Philly scientist set to open youth STEM center in Germantown

Local scientist Tyriane ‘Grand Hank’ Ragsdale will open The Grand Hank STEM Center in Germantown on July 12, aiming to improve STEM education for underserved youth. Ragsdale, raised in public housing, values education as a means to success and wants to make science accessible. The center will house a 10,000-square-foot facility featuring robotics, a video production lab, and culinary spaces, encouraging hands-on learning. He previously worked as a chemist and recognized the lack of diversity in STEM, which inspired him to create this center. Funded by a $100,000 donation from The Peak Tek Technology Corporation, renovations are progressing to establish this educational hub.

Ragsdale's initiative also includes interactive performances to engage students in science. His annual ‘The Science Lab of Grand Hank Tour’ has been running since 2011, further demonstrating his commitment to education. The center aims to expose the community to the beauty of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.