Overwhelming Response in Brazil

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, BRAZIL:  Hosted in partnership with Boeing and ANAC (Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency), the four-week program introduced engaging STEM education to both public and private school students in the region,.

This Newton in a Box event is a part of the expanded partnership between Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia  

3,777 hours of STEM

Newton in a Box is an event that gives a taste of the Norwegian-developed Newton Concept. It was launched at SJK Airport on May 12 and concluded on June 6.

Brazilian Students Explore Science with Newton

Event Highlights from Newton in a Box Opening Ceremony

With two daily sessions, the project accommodated up to 72 students per day. Throughout the program:

• 1,332 students participated
  
  

• 3,774 hours of STEM learning were delivered
  
  

• 333 hours were spent in flight simulators
  
  

• Average student rating: 9.7/10
  
  

• Average teacher rating: 9.6/10
  
  

The program featured three hands-on modules:
Flight Engineering Challenge, Flight Simulators, and Kinetic Energy Experiment. Students also received guided tours of the airport, many for the first time in their lives.

Smiles and laughter filled the Newton in a Box sessions as students explored hands-on STEM activities. Photo Credit: Gerson Akira Fujiki

Trained 80 Volunteers

“We have great partners in this project, and bringing Newton to the Southern Hemisphere has shown us that the concept works just as well there as it does elsewhere. We are so proud of the response the surveys are showing us", says project manager June Moltubakk. 

To support the program delivery, she travelled with a team from FIRST Scandinavia — Ørjan Snoen, Ole Morten Mortensen, and Axel Storli — from Norway to São José dos Campos. There, they set up the teaching area and trained 80 local volunteers, many of them Boeing employees. These volunteers later led all student sessions over the four-week period.

“The large group of over 80 volunteers was amazing, and we were happy that the project team arranged a family weekend, allowing the volunteers to bring their families and children to experience Newton in a Box,” June says.

Strong Praise from Students and Educators

Feedback from participants reflected the success of the initiative:

“The professionals were extremely welcoming, and the activities were fun and interactive. A truly innovative and wonderful project—I loved it!” – Student

“The organisation, the shared knowledge, the airport experience—everything was excellent. The students were thrilled.” – Teacher

“I absolutely loved going and having this incredible experience. The teachers were attentive and explained everything very well—I’m just grateful for today”. – Student

"All the practical activities, the theoretical explanations, general knowledge about airport roles, seeing the airside area—everything was very pleasant and amazing.” – Teacher

Now that the event in Brazil is packed down and is soon on its way back to Norway, Project Manager June concludes;

"With Newton in a Box, the children had the opportunity to explore STEM concepts through hands-on activities, and it was heartening to see their enthusiasm and engagement. For some, it was their first experience visiting an airport, making the day particularly memorable. Newton continues to demonstrate its value in all parts of the world!"

Students take the controls in the flight simulator. Photo Credit: Gerson Akira Fujiki