Blog |

Introducing LEGO® Ideas: The Evolution of STEM

Marie Curie (née Skłodowska), George Washington Carver, and Sir Isaac Newton—what do they all have in common? Each made scientific discoveries that still shape and power the world around us. From radioactive materials to the laws of motion and crop diversity, they pioneered world-changing STEM developments with their curiosity, creativity, and collective pursuit of knowledge. And they all star in the winning set of the Celebrate the Wonder of STEM! LEGO Ideas challenge.

Behind the winning set

By day, @danielbradleyy crunches numbers as a trainee accountant. But in his spare time, he builds LEGO® sets with the help of his beloved cat Zeus (maybe our first, ever CFOL—Cat Fan of LEGO?), and in 2023, he won the hearts, minds, and votes of both the jury and the fans with his inventive—and explosive—STEM set design.
 
Inspired by his childhood love of science and an endless curiosity in STEM, Daniel hopes this set will show enthusiasts and builders of all ages the power of learning and spark conversations in homes worldwide.
 
"I have created a set that aims to embody the endless potential of knowledge. I wanted the set to look like the book pages are bursting, exploding with knowledge. I have included segments to help visualize all areas of STEM," Daniel explained.  

 

What and who is in the set?

The set—an open book with elements of science bursting off the page as though they cannot be contained—brings the world of STEM to life, showing how interconnected and impactful each strand is. With little nods throughout to engineering achievements, scientific theories, and genius inventions—each meticulous detail invites viewers to uncover the joy of discovery.
 
Dust off your lab coat and see how many hidden details you can spot—look out for the Petri dish, the pen and quill, and mathematical calculations scratched onto a chalkboard. Oh, and nestled into the book's pages, look out for some secret surprises...can you find them and crack the code?
 
The LEGO® Ideas Design Team worked closely with Daniel to contextualize parts of his design with real-world examples. The minifigures represent iconic historical STEM heroes, the NASA Voyager 1 probe launches from the top of the set, and in the center, a DNA strand and a 3D replica of a carbon atom move and rotate. Humanity’s most pioneering advancements fill the rest of the set, and if you look closely, you’ll spot a 1900s automobile, Sir Isaac Newton’s famous apple tree, George Washington Carver’s botanical garden, and an early computer—a vibrant celebration of the wonder of STEM.
 
One key detail missing from the original design is the LEGO® Ideas Design Team's homage to the challenge winner. His ingenuity and creativity brought this fascinating set to life, so including a nod to him was essential. To honor Daniel and his favorite building companion, Zeus, the city element of the set features a billboard advertising pet food.
 
"Beneath all the hard facts, STEM embodies a very human story of exploration, adversity, and accomplishments, fueled by people with a passion and a desire to better the world. In the set, we tell three remarkable people's stories, and we hope they will inspire you in your own voyages of discovery into the world of STEM," says the LEGO® Ideas Design Team.
 
We can't wait to explore this fascinating set and learn about all the historical moments and hidden details leaping from the page.

Published
71 comments
71 comments

Opens in a new window