PHASE II: ECOTEK (DEPSA) 2010

Photos by WILLIAM ARCHIE/Detroit Free Press

Mosheh Williams, 13, of Detroit inspects freshwater slime algae at the Eco Tek lab near Wayne State Univer sity in Detroit. Keith Young, who founded the Eco Tek program for 100 metro Detroit students, watches.


LESSONS IN POSSIBILITY 

BMW to expand labs to turn metro Detroit kids into scientists

By TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER 

As the North American In ternational Auto Show opens for the international automo tive news media today, a single gathering could change the lives of hundreds of metro Detroit schoolchildren.

That’s where BMW is to an nounce a grant to expand a successful science program from 100 to 1,000 students.

The $165,000 grant by the German automaker, including donations by metro Detroit’s Eitel Dahm Motor Group and Erhard BMW, is designed to ex pand the Eco Tek program to give students — especially in Detroit — a leap in science, en gineering and research.

Dahm Motor Group owner Eitel Dahm said he went through a similar youth pro gram as a teen in Germany before he immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and built the multi million- dollar dealership.

“It (the program) opens the door for kids — inner-city kids or any kids — to live the American dream, as long as they’re dedicated, follow through and are ambitious,” he said.

The program now allows about 100 students hand-picked for their drive and academic skills to spend time exploring in the Eco Tek lab, near Wayne State University.

Mosheh Williams, 13, an eighth-grader at Detroit Edison Public School Academy, a charter school in Detroit, spends Sunday afternoons testing the viscosity and combustion of different biofuels he creates from things like soybeans and grape seed oil.

Through the program, he visited the United Nations in New York, tested water in South Africa and is to study sharks in Florida in April.

“It’s worth it because of the experience and how it’s helped me progress in my schoolwork, and how it’s helped me become a bigger person thinking-wise,” he said.

The program’s founder, Keith Young, said BMW’s dona tion will help him recreate the Eco Tek lab at Spain Middle School on Detroit’s west side, at University Prep Science and Math School and at Edison Academy.

“I look at it from a perspective, either you’re going to lead Detroit or leave Detroit,” Young said. “Either one you choose, you need to have these skills.” 

| CONTACT TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA: 313-223-4456 OR TBATTAGLIA@FREEPRESS .COM 

“IT’ S WORTH IT BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE AND HOW IT’ S HELPED ME PROGRESS IN MY SCHOOLWORK.” 

MOSHEH WILLIAMS, 13, an eighth grader at Detroit Edison Public School Academy. Through the Eco Tek program, he has tested water in South Africa.