NASHUA – The Academy for Science and Design hosted its fourth SPARK conference day of the school year on Wednesday, April 2.

SPARK stands for Symposium Promoting Advancement of Real-World Knowledge. The conferences are intended to expose students to STEM careers, relevant topics and issues in the realm of science and technology, as well as to cultivate their interests and talents.

Peter Bewley, of BAE Systems, said he was particularly impressed when the students in his session, “Being a Working Engineer,” brainstormed about designing a system and came up with the same concepts that BAE engineers had years earlier when they were in the design stage.

“It was amazing that in the 20 minutes they had to come up with ideas that these students knew enough about engineering design to actually have some of the same ideas about what may work as the adults had, and many of these professionals have masters degrees,” Bewley said.

He ended his session by having the students build small desk lamps, which they got to take home, and he gave all of the participants BAE lunch boxes.

Other popular sessions included Haywood Gelman’s “Design Networks Like a Rockstar,” in which students learned the components of a network and how they interact, and professor of nursing Theresa Williams’ hands-on session “Would You Like to be a Nurse,” which introduced students to the nursing profession and the many possibilities a career in nursing has to offer. In addition to learning useful skills, including listening to heart and lung sounds and checking blood pressure, the students got to practice changing a dressing on a simulated wound.

Topics included “The Beauty of Bitcoin” (Darren Tapp), “Balloon Rocket Races” (Sarah Frischknecht), “Einstein’s Special Relativity” (Dr. Farazdel), “The Future of the Internet” (Lalit Shinde), “Instant Challenges” (Brenda Chase), “An Hour of Code” (Susan Chauvette), “Resumes and Cover Letters” (Jane Buck), “Chemistry and Harry Potter” (Dr. MacDonald), “Chemical and Electrical Energy” (Dr. Dan Wolaver), “Designing and Engineering Products” (Art Rousmaniere), “The Shape of Skiing: Making Skis” (the St. Gelais of Saint Skis), “Emergency Management in Nashua” (Justin Kates) and “Why Yoda Needs a Box: An Overview of Package Engineering” (Elizabeth Richmond).

Upperclassmen, along with an adult adviser, had an opportunity to present sessions, which included “Ruby on the Rails: An Introduction to Agile Programming Concepts” (Dillon and Mrs. Morse), “Battle Tactics, Real Time Strategy” (Ryan and Mrs. Glossop), “Digital Filmmaking” (Colin and Mrs. Bewley) and “Marble Mania” (Connor, Kyle and Mrs. Joyce).

The academy is seeking to partner with local companies and businesses for student-centered things such as internships in STEM fields, financial donations and/or presenters for the SPARK conferences. One more SPARK conference is scheduled this year, and presenters from the community are welcome.

For more information, visit www.asdnh.org.