Our Team

Laura Brock, Ph. D (University of Virginia, Applied Developmental Science)

is an Associate Professor in Teacher Education at the College of Charleston. For the past decade, she has worked on interventions aimed at closing the achievement gap by capitalizing on children’s brain development through curiosity and hands-on learning. She began her career as a teacher in Charleston Count School District.

Rachael James, M.A.T. (College of Charleston, Early Childhood Education)

is a Research Associate at the College of Charleston. She is especially interesting in children’s STEM learning through tinkering, recyclables, art, and engaging, locally relavent experiences.

Hall West, Ph.D (University of South Carolina, Education Psychology)

is a Research Scientist at the College of Charleston. She enjoys program evaluation and is focused on promoting diversity and improving equitable access.

Combined, the three of us share a passion for early science education, environmental responsibility, and social justice. We think the evidence supports our desire to engage children at a young age by asking them to solve locally-relevant engineering problems. We believe scientists are born in early childhood, not graduate school.