PREMIERING 8/2 ON ROOTLE PBS KIDS

Watch Mini Fab Science Lab on PBS

A PBS NC Original Production

In Mini Fab Science Lab, Ava and friends team up to ask big questions, investigate STEAM concepts in the lab and hear from local experts on the science behind everyday things. The show is designed to encourage a love for learning among young children, critical thinking and resilience.

Watch Mini Fab Science Lab, new episodes premiering every Saturday in August on YouTube and Rootle PBS KIDS. Available to stream in English, Spanish and with an American Sign Language Interpreter.

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Meet the Host

Ava The STEM Princess

Ava N. Simmons, also known as Ava The STEM Princess® and Ava The STEM Ambassador™, is a 12-year-old science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) ambassador, entrepreneur, toy designer, author and creator of educational toy brand Team Genius Squad. Diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia in 2021, Ava used STEM and entrepreneurial activities to help overcome her academic challenges and build her confidence.

To share her learning journey and encourage others, Ava creates engaging STEM-based educational videos, authors STEM books, conducts peer-to-peer STEM activities in the community and develops STEM toys for children ages 5–13, including children who are neurodivergent or in underserved areas. Over 700,000 households have viewed her educational videos, and she has conducted thousands of peer-to-peer STEM experiments with children in the community, authored 3 books and developed 15 branded STEM educational toys.

Meet Ava's Friends

Ava's friends are all featured in Mini Fab Science Lab. In order of appearance.

Behind the Scenes: On Set with Mini Fab Science Lab

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Cast and crew of Mini Fab Science Lab episode "Lemon Power" pose for a photo at the end of filming.

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Brooke and Ava are all smiles while learning about electricity at the PBS NC studio.

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There's science in my cereal?! Eleanor and Ava explore the world of surface tension in the Mini Fab Science Lab episode "Mix It Up."

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Ava the STEM Ambassador and her friends Cathal and Carter pose in front of the green screen on set of PBS North Carolina's new series, Mini Fab Science Lab.

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Cast and crew of Mini Fab Science Lab episodes "In a Pickle" and "Stretch, Squish and Bounce" pose for a photo at the end of filming. You can learn all about acids and bases, and polymers with Carter, Cathal, and Ava!

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Carter and Ava learn about acid-base reactions by doing an experiment featuring vinegar, baking soda and a latex glove. I wonder what else acid-base reactions can do?

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Taking on the role of Lead Silliness Coordinator, Producer Izzy Daniels-Connor leads Ava and Brooke through some dances, stretches and warm ups before filming.

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Carter and Ava get the wiggles out with Producer Izzy Daniels-Connor before filming the episode "In A Pickle."

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Ava and Elijah break it down after learning about decomposition reactions!

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Cast and crew of Mini Fab Science Lab episodes "Rotten Banana" and "Mix It Up" pose for a photo at the end of filming. You can learn all about decomposition reactions and surface tension with Ava, Elijah, and Eleanor!

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Coordinating Producer Jewel Ausby Lowe and Director Isaac Klein discuss notes on the set of Mini Fab Science Lab.

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Learning about electricity, Brooke and Ava check out their toy robot on the set of Mini Fab Science Lab.

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Director Isaac Klein guides the young actors through their lines during the filming of "Rotten Banana."

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Ava stretches the homemade slime she made alongside her friend Cathal before learning more about polymers.

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Elijah, Ava and Producer Izzy Daniels-Connor pose in front of the set of Mini Fab Science Lab.

Mini Fab Science Lab Filming Locations

In each episode, we meet scientists and experts at fascinating locations across North Carolina. Learn more about the places we explored below.

Episode 1: North Carolina Central University

A scientist at North Carolina Central University helps the kids discover that science is everywhere, even in their shoes.

Episode 2: North Carolina Zoo

Experts at the North Carolina Zoo reveal how decomposition plays a big role in caring for plants and animals.

Episode 3: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

An experiment about power and energy leads the kids to a virtual visit with an electrical engineer at NC A&T.

Episode 4: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Experts at Sarah P. Duke Gardens show the kids how acids affect soil and can even change the color of flowers.

Episode 5: NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles

The kids chat with Dr. Tova Williams, a scientist from NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles, who shares how color is added to fabric.

Mini Fab Science Lab is made possible with support from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education.

NC Department of Health and Human Services: Division of Child Development and Early Edication.

And with our partners from Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Team Genius Squad, STEMIE and Newfruit Media.

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PREMIERING 8/2 ON ROOTLE PBS KIDS

Watch Mini Fab Science Lab on PBS

A PBS NC Original Production

Meet the Host

Ava The STEM Princess

Meet Ava's Friends

Cathal

Elijah

Brooke

Carter

Eleanor

Mini Fab Science Lab Filming Locations

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