TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The MoBus Solar Science Sustainability Lab is going to provide solar science education to nine Title 1 middle schools in Florida’s Leon and Gadsden Counties, with activities ensuring physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Trish Hanson starts up her RV, she feels a sense of relief as six years of hard work are finally coming to life.
Hanson is the co-founder of MoLab, a local nonprofit bringing hands-on science learning to schools.
In 2014, she wanted to make this experience go mobile in a science learning lab on wheels. This is when she purchased an RV with the help ofIndependent Green Technologies, a Tallahassee solar installer.
After six years, she finally has grant money, through All Points North Foundations, to make her vision a reality.
"MoBus will be outfitted with solar panels so that it can run on solar energy technology," Hanson said. "We are going to convert it to run on waste vegetable oil, so they will get real-world experience on what sustainability means and why it's so important to us."
Hanson said she hopes science on the go can provide education to students in need.
"We want to provide really beneficial programming to those title one schools and children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience something like this," Hanson said.
The program will launch in the fall of 2021.
The schools include:
- Fairview Middle
- FAMU Developmental Research School
- Ft. Braden
- Griffin Middle
- Nims Middle
- Tallahassee School of Math and Sciences
- Woodville School
- James A. Shanks Middle
- West Gadsden Middle.
