PORT NECHES — Magnetic levitation may sound like something otherworldly, but eighth grade students at Port Neches Middle School’s wood shop will be able to delve into the science behind the magic courtesy of a grant from Indorama Ventures.
Teacher/Coach Brian Cates was presented with a $3,000 check Wednesday from Indorama Ventures as grand prize winner of the 2021 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM Innovation Grant.
Cates has wanted to do the magnetic project for a while. His students have studied transportation and watched videos of amusement parks and now all of the pieces are coming together.
Cates plans to purchase Maglev kits to introduce the concept of magnetic levitation and compliment current curriculum that enhances the students’ real-world understanding of transportation and industrial technology. Experimenting…