• By Michael Ackerman
• Posted Saturday, February 17, 2024

It's time to build up some STEAM!

Don't you hate having to do chores? Cleaning your room, taking out the garbage, and mowing the lawn can be very tedious. But you should count yourself lucky. Young Richard Turere of Kenya was given a different kind of chore altogether. When he was only 9 years old, his parents told him to protect their cattle...from a pride of hungry lions! Yikes!

Every night, Richard would stay out with the livestock and try to scare off the ravenous predators, but every night, the lions would sneak up and kill a cow or two. Richard's parents gave him a gun, but he felt there must be a nonviolent solution to the problem.

When Richard noticed that the lions wouldn't approach the stables if they saw the beam of his flashlight flitting back and forth over them, he created an automated system with flashing LED lights that ran on a combination of solar and wind power.

His invention was a complete success, and it’s now used on thousands of farms in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Argentina and India!

If, like Richard, you are curious about how the natural world works and how we can use science, technology, engineering, art, and math to advance human progress, then come to our STEAM for Teens & Tweens program at the Central Library. Each week, we feature a different activity and demonstrate a different scientific principle. Who knows? With the knowledge you acquire, you could make a breakthrough and become the next Richard Turere! (By the way, if you'd like to learn more about Richard, check out his book Lion Lights: My Invention that Made Peace with Lions, available at the library.)

Ages 9-18 are welcome. Registration is not required. For more information, please email Mia at jordanmc@forsyth.cc.

STEAM for Teens & Tweens
Every Wednesday
through April 24
5-6 p.m.
Central Library Makerspace