Academics

Sustainability, STEM, and Innovation

Overview

The Sustainability, STEM, and Innovation Department allows students to design and generate solutions to modern challenges facing our community on a small and global scale. Through a robust slate of extracurricular programs and interdisciplinary course offerings, all students at The Mount have the opportunity to engage 21st-century problems with the scientific method and/or universal design process, all while using the latest technology and equipment in modern lab spaces.

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Innovation Spaces and Equipment

List of 4 items.

Makerspace

Equipped with two state-of-the-art laser cutters, two single extruder 3D printers, and one dual extruder 3D printer, as well as collaborative spaces, this room provides space for students to innovate. This space and equipment is used for class projects throughout the day, but is also open to students, free of charge, before and after school three days a week for personal innovation.
Build Lab

From miter saws to power drills to soldering irons, our Build Lab houses more than $25,000 of power tools ready to support build outs once students have passed the design stage. Used regularly by our Stage Crew, engineering class, and engineering-focused clubs, this space is available for all classes to sign out for interdisciplinary projects.
Mobile Virtual Reality Classroom

Mount Saint Joseph is at the forefront of integrating 21st-century technology into our classrooms. We have a classroom set of Oculus Quest 2 headsets that allow students to travel across the world and time, collaborate in shared art studios, and explore 3D biomolecule structures like never before.
Sustainability Lab (2024)

A hub for interdisciplinary work, this space will house our student-designed, indoor-composting project, multiple hydroponic gardening systems growing food for local shelters, and other sustainability projects.

Sustainability Efforts

Recycling Program
School-provided reusable water bottles for students
Water bottle filling stations
Hydroponic gardening
Native garden restoration projects
Maiden Choice Run stream survey
Energy efficient lighting fixtures (new 2023)
Composting (to begin 2024)
Honeybee hives (potential arrival in 2024)

Extracurricular Opportunities

FirstTech Robotics
Environmental Engineering Club
CyberPatriot
Sustainability Club
ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering)
Maryland Math League
Mu Alpha Theta
Chemistry Olympiad
Environmental Club

Academic Offerings

STEM and Sustainability-focused classes are available to all levels of students starting freshman year. For more information on course offerings, please visit the following department pages:

Sustainability Scholars

Mount Saint Joseph offers a unique scholars program open to students who have expressed an interest in environmental education and sustainability. Our Sustainability Scholars Program is a four-year, scholarship-based program that combines traditional school day education with a plethora of extracurricular and summer work opportunities, all allowing students to put their education and knowledge to use as they design and execute environmental action projects.