(Photo Courtesy of Costa Constantinides)
Oct. 16, 2019. By Shane O’Brien
Council Member Costa Constantinides and New York City school officials cut the ribbon today on a $300,000 STEM laboratory at I.S. 141 in Astoria.
The STEM lab, located at the 37-11 21st Ave. school, features 3D printers, coding robots and other technology that will aid students in their computer, mathematics and engineering studies.
Construction recently wrapped up on the lab that was formally unveiled on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
The lab was one of four projects funded through participatory budgeting, a process where residents get to vote on how more than $1 million is spent in the district.
Constantinides said that the lab would help students find jobs in the future and also help them learn about the environment.
“This brand new STEM lab is participatory budgeting in action,” Constantinides said. “The community rightly recognizes the need for interactive curriculum that helps our students prepare for innovative STEM careers. I cannot wait to see how this lab opens up the world of science to western Queens students, so they lead the way for a brighter, greener, safer future.”
The lab was constructed as part of Constantinides’ 2050 science initiative, which seeks to prepare students for careers in science, technology engineering and math – a sector expected to be a leading employer in the future.
Constantinides was joined Wednesday morning by Philip Composto, Superintendent for School District 30; Vanessa Williams, Principal of I.S. 141; and Katina Despas-Barous, President of the I.S. 141 Parent Teacher Association.
