Around the Company in Pictures: Cruisin’ for Science

August 20, 2021 - A van donated by Bisbee Discontinued Ops to the Bisbee Science Exploration and Research Center is now helping bring STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) resources and activities to children across Cochise County in southern Arizona.

The van primarily is being used as part of the Sky Island STEAM Express, the mobile science lab that brings a rotation of science exhibits around the county. Since acquiring the van in May, the organization has been able to reach about 200 kids.

“It’s been a really wonderful asset for us to have, and we’re so grateful for how Freeport is allowing us to bring STEM enrichment activities to the rural communities in Cochise County,” said Amie Esteves, Director of the Bisbee Science Lab, where the center is located. “We expect our outreach to skyrocket with the new exhibit beginning its tour next month.”

The van had been used to transport crews working on an environmental remediation project at Bisbee. When the project was completed, Robert Quintanar, Manager-Resource Reclamation in Bisbee, and Rita Lloyd-Mills, Manager-Strategic Community Development in Phoenix, pitched to their respective management teams the idea of donating the van.

“I’ve worked with the Bisbee science group for many years, and I knew that they were just starting a program to take STEM education to the rural areas of the county, so I hoped that this van could have a very important second life,” Quintanar said.

Eventually, the lab plans to outfit the van into a roving exhibit, Lloyd-Mills said.

“We’ve partnered with the science lab for so many years, and the impact they are making on getting children excited about science is now something they can do not just for the Bisbee community, but also the surrounding rural communities. The fact that Freeport made that happen is awesome,” Lloyd-Mills said.

Learn more about the mobile science lab at bisbeesciencelab.org.

Photos (from left to right): “Meccano,” a robot built by children at the Bisbee Science Lab, brings STEM education to Cochise County in a van donated by the company. A van formerly used to transport Freeport-McMoRan crews now brings science education to children in southern Arizona.