Why I Want Others to Know About My Passion for STEM and Project-Based Learning

By Logan Williams, Willow Springs Elementary School, Fairfax, VA

In this series, we’ll hear from teachers and mentors past and present that have guided teams through the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision program about the positive impact the program has had on their students.

My passion for STEM started at a young age. I grew up in a home where curiosity and exploration was nurtured. My mother, a librarian, surrounded me with books that opened  up new worlds. My father worked for the Department of Education in Georgia, implementing vocational programs in high schools across the state. Their careers may have been different, but both shared a common message: learning is a lifelong journey, and asking questions is the first step toward discovery.

One of the most influential parts of my upbringing was my father’s passion for math. He challenged each of his daughters to think critically, push boundaries, and see the world through a problem-solving lens. There were no limits placed on what we could pursue simply because we were girls. STEM, to me, has always represented not just science, technology, engineering, and math—but also creativity, perseverance, and the thrill of discovering something new. As a child, STEM challenged my thinking. As an educator today, it continues to inspire me to challenge my students to think boldly, ask questions, and seek solutions.

Marie Lu once wrote, “Every problem has a solution. But after every solution, there’s a new problem to tackle, some new challenge to take on.” That mindset is at the heart of STEM and project-based learning. It’s also the reason I was so excited to work with Luciana Nishanian and Scarlett Lin on our Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision project: Electro-BUZZ. Electro-BUZZ is a groundbreaking technology developed to address a growing global concern—the pollination crisis. The idea took shape when Luciana and Scarlett began researching the importance of pollinators and were shocked to learn how rapidly bee populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. They realized this could have a serious impact on food production, especially with the world’s population expected to grow by 25% by 2050. Faced with the question around how can we use technology to support nature and protect our food supply, they began brainstorming.

Inspired by nature and powered by innovation, their answer was Electro-BUZZ. These student-designed drones, fueled by clean energy sources like solar, wind, and kinetic power, are engineered to mimic the pollination process of bees. Using artificial intelligence, the drones can learn from and adapt to different environments, adjusting their patterns to support local crops effectively. Like a real bee swarm, they work together, covering large areas and ensuring that plants receive the pollination they need to grow.

The Smart Hive, another part of their invention, uses real-time monitoring to help coordinate the drones and optimize their pollination efforts. Together, Electro-BUZZ and the Smart Hive offer a powerful, eco-friendly solution to one of the biggest agricultural challenges of our time—combining technology and environmental stewardship in a way only passionate young innovators could imagine.

This project taught me the power of collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation. More importantly, it showed me how deeply students can engage when they’re allowed to explore real-world problems through project-based learning. Working alongside Luciana and Scarlett, I saw their ideas come alive through research, teamwork, and creative design. I saw them become more confident, curious, and driven to make a difference.

STEM and project-based learning are not just about solving problems—they are about inspiring the next generation to believe they can. They can innovate. They can lead. They can protect our planet and shape our future. That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing our work and encouraging others to dive into STEM. The excitement, the discovery, the impact—it all starts with a question and a desire to make the world better.

Through ExploraVision and projects like Electro-BUZZ, we are not only exploring solutions, we are creating the innovators of tomorrow.

To learn more about the 2025-26 ExploraVision program, visit https://www.exploravision.org.