Lane Tech's STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education initiative provides students with the resources and tools necessary to develop STEM knowledge and skills that will prepare them for future endeavors in a science and technology based 21st century economy. Lane Tech promotes the advancement of STEM knowledge, investigative skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities by providing students with over 50 STEM courses. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities such as GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science), Math team, Robotics team, and Science Olympiad. Lane Tech's variety of courses and extracurricular offerings enables students to engage in meaningful conversations with college professors and scientists, participate in scientific research at local universities and research laboratories, partner with local organizations and companies to promote environmental research and public awareness, and take part in STEM competitions.
Aquaponics, a 2012 addition to Laneʼs science curriculum, is the symbiotic cultivation of plants and fish in a closed loop ecosystem. At Lane, large tanks of fish provide recycled, nutrient-rich water to an array of organic vegatables, fruits, herbs, and other plants. Aquaponics teaches students about science, sustainability, urban farming, nutrition, data collection, and responsibility. Lane students can take the Aquaponics elective and enjoy an experience that is not available to most urban students.
The Robotics and Engineering Research lab was remodeled in 2014 and provides students a space to research and design robotic components for continued learning and competition. The robotics program consists of four components: robotics classes, First Tech Challenge (FTC) teams, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams, and FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams. Since itʼs inception, Laneʼs robotics program has excelled, with both FTC teams making it to State and the FRC team making it to the World Championship. The updated space provides students a learning environment that better supports the robotics program.