INDIANAPOLIS — Pam Berg is a teacher at IPS Eleanor Skillen School 34.
Her students claim she is the best science teacher in the world. However, her classroom is more than science.
Berg is a STEM teacher, educating her students on science, technology, engineering and math.
“Some of the kids just call me Ms. STEM," Berg said.
"She is really cool," third-grader Lucy Ray said. "I love her."
This year, Berg has two groups of students heading to the second annual IPS STEM Innovation Fair.
It's a chance for students to create, and showcase, solutions to real-world problems using STEM.
"We are ecstatic about having someone recognize their hard work," Berg said.
One of those projects is a "Ocean Floor Cleaning Unity" designed by School 34 students.
Lucy is part of the design team. She said, in the real world, her project would help protect marine life.
"The ocean floor has a lot of trash currently, and we would like to help them," Lucy said.
Even though Lucy's model is made up of Legos and styrofoam, she and her classmates tested it in a pool of water.
"If it sunk, it wouldn't be able to pick up any trash, and if it floated, it would be able to pick up trash," Lucy said.
Around the corner, fourth-grader Leia Zimski and her friends are working to tackle another problem: hunger in Indianapolis.
"We all realized, 'what can we do with a robot?'" Leia asked.
Inspired by YouTube videos and meal-delivery robots on college campuses, the students are building a robot and trolley to deliver food to homeless Hoosiers.
"It would probably have some sensors to read when the lights are on to do crosswalks," Leia said.
Both the delivery robot and the Ocean Floor Cleaning Unit will be on display at the IPS STEM Innovation Fair.
The event is Friday, Dec. 8, from 6-8 p.m. inside William McKinley School 39, located at 1733 Spann Ave., near South State and English avenues. It's open to the IPS community.
For Berg, it's all about the confidence she sees in her students who experience STEM.
“They get so excited and are so amazed when things work, and I’m like, 'of course it worked!'” Berg said.
Lucy said Berg helps understand the importance of STEM.
"It can be so important," Lucy said, "because you have to learn a lot about nature and how this type of stuff works."
Leia agrees, saying STEM provides big-time lessons to students.
"To know that they can push themselves to be whatever they want, and that they can do whatever they want," Leia said.
“This is my favorite subject," Berg said. "I absolutely love the kids here. This is the most wonderful place. I am so proud to be an IPS teacher.”