Sea Scouts and Venturers need to complete explorations into STEM fields to complete Supernova awards. These are similar to how Scouts BSA members need to complete merit badges.
The following requirements apply to any specific STEM field of interest chosen by a Venturer or Sea Scout while completing a Nova or Supernova award. Scouts BSA Merit Badge content is encouraged.
Exploration Topics
These STEM exploration topics are approved for earning the Venturing & Sea Scout Supernova awards:
Animal Science, Archaeology, Architecture, Astronomy, Automotive Maintenance, Aviation, Bird Study, Chemistry, Composite Materials, Computers, Dentistry, Drafting, Electricity, Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Environmental Science, Farm Mechanics, Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, Gardening, Geocaching, Geology, Insect Study, Inventing, Mammal Study, Medicine, Nature, Nuclear Science, Oceanography, Plant Science, Pulp and Paper, Radio, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Robotics, Scuba Diving, Soil and Water Conservation, Space Exploration, Surveying, Veterinary Medicine, Weather, Welding.
Exploration Requirements
- The kinds of hazards (to humans, to the environment, to animals) that might occur while engaged in activities in this field
- Appropriate safety precautions to help minimize these risks
- Whether it is necessary to obtain training in safety protocols in this field
- The agencies or organizations that can provide such training
- What it would take to be a certified safety specialist or safety trainer in this field
- How much work is done manually and how much work is done with the aid of technology
- How much work is done by individuals and how much is done in cooperation with others
- The ways in which the fields of science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics are important to the work done in this business
- The historical development of this field
- How tools and techniques have evolved over time
- How modern tools and techniques have changed over time in this field and how its capacity for accomplishment has been affected
- The ways in which science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics are important to this field