WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Can playing a game of soccer make you better at math? The Air Force Institute of Technology thinks so.

AFIT, the Air Force’s graduate school of engineering and management, as well as its institution for technical professional continuing education, recently participated as one of 65 research teams nationwide competitively selected by the National Science Foundation to submit full proposals for the Informal Science Education program.

AFIT’s project, entitled “STEM and Sports Pathways for Youth Engagement of Math and Science” involves the use of sports as an informal vehicle for increasing awareness and knowledge of the role of STEM.

The NSF’s ISE project goal is to present STEM fundamentals for K-12 youths in a fun and relational way by connecting what is observed in sports to the basic principles of math and science.

NSF’s ISE program invests in projects that promote lifelong learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a wide variety of informal settings. Funding is provided for projects that advance understanding of informal STEM learning, that develops and implement innovative strategies and resources for informal STEM education, and that build the national professional capacity for research, development, and practice in the field.

“The NSF mission to promote the progress of science for the country runs parallel to the AFIT mission of advancing air, space, and cyberspace power for the Nation, its partners, and our armed forces by providing relevant defense-focused technical graduate and continuing education, research, and consultation,” said Major General Walter Givhan, AFIT Commandant. “It is paramount that our Institute actively promotes STEM within our nation’s youth, to secure the future of our national defense, while advancing the nation’s health, success, and interests.” NSF is just one of many AFIT sponsors supporting its graduate research efforts.

The project team, which consisted of AFIT as the lead organization, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Arizona State University, hypothesized that STEM principles are present everywhere, at any time, in any format via a variety of life activities.

The team developed their project to include a web-based game and a STEM-and-Sports fair with interactive workshops and hands-on activities. The foundation for these actions is based on the book “The Physics of Soccer”, written by the Project Lead, Dr. Adedeji Badiru, an engineering professor at AFIT.

“The choice of using sports to communicate STEM is based on the fact that sports have the ability to captivate nations collectively,” said Dr. Badiru. “Whether called soccer, football, or the world's game, soccer is fun and a sport kids play worldwide. Our project team used my book’s concepts to help develop and design activities to appreciate and better understand aspects of the game.”

The team project examined the science behind game scenarios, field-based decisions, the geometry of field play, and strategies for assessing the implications of directional motions of opponents and teammates on the field.

“The Physics of Soccer is an essential resource for any team looking for an advantage that can make the difference between just playing, and winning.” said Dr. Badiru. “Sports can also bind groups together and should be used as an effective educational communication tool rather than being viewed as a distraction or diversion. One of the first celebratory events following the rescue of the Chilean miners in mid October 2010 was a novelty soccer match between the miners and their rescuers. Even the Chilean president participated in the soccer game.”

The NSF project also is collaborating with local STEM groups, including Dayton STEM School and the TechFest organized annually by the Associated Society Council of Dayton.

“Advancing STEM competencies has been a mission priority at AFIT since our inception in 1919” Said Dr. Marlin Thomas, Dean of the AFIT Graduate Engineering and Management School. “When the forefathers of aviation began advancing the science of flight, they realized in short order, education is key to development and progress of flight. AFIT itself was founded under this deliberation”.

“I am very proud our faculty engages outside the walls of our institute to ensure children’s interest in STEM is supported and championed” said Dr. Thomas.