The Cuesta College STEM Club held a mixer on Feb. 19 and showcased all branches of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The mixer provided drinks and free pizza for all comers. 

“The STEM club is a vital part of pairing students with faculty,” said Erik Veach, Cuesta professor in physics. “This is especially a good place to learn about who your instructors are before or while you are taking an introductory class.”

Representatives from multiple Cuesta branches attended the mixer, including the Cougar Pantry and the Student Success Center. Among the exhibits, the mixer featured a diverse array of reptiles from the Biology Department that students could pick up and observe up close, as well as a Coke-or-Pepsi challenge hosted by the STEM club. 

Visitors were challenged to identify which cup contained which drink, and the seemingly easy test showed a nearly 50-50 split, indicating little difference between the two drinks and that guessing right was more like a coin toss. “It helps get people to think about hypotheses and test results in a super quick and easy way,” said Leonardo Deluca, the STEM Club president. 

Deluca indicated that they aim to keep the mixers going alongside other Cuesta events, such as the Study Jam and end-of-semester parties. “If you are in STEM, and even if you are not, join the fun,” Deluca said. “We really want to show everyone that STEM is always important and in fashion, and that there is interesting stuff happening at Cuesta that everyone can join.”

Many emphasized the mixer’s importance not only as a purely academic event but also as a much-needed social focal point for students. “You can hear how noisy it is here,” Veach said. ” Either people are asking questions and learning, or they are socializing. Both are good.”