. Another institution had control of the truck, but the vehicle remained stationary for many years until Guzik’s team asked to bring it back to the University, Broekhoven said.
Physics junior Andrew Edmonston spent the last month helping with the renovation of the truck, building shelves where the equipment will be placed and replacing parts that were broken over time.
Physics seniors and SPS officers Jordan Ball and Sarah Morvant will collaborate with Guzik’s team to train club members on proper usage of the truck’s equipment. They also will coordinate with schools around the Baton Rouge area that are interested in having the truck visit their student body.
“I wanted to get involved in research, but the professors I asked didn’t have the funds or the space to let me on board,” Edmonston said. “Working on this truck will not only open more doors for me, but once it’s done we will be able to transport all kinds of equipment so we can give the kids experience with the awesomeness that is astronomy.”
The truck needs a headlight replaced before it can pass its inspection, but Edmonston and Broekhoven believe the vehicle will be up and running in less than two weeks.
Even though volunteering for the MARS truck is strictly for SPS members, Broekhoven said further funding in the future could expand the number of volunteers.
Morvant encourages students who are not physics majors but are interested in physics to join the student organization.
“We want people to spread the word about our program,” Broekhoven said. “We want to show kids that STEM fields are fun and not as hard as [some] think it is. People are willing to teach and educate you. We also want to make it a fun experience.”

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Raegan Labat

LSU junior physics major and member of Society of Physics Students Andrew Edmonston poses Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, in front of the Mobile Astronomy Resource System he helped the club to renovate.