FAMESTM | Finance, Arts, and STEM: Professor Mary Bowden captured the imagination of students attending FAMESTM Summer STEM Program at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington (BGCGW) with her presentation of Balloon Payload Experiments.
The students were engaged and curious as Dr. Bowden narrated videos to show how the University of Maryland (UMD) students design and build payloads that are lifted into the upper atmosphere by research balloons. Every summer, Bowden leads a Balloon Payload Project with her students at the University. She invited the students at the BGCGW for her upcoming launch of a weather balloon carrying a number of student payloads to enjoy a rare hands-on experience. The launch was set for June 25, three days after the BGCGW presentation. Several students wanted to attend the launch event. Dr. Bowden also talked
about the profession of engineering, and specifically about the field of aerospace engineering and ongoing research on Robotics at the Space Systems Lab (photo) and Neutral Buoyancy Lab (photo) at UMD. There were many questions throughout the presentation from this high energy group of students who wanted to learn more about ‘space’. Bowden obliged by presenting computer simulations of a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket mission on its way to the International Space Station (ISS). Because of her exciting presentation, she was invited back to BGCGW for another presentation during the BGCGW “Dive into Space” Week. She also invited the students to find out more about aerospace topics by visiting the University on Maryland Day (a university open house held the last Saturday of April every year). Bowden volunteered her time for FAMES Summer Program at BGCGW on June 22, 2016. About 45 students from grades 6-9 and summer camp student counselors attended the presentation.
Dr. Mary L. Bowden is a Keystone Associate Professor in the Dept. of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research interests include extravehicular assembly of structures in space and the dynamics of space structures. Dr. Bowden leads the Nearspace.net program at UMD, sponsored by the Maryland Space Grant Consortium. Notably, under her leadership, the UMD Balloon Payload Team established a new altitude record for Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning on July 10, 2009, by lofting a small radio payload to an altitude of 128,379 feet. She has mentored over 50 high altitude balloon launch teams at UMD. She earned a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
On June 22, 2016 FAMESTM launched its eight week long Summer STEM Program for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater 
Washington. Professionals who are actively working in STEM-related fields are invited to act as role models by talking to the students about their career path and their current work. These presentations expose the students to science and engineering beyond what their classroom education can provide. FAMESTM (www.famesusa.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring and educating disadvantaged youth in Grades 4-12 in finance, arts, and STEM subjects, mainly during after school and summer programs. Through hands-on, computer-based and technology programs, our goal is to create a broader awareness in these areas, and inspire the curiosity that motivates students to want to know more. FAMES partners with schools, youth organizations, and sports clubs located in underprivileged areas, as well as other non-profits with complementary missions. By offering relevant and engaging programs, our ultimate goal is to increase opportunity for underprivileged youth so they grow up to be significant contributors to society.