News

Argie Sarantinos, DEVCOM Headquarters

For Damien Marianucci, launching pumpkins into Lake Picatinny is not only a lot of fun but also a great way to get students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Marianucci, a physicist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center, works with middle and high school students who build trebuchets, or catapults, to launch pumpkins at the annual Pumpkin Sling competition. The competition is part of Picatinny Arsenal’s STEM Educational Outreach Program.

“The best part is seeing the children enjoy themselves. It isn’t so much about winning. Attempting to make a functional trebuchet is a challenging and rewarding task,” Marianucci said.

Five New Jersey schools competed in the 5^th Pumpkin Sling competition at Picatinny Arsenal in 2022, including approximately 50 middle and high school students. The students work with DEVCOM scientists and engineers who volunteer at STEM events such as the pumpkin-slinging competition.

The Pumpkin Sling competition is a fun way for students to learn and use physics and mathematics skills, including linear kinematics, projectile motion, trigonometry, and engineering physics as they build the trebuchets.

“Science and mathematics, along with art, music and philosophy, are the core of our cultural identity. They represent the best our culture has to offer and the pinnacle of our understanding of the world around us. Exposure to these topics forces us to think critically and evaluate the world around us, and it provides the tools to evaluate new information, rather than simply accepting it at face value,” Marianucci said.

Marianucci participates in other STEM activities including science demonstrations that he and other physicists from DEVCOM AC conduct at schools, libraries and community events. The demonstrations range from making 4-foot-long kaleidoscopes, to liquifying oxygen and nitrogen to see how they react.

“Children ask questions that, as professionals, we have often taught ourselves to disregard. Struggling to answer these questions forces us to think, which makes us better scientists and engineers,” Marianucci said.

Marianucci encourages members of the DEVCOM team to volunteer at STEM events to help build the pipeline of future scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

“We always need volunteers at STEM events, so all you have to do is ask how you can help. There are many opportunities and there’s always something for everyone,” Marianucci said.

This year’s Pumpkin Sling will be held October 20 at Picatinny Arsenal. For more information, go to PumpkinSling.com.

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The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, is home to thousands of Army scientists, engineers, technicians and analysts working around the globe to leverage cutting-edge technologies and empower the American warfighter with the data and abilities to see, sense, make decisions and act faster than our adversaries – today and in the future.

As part of Army Futures Command, DEVCOM takes calculated risks to find new technological solutions each day. Our experts drive innovation, improve existing technologies and engineer solutions to technical challenges. Our work goes beyond theory to simulation and prototyping. We take potential science and technology solutions from the lab “into the dirt” for experimentation alongside Army Soldiers. DEVCOM prides itself as a global ecosystem of innovators, from world-class universities and large defense contractors, to small, minority-owned businesses and international allies and partners.