SILVER SPRING, Md. –
Members from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research’s Science Education and Fellowships and Strategic Communications teams partnered with the Naval Medical Research Command to coordinate and host Family and Child VIP Day with multiple groups across WRAIR, NMRC and the National Museum of Health and Medicine on April 25.
Family and Child VIP Day celebrates and communicates the important work and contributions of WRAIR’s scientists, Soldiers, civilians and contractors – many of whom are parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. This year, over 100 children between the ages of one to six and from the 2nd to 12th grades participated in activities sponsored by WRAIR’s Entomology Branch, Multidrug Resistant Organism Repository and Surveillance Network, Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Veterinary Services Program, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, the Sleep Research Center, and the Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit. Children also had the opportunity to watch a joint Army and Navy color guard posting of the colors, followed by a game of Simon Says demonstrating military drill commands.
Previously known as Take Our Children to Work Day, Family and Child VIP Day has been held at WRAIR since the mid-1990s. At FCVIP Day, children learn from and enjoy STEM activities to help them understand science, through hands-on experiences, by exploring some of what their parents do in support of WRAIR’s research branches. Among station activities were zebrafish, sandfly and mosquito displays, mock-ups on veterinary care, activities around the importance of sleep and brain health, and stations where children could view clinical pathology, radiology, and bandage technology systems.
Each year, WRAIR personnel and their family members look forward to the annual egg drop, where groups of volunteers and children develop contraptions made of just paper and tape to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from the third floor of WRAIR’s atrium. The lightest device with an intact egg wins the competition. About one quarter of the eggs survived the fall in this year’s competition. Children anticipated the thumping and cracking noises of their contraptions hitting the tarp. Several devices parachuted back and forth as they approached the floor, some floating outside of the drop zone before making their final descent. Many staff members took a break from work to watch the contest unfold.
“It was an incredible learning experience for my two sons, (ages 3 and 7), they had tons of fun and were very proud to see dad’s workplace,” said Sgt. Julian Burt, Veterinary Services Program. “The event was special for me because they left WRAIR wanting to be a research professional just like their dad.”
Overall, FCVIP Day engages WRAIR’s local community in educational outreach by fostering learning and understanding around biomedical research.
“It’s wonderful to share the work of our institutes’ staff with their families and friends,” said Dr. Debra Yourick, Director of the Science Education and Fellowship Programs. “We hope this enormous show-and-tell revealed to our young visitors that science is fun.”
By providing an opportunity for children to witness and partake in STEM activities with WRAIR’s scientists, Soldiers, civilians, and contractors, FCVIP Day encourages curiosity and innovation to prepare the next generation of scientists.