Mega Body teaches kids about health and better life choices

Inside the inflatable Mega Body exhibit, hundreds of students got an enormous interactive lesson on how their bodies work.

“I learned when you go to sleep your heart still beats,” said student Alejandro Soto.

Eager to learn, they traveled through the 50 feet long exhibit being featured at the California International Airshow in Salinas. They picked up basic anatomy and functions through presentations about everything from their brain to their lungs and digestive system.

“That way when you’re big we can teach our own kids about being healthy,” said student Jimana Morales.

With the majority of the students touring through the Mega Body coming from under served communities where healthcare is not always the best, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System hopes the inflatable exhibit inspires them to eat healthier and exercise.

“The obesity rate is higher in the Latino community,” said Yuji Saito, MD, PhD. “We need to do better jobs on teaching them.”

But inside the body kids are learning more than just about their health. They’re also being exposed to STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

“We want more people to choose medical profession in the future, to work with us,” said Dr. Yuji. “That is a great way to serve our community.”

Alongside the Mega Body, located inside the STEM Tent, other exhibits are also encouraging kids to pursue STEM careers.

“You don’t know who the next top scientist, the next top astronaut, next pilot could be,” said Maggie Melone, Director of K-12 STEM Programs at Hartnell College. “So by exposing them we’re really changing their mentality.”

Which in the long run, could change their future.

“A lot of our kids see their parents that are farmworkers and they think oh well that’s my future,” said Melone. “We’re here at Hartnell to them you can be anything you want. There are Latinos everywhere.”

The STEM Tent and Mega Body will be open again this Sunday.