Just ahead on Black Issues Forum, what happens when curiosity meets confidence in a lab coat?

Well, you get 12-year-old Ava, the STEM princess and star of PBS's newest kids series, "Mini Fab Science Lab."

She's asking big questions, exploring fun experiments, and proving that science is for everyone.

Coming up next, stay with us.

- Quality public television is made possible through the financial contributions of viewers like you, who invite you to join them in supporting PBS NC.

(upbeat music) ♪ - Welcome to Black Issues Forum.

I'm Kenia Thompson.

If you're curious, creative, young at heart, or an age, then this episode is the perfect episode for you.

PBS North Carolina is always thinking of ways to bring fun and unique content to our viewers, and today we're highlighting a new series that does just that.

"Mini Fab Science Lab" is a brand new PBS North Carolina series that explores everyday science in a way that's fresh, fun, and smart.

And today we get to meet the brain behind the show and learn all about why this content matters for young minds.

I'd like to welcome to the show, host of the "Mini Fab Science Lab," Ava Simmons, who brings science to life in the most fabulous way.

And next to her is the show's coordinating producer and friend of Black Issues Forum, Jewel Lowe.

Welcome.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- It's so great to have you.

Ava, this is my first time meeting you in person, but I have heard so much about you, just the fun, dynamic energy that you bring.

You're 12 years old.

I told my daughter you had your own show, and she was like, "Excuse me," but then she watched and she said, "Oh, I can see why."

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how does it feel to have your own platform?

- Well, my name is Ava, and I'm an entrepreneur, STEM ambassador, toy designer, and author.

And I'm really excited and happy to host my own show because I've always wanted to do it for PBS Kids.

- And so when you thought about hosting your own show, is what we have today the fruition of what you saw, or is it bigger than what you saw?

- It was bigger than what I saw.

- Yeah.

Well, for our viewers, I wanna go real quick to a promo clip of the Mini Fab Science Lab so that we can take a look and see what we're talking about before we get deeper into the conversation.

- Calling all scientists, it's time to head to the Mini Fab Science Lab.

Join me, Ava, and five of my best friends as we ask big questions and investigate to figure it out.

Whoa, it's like magic.

- It's better than magic, Brooke.

- It's science.

Can we use limits to power a robot?

What about making our own toys with science?

We can ask big questions.

We can figure them out.

Premiering August 2nd on YouTube.

- Wowza, now this is exciting.

- So how does it feel to see that?

- Well, I'm really excited to host my own show and I've always wanted to do it.

- Yeah.

And seeing that, it's so colorful.

It comes to fruition.

Jewel, When we look at that, tell us about the first time you met Ava and why you thought she'd be a perfect PBS fit.

- So in 2022, I began what we call the Rootle Roaster Tour here.

And it was to go across the state of North Carolina, engaging with families, bringing PBS Kids resources, fun, color, and also bringing in local community partners with the resources for those communities.

And I was focusing on STEM this particular year and I wanted to give out STEM books.

And resources based on that.

And I came across Ava's book.

And at the time she was number two best selling on one of my favorite shopping apps, won't say the name.

And I said, well, let me contact her and see how I can purchase a bulk amount of books so that we can go ahead and hand them out to the kids.

And when I called and I got in touch with her mom and she was like, oh yeah, this is what Ava does.

And I said, well, tell me more about Ava.

And she was telling me Ava's journey, not to tell her own story, but she has a learning disability.

And she was saying how she was using STEM to help her through that journey of hers.

And I said, oh, this would be a great opportunity for her to have her join us at the Roadster Tour stop.

And she did, she came and she was excited.

She saw us there.

She was just Ava all over the place.

And she set up her tent.

And I didn't know what to expect.

But when she set up her space and she was doing her experiments and she was calling all scientists and the kids gathered around, the parents were excited about being there too and doing all these great hands-on activities that she had for them.

And I was like, this is something that we need to have on air.

I didn't know how to go about doing it, but it was an idea that we fostered in 2022.

And after working with her for four years, we were like, yes, it's time.

It's time now.

- So, Jewel shares that you're neurodivergent.

So share a little bit about how STEM has helped with that.

- Well, because I have dyslexia and dysgraphia, I'm more of a visual learner than I am to read things.

So doing STEM, it really helped me because STEM science, technology, engineering, and math is more hands-on than it is for the computer.

So STEM has really helped me with my reading and my math skills.

- Okay.

And in, I think years before this show even started, I was looking at some of your work and your YouTube content.

So you started out with doing YouTube videos and experiments, right?

- Yes.

So basically I wanted to make my own brand, but we weren't at the point where we knew everything.

So we started on YouTube because we saw more content creators on there because like we said before, we started in 2021 when I was in first grade.

So we saw more creators on YouTube than any other platform.

So that's where we wanted to start, to reach kids that people we wanted to reach.

- Jewel, when we talk about reaching kids, how does STEM uniquely reach kids in a creative way, especially for neurodivergent young adults?

- Well, that aspect, it's as Ava said, it's something that they can touch, it's tactile.

A lot of children are not, textbooks is not how they want to learn.

They have to delve in, they have to touch, and they remember how to do that better than it is just to reading out of a textbook.

I'm the same way.

And so we see that children, when we're out in our space, when we're doing our events, children learn more and the parents are amazed at how much they're learning and what they're doing 'cause they didn't even think their kids could do it.

But because they're touching these things, it's more of a learning tool.

It's a better learning tool, I think, sometimes for some children.

- And you make a good point.

Some kids are like, "I didn't think I could do this."

A lot of kids don't think science is their thing.

What do you say to kids that aren't really fond of science, but if they just looked past it, they could find some interest?

- Well, I think science is for everyone, and you might not know it yet, but the things you're doing might include science.

So you can't say you don't like it 'til you try it.

That's what my thing is.

If I don't like a certain thing, if I don't like it but I've never tried it, I can't say I don't like it.

So that's what I'm gonna say.

- What kinds of things are everyday things that kids do that is science?

- Mixing, when you do slime or when you bake, you mix things together.

And also when you go on the computer, when you play outside, when you go on a car ride, you walk across the street, those things are type of science you do.

- So we've been talking about mixing and making slime.

One of your favorite episodes is?

- My favorite episode I think so far is the one with me and Cajol, where we make bouncy balls out of slime.

- Well, we've got that clip, so I want our viewers to see them making bouncy balls.

So here it is.

(upbeat music) ♪ We can, we can, we can ♪ ♪ We can, we can, we can ♪ ♪ We can, we can, we can ♪ ♪ Mini Fab ♪ ♪ Science Lab ♪ ♪ We can ask big questions ♪ ♪ We can figure it out ♪ ♪ Let's investigate in the Mini Fab ♪ ♪ Science Lab ♪ - Ava, Ava!

- Oh, why are you out of breath?

I ran over here to show you this.

- Wow, a bouncy ball, it's so glittery.

- It's my sister's and I'm pretty sure it's the bounciest bouncy ball.

- The bounciest bouncy ball, I gotta see this.

- Three, two, one.

(upbeat music) Oh no!

It's my sister's bounciest bouncy ball.

- Let's run outside to see if we can find it.

I'm so sorry we couldn't find the ball, Cathal.

We looked everywhere.

- That was my sister's favorite bouncy ball.

It was so bouncy, it could have bounced anywhere.

- Wait, Ava, you know how to make all sorts of things.

Do you think we can make a new bouncy ball?

- Hmm, that's a big question.

I like asking big questions, so let's investigate.

Let's go to the Mini Fab Science Lab.

- Wowza, now this is exciting.

- Science is always exciting.

The first thing we have to do is gather up all the materials.

(liquid pouring) Now we're gonna mix the eye solution and the glitter.

- Whoa, it's slime.

We made slime.

- Mom, Professor Eric said hi, and guess what?

- What's that, sweetie?

- He taught us all about polymers and how they're used to make shoes and medicine and super ultra bouncy balls.

- Bouncy ball, your mom found it for me.

- I like my sister's bounciest bouncy ball, but I think this is the best bouncy ball ever.

- What makes it the best bouncy ball ever?

- Because I made it with you.

- And we made it with science.

(upbeat music) - That was so adorable, I love it.

It feels fresh, it feels young.

And so let's talk about the intro.

I intentionally put that in there, and for our viewers, that was not the full clip, so make sure you go and watch the full experiment, 'cause I obviously had to cut it down for the show.

But I wanted to make sure to include that intro, the colorful graphics, the music.

Share a little bit about the creation of that and any intentionality behind it.

- Well, the team wanted to make sure that we made it lively and colorful for kids, and it attracts their attention and it draws them in.

And then I think I sing the intro more than anybody else, because it's just a catchy tune.

You can listen to it on your radio, pop it up.

And we wanted an Izzy, our talented Izzy, our producer on the team, she came up with the basic layout of the intro and how the music goes right along with that ball, if you notice, every time that ball moves, there's a beat that goes along with the ball.

And so we hired a few contractors to help us out with that as well.

But putting it all together, it was the idea that we wanted to really pull the kids in and really get them intentional to sit and watch from the beginning all the way to the end with the graphics, with animation.

You didn't see it here, but they actually do their experiment and then they have a big question.

And so now they have to go and figure it out, and Ava and her friend will call a experienced professional in that field, get their questions answered, and then come back home and play.

So it was fun.

- Ava, when you first saw that episode come together, especially the intro, the song, like you have your own theme song, what were your thoughts?

What were the first things that ran through your head?

- Well, I can't believe I just made my own show and I hosted my own show.

And I cried, I just wanna say I did cry.

I was just so happy because I've always wanted to do something like this because I see all my favorite people on TV and see them making movies and hosting their own show.

And when I first started Team Gina Squad, I never thought I would get this big and be able to be on TV.

- Yeah.

And it's something to have your passion realized in this way too, right?

So I know you're happy to be on TV, but I know for you too, it's more than just the TV.

It's getting to do what you love to do and sharing that with people.

And so I think that that's a beautiful thing.

When we think about representation, we can't ignore that we're on Black Issues Forum.

You're a young black woman and seeing us on TV matters, especially to our kids.

And so I'll ask you, and then I'll ask Jewel to you, how does representation matter?

- Well, I really think representation for this and my vision for this, because I want kids to know, even though you have a challenge, it can become your greatest strength.

And I always say to everybody and myself when I wake up in the morning, never let your challenges define a success or future.

Because if I did the same thing and made Team Gina Squad, you can do the same thing too.

And that's the model that I stick with.

- I love that.

That was such a good answer.

(both laughing) Even a teacher in me wants to be like, good job, good job.

Let's talk about representation.

And in creating this content, how was that considered in this platform?

So working with Ava over the years, we knew that through her challenges, even with that, she is still bringing in so many other kids and kids relate to her.

She's very attentive to their needs.

When we, if you have not experienced her live, you have to experience her live.

Just how she connects with the kids and the kids connect with her.

And it's all children, all ages.

Inclusivity is really important for the work that we were doing.

And so when we did our research, we realized that there are more white males in the field of science on TV for young people.

And we wanted to be very intentional on having young people host the show or be part of the show.

And then with already Ava on our list as being the host, it just brought, it just meld so well together.

Because the cast is a diverse cast as well.

And we wanted to make sure that we were including children with all learning abilities in our casting.

- Now I remember hearing how hard it was 'cause there were a lot of kids who came out to audition to be Ava's co-host.

And it was so hard 'cause there were so many great kids, so many talented kids out there and charismatic kids that came on.

How did you pick?

- How'd y'all pick?

- Timing.

Unfortunately timing was not on our side this time.

So we had a short period of time to choose kids.

But we did actually choose, we interviewed a lot of kids.

But we also had to keep in mind personality-wise as far as working with Ava.

- Yeah.

- And then because we had a short turnaround as far as filming was concerned, we had to actually make sure that these kids were able to read script or prompters and so forth.

So hopefully the next time we do it, we'll have more time to interview.

Hopefully we'll have longer episodes to be able to film as well.

But with the time that we had, I think we had a great cast and the kids did a good job.

And also having to give it to Ava too because the amount of time she had to do the script was very short.

And but we wanted to make sure that she had enough time at least to be able to read it over.

We had a teleprompter.

And if there was any words she didn't understand or that was not reading right for her, we went in and we fixed it so that she could feel comfortable while she was on set.

- That's great.

What was probably the biggest thing you learned in creating this Ava?

- Well, the biggest thing I probably learned is it's better to have a team than be just by yourself.

Because a team takes work, it takes time, and it takes including everyone and working together.

That's what I noticed.

When you have a team, you get things done faster instead of just being by yourself.

- Listen, it takes some adults their whole lives to learn that lesson.

So the fact that you have learned that already at 12.

- Because I've seen things get done so fast when there's a team.

But then when there's one individual just doing it, it's like taking a very long time.

- And in a team, people get to work in their strengths.

You get to work in your strength and Jewel gets to work in hers, Izzy and all the other folks, they get to work in the spaces that make them creatively happy.

So we see the Team Genius Squad logo emblem on your jacket.

I don't think we've talked about that aspect yet.

Share a little bit about what Team Genius Squad is.

- Well, Team Genius Squad is an educational toy company.

So what I do is I redesign educational kits and I use those kits when I go out in the community.

And basically when I go on the Roto-Roster tour and we make slime, I take the elements, the periodic table, and I tell what slime is made of.

Like slime is polyvinyl acetate, also known as a polymer, and then sodium bicarbonate, which is baking soda, and then our solution is salt and water.

So I tell them the chemical names, what they are, and their compounds and what it is.

- I just wanna give kudos to your mom.

I mean, I just, I am blown away.

I am blown away by you, like consistently.

So just take that.

Jewel, when we think about integration in schools and having this at the hands of teachers, what does that look like for this program and how can it be used in the classroom?

- So that was also another goal of ours because we are educational television.

Not only is the series on YouTube and also on our PBS NC app and website page, teachers can actually take this and use it in their classrooms.

And we have had teachers research this for us so to make sure that the kids like it, to give us feedback on what they like, don't like.

They fill out surveys for us.

So we're getting the feedback from these educators and how they can use it in their classrooms so that the next time that we are building something out like this, we'll know what to do and to make it more appealing for the educational system to be able to use.

It's very short.

They're only eight to 10 minutes long.

So they can watch it and then actually do an experiment or something similar to what they learned.

And what I also like about these episodes is that because they go back into the real world to see how those experiments actually are in different careers.

So you'll see, we went to the zoo.

We've talked to scientists who deal with polymers.

What was the other ones that we did?

- We did-- - Oh, the lemon.

- Am I saying this right?

We did lemon, we did slime, we did the elephant toothpaste and then milk art and the acid base, I'm pretty sure.

- So out of all those, what was your favorite?

- Well, my favorite, I pretty much think is, yes, it was the slime bouncy ball one because I love making slime.

It just makes my day.

I'll probably go home right after this and make some slime.

And you know, I love slime because I hate to say this, but there's little dots of slime on my ceiling from testing the durability of the slime to see if people like it and it's strong enough.

And I would throw it over to the air and it would stick to the ceiling, it would just come down and my mom's like-- - Poor your mom, I feel so sorry.

- Why?

- I would have a panic attack every time I walked into here.

- She would look like, why, why, why?

- Yeah, but I did talk to her mom and her mom says, "You cannot imagine how much glue "we have in our house."

Because every day she's making slime.

And she goes on YouTube too and does it live, right?

- Yes, I go on YouTube or Instagram and basically I just set up my phone, I get in the kitchen, I set up my phone and I just sit down and make slime for hours.

- But you know, I think that that speaks to the bigger, as parents we try to, well I'll speak for myself, I'm a little OCD sometimes, I'm like, "No, don't do this, don't do that, don't do this."

But I realize, you gotta let your kids explore and experiment, right?

And just be free to be kids.

And that's how we understand the world around us and so I think it's beautiful that you're able to throw slime up on the ceiling and let it drip down.

- Yeah, I put different, what I did was a couple, I think it was a week ago, 'cause I've been busy doing all this stuff, I haven't been able to go on live but right after this I'm probably gonna do it.

But what I did was I put dirt, mulch, grass, cocoa powder, sugar, glow in the dark, I just put everything in slime and each day I would say, "Guys, I need you "to give me something new, three things "to put in the slime."

And somebody said cocoa powder and when I did do it, it was the slime was so watery, so I had to keep adding baking soda and activator, it worked, it was really watery, it would just drip down my hands.

And my mom was like, "Eww."

- So what is next for Mini Fab Science Lab?

- So we will be having a premiere at Marbles Museum.

- In Raleigh, North Carolina.

- In Raleigh, I think the date right now is October the 18th, so it'll be showing all four episodes in the IMAX theater.

And we will also have community partners in STEM and STEAM come and do activities with the kids.

Families can come and meet the cast and we're just gonna have a great day in STEM.

- That's gonna be great.

And so when you meet young creators, young scientists and dreamers, I guess what are your recommendations to them as far as STEM?

- To keep dreaming and like I said, never let your challenges define your success or future.

A quick question about the IMAX.

They're gonna be candy.

- We'll talk about it later.

- It's gonna be candy?

- We'll talk about it later.

- It's gonna be candy.

She just answered, she wants to know there's gonna be candy.

- I can't tell her everything.

(laughing) - All right, when we think about science, I want you to fill in the blank.

Science is what?

I'll start with you, Jewel, Raleigh.

Science is for everyone.

Science is for everyone, you can't take that one.

- Science is for all learners, no matter the learning style.

- I love it, I love it.

Last thing, after, well, I don't wanna say after Mini Fab Science Lab, but in your later years, what do you see yourself doing?

- Well, I see myself writing some more books.

I'm thinking about writing one that's gonna be called The Journey of Young Entrepreneurship.

And also, I'm coming up with a baby doll.

- Oh, okay.

- So, I'm thinking of that.

I'm thinking of making the baby dolls, manufacturing them, getting them boxed up, and then putting them in the store, and seeing how people like them and how they sell.

And I've been trying to get it right for the longest.

I didn't wanna show everybody what it is yet, because I wanted it to be a surprise, so you were gonna hear about it, but you're not gonna see it, 'cause it's supposed to be the surprise.

- And for our viewers, she just, but you were a keynote speaker at a conference.

She is talking to young entrepreneurs, she is doing a lot of amazing things, and I know that in the next, not even five years, in the next two, three years, we're gonna be seeing you on poster boards, TVs, commercials, 'cause you just, you're special.

- Thank you.

- You're very special.

- Even if I do, if I do global, well, if I do get big and I get all over everywhere, when I do get big, I wanna still get back to the community, 'cause my model is, when I sell a product, not just a kid, but any product, I give the exact same product to the community.

Like my partners, the Boys and Girls Club, where I do Fun Stand Fridays, when I go there, they ask for slime.

That's it, it's done.

I say, "Hey guys, I have a new thing, "I gotta ask them to see it."

And they're like, "No, where's the slime?"

- Well, next time you come, you gotta bring me some slime.

- I will.

- All right.

Ava, Jewel, thank you so much, I appreciate you.

And for our viewers, make sure you go watch Minifab Science Lab, and I thank you for watching Black Issues Forum.

If you want more content like this, we invite you to engage with us on Instagram, using the hashtag #BlackIssuesForum.

You can also find our full episodes on pbsnc.org/blackissuesforum, and on the PBS Video app.

I'm Kenia Thompson, I'll see you next time.

(upbeat music) ♪ - Quality public television is made possible through the financial contributions of viewers like you, who invite you to join them in supporting PBSNC.