DTE Energy Foundation and Cranbrook Institute of Science Partner to Bring STEM Programming to Detroit Area Students

DETROIT, Feb. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The DTE Energy Foundation and Cranbrook Institute of Science today announced they have partnered to provide nearly 7,500 middle school students with hands-on, immersive STEM and environmental science outreach programs in Detroit, Ecorse, Trenton and River Rouge schools.

The new DTE People Power Place Outreach Initiative will help students develop important comprehension and skills in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In 2016 the DTE Energy Foundation provided grant support over a three-year period, which allows Cranbrook educators to bring science to middle school students in grades six through eight.

"Supporting educational initiatives, especially in the areas of STEM, has always been a top priority of the DTE Energy Foundation," said Faye Nelson, vice president at DTE Energy and board chair and president of the DTE Energy Foundation. "By partnering with the Cranbrook Institute of Science, we're helping to bring enriching educational experiences for students in underserved areas, from world-class science experts that are based right here in our own backyard."

All programming includes hand-on opportunities using appropriate objects and artifacts from the Institute's collections to create unique classroom experiences that are Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned. This will provide students the opportunity to interact with actual oil shale, coal, and local bedrock to better understand geology, and witness the power of electricity by building their own simple circuits using light bulbs and buzzers.    

"The DTE Energy Foundation and Cranbrook Institute of Science share a common mission in helping to make sure students are skilled in science and math," said Dr. Stafford, director, Cranbrook Institute of Science. "People Power Place gives us the chance to show students how exciting science is." 

On February 1, from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm, Trevor Lauer, president and COO, DTE Electric, and Cranbrook Institute of Science Director Dr. Michael Stafford, will visit Boyd Arthurs Middle School in Trenton. While there, they'll participate in partnership programs focusing on geology and electricity being presented to students in grades 6 through 8.

About Cranbrook Institute of Science
Cranbrook Institute of Science, Michigan's Museum of Natural History, is part of the world-renowned Cranbrook Educational Community at 39221 Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The museum is open Tuesdays-Thursdays 10 am - 5 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 10 am - 10 pm, and Sundays noon - 4 pm. Regular admission is $13 for adults and $9.50 for children 2-12 and senior citizens (65+); children under 2 and members are admitted free. Courtesy of MASCO Corporation Foundation, admission is free after 5 pm on the first Friday of each month. Other Fridays and all Saturdays after 5 pm admission is reduced to $6.50 for adults and $5.50 for children 2-12 and senior citizens; children under 2 and members are admitted free. For more call (248) 645-3200 or visit http://science.cranbrook.edu.

About the DTE Energy Foundation
The DTE Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), continuing the legacy of community support and involvement of its electric and natural gas utilities, which serve 2.2 million electric customers in Southeast Michigan and 1.2 million natural gas customers in Michigan. In 2016, the DTE Energy Foundation provided $15 million in grant support to nonprofits throughout the company's service territories. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 260 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. http://www.dteenergy.com/foundation

SOURCE DTE Energy Foundation

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