Settlers Lifestyle Retirement Village: Discover STEM-Powered Art Exhibition – THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!

During the Term 1 school holidays, our club had the opportunity to host another STEM exhibition at Settlers Lifestyle Retirement Village. The exhibition showcased a collection of interactive STEM-inspired art installations that came to life through touch, movement, light, and sound. Residents, family members, and friends explored how science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) can be combined to create engaging and meaningful experiences for people of all ages.

Visitors enjoyed a wide range of interactive exhibits, including a lighthouse and wind turbines, a fishing boat, an opening bridge, a waterfall cabin, a village sunshine display, a "Look Into Forever" infinity illusion, and a history of animation display featuring a zoetrope. We also specially prepared two additional activities for younger children—a DrawBot, which created artwork using a vibrating motor, and a rocket launcher that demonstrated how a magnetic switch can be used to activate a circuit. Families also took part in Easter Egg Hunt and created their own illuminated Easter egg or bunny lamp to take home. The exhibition encouraged visitors to experiment, ask questions, and discover the science behind each artwork through hands-on exploration.

Preparation Challenge

One of the biggest challenges while preparing for the exhibition was making sure all of the interactive displays were durable enough to be used continuously throughout the event. Many of the exhibits included moving parts, motors, lights, and electronic components, so reliability was very important. During our trial setup, we identified several mechanisms that needed reinforcement and made improvements to increase their durability and responsiveness. We also carefully planned the exhibition layout to ensure visitors could move comfortably between displays and enjoy each exhibit without crowding.

On the Day

The exhibition attracted an excellent turnout, with a steady stream of residents, families, and friends visiting throughout the morning. It was especially rewarding to see grandparents and grandchildren exploring the exhibits together, discussing how they worked, and encouraging one another to try every activity. The Easter Egg Hunt and the make-and-take Easter lamps were particularly popular with the younger visitors.

Interestingly, although the DrawBot was originally designed for younger children, it quickly became a favourite among many of the residents as well. One resident shared that she had spent most of her life as a housewife living in a rural area and was fascinated by the DrawBot. She smiled and asked if she could have a turn, mentioning that her hands shook quite a lot. After watching the DrawBot create a drawing from her movements, she asked if I could do one as well so she could compare the two patterns. Seeing the excitement and curiosity on her face was one of the most memorable moments of the day. It was amazing to see how such a simple STEM project sparked so much interest, conversation, and joy.

Participant Feedback

A 7-year-old participant said:

"My favourite was making the bunny lamp because it lights up! I also liked opening the bridge and finding the glowing Easter eggs."

A resident who had recently moved into the village and was attending our exhibition for the first time said:

"I never imagined science and art could be combined like this. It was wonderful to see the children so engaged, and I enjoyed learning something new myself."

Another resident, who has attended our previous exhibitions, shared:

"I really enjoyed seeing all the different projects again. It was lovely listening to the students explain how everything worked. I especially liked that the interactive displays were designed so residents could participate as well. This has been my favourite exhibition by a student group so far."

This exhibition was a really rewarding experience for our team. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing what we had learned and explaining the science and engineering behind each display. Seeing residents, children, and families learning, laughing, and exploring together made all the hard work worthwhile. It was wonderful to see people of all ages enjoying STEM and discovering how science, engineering, technology, and art can inspire creativity and imagination. We hope everyone who visited left having learned something new, and we look forward to bringing more interactive STEM experiences to the community in the future.

by Benjamin Chan

On behalf of Koru STEM