Science Saturdays are learning experiences for volunteers, students alike

There is a lot to love about Science Saturdays at IHMC.

These science-enrichment sessions bring science to students in grades 3-7 in fun and engaging ways on topics ranging from paper airplanes to robot hands and roller coasters. The series returns for the 2025-2026 school year in Pensacola on Sept. 20, 2025. Learn more here.

It is free — which is something parents can love. It is full of activities in which scientific principles jump out of the textbook and into the real world — which is something students and instructors can love.

But what makes Science Saturdays truly special are people like Hannah and Rachel Kirby.

The Kirbys — twins who graduated in 2025 from Pace High School — were two stalwart high school volunteers who have given more than a few Saturdays to work with small groups of students. Both are freshmen at Florida State University this fall studying biomedical engineering — inspired in large part by what they saw at IHMC.

“It has been a true pleasure to have Hannah and Rachel volunteer with us,” says Ursula Schwuttke, IHMC’s director of community outreach. “It was easy for the younger students to relate to them as someone to emulate because they are such inspiring STEM role models. We will definitely miss them as they head off to college, but I expect they are bound for great things.”

The volunteers for this program are selected not only for their science abilities, trustworthiness and reliability, but also for their abilities to work with others, to explain science concepts to children, and to make learning fun.

Each Saturday that the program is offered, an IHMC research scientist leads a topic in an area of science or engineering. The volunteers’ task is to help the children assigned to them with the hands-on activities that are the emphasis of the program, to make sure each child has an opportunity to participate and has a good time.

Hannah and Rachel both came to Science Saturdays as younger students. Hannah says that experience sparked her further interest in STEM and helped her build other skills that she knows will serve her well.

“Volunteering at IHMC has helped me develop strong communication skills and the patience needed to lead and teach a group effectively,” Hannah says. “It also taught me how to navigate challenges that may arise in group settings.

These skills are valuable in any team environment and will better prepare me for future internships or jobs.”
Rachel agrees and notes that her time volunteering at IHMC helped her build confidence in her ability to multitask, communicate directions and collaborate with others.

“I also genuinely enjoyed volunteering because I got to work with younger kids and see their excitement and love for learning science,” Rachel says. “It really reminded me of how I used to be while learning new things.”

Getting sneak peeks into the work IHMC does was also a nice perk, says Rachel, who “hopes one day to contribute to projects like those I saw at IHMC.”

Both Kirbys say they earned rewards apart from the purely scientific inspiration.

“The most rewarding part is seeing younger students get excited about learning,” Hannah says. “It brings me so much joy to see their curiosity and intelligence. They have so much potential, and it gives me hope for the future.”

Sponsors for the 2025-2026 series in Pensacola include premier sponsor Florida Power & Light, the Florida Blue Foundation, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (with Law Enforcement Trust Fund monies).

SCIENCE SATURDAY FALL SCHEDULE
The schedule for Science Saturdays for the Fall is complete. Learn more and stay up to date on topics for these sessions here.
Pensacola Sessions
Sept. 20: Optical Illusions, Katherine Mortimore.
Oct. 18: Electric Motors, Robert Griffin.
Nov. 22: Balloon Cars, Jared Li.
Dec. 13: Computer Game Design, Heath Parr.

IHMC is a not-for-profit research institute of the Florida University System where researchers pioneer science and technology aimed at leveraging and extending human capabilities. IHMC researchers and staff collaborate extensively with the government, industry, and academia to conduct ground-breaking science and develop breakthrough technologies. IHMC research partners have included: DARPA, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Institutes of Health, IBM, Microsoft, Honda, Boeing, Lockheed, and many others.