Meet Laurie Ruberg- Plant the Moon Challenge Statewide Program Lead

As the founder and chief executive of PLANTS, LLC., Ruberg created PLANTS in March 2013 as a small business to promote plant lessons and engaging technology systems for K-12 schools and community groups in the mid-Atlantic region.  

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Ruberg received her Bachelor of Science in Educational Psychology from Drexel University and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. In 1995 Ruberg moved her family to Wheeling to begin her 19-year journey with the NASA Classroom of the Future at Wheeling Jesuit University where she served as a senior instructional designer, associate director, and team manager for a several award-winning STEM education projects.  

Ruberg has observed that STEM activities that connect students with plants inspire kids at all levels and dispositions. Her PLANTS business motto reflects this belief: Plant a garden—indoor, outdoor, or beyond Earth’s boundaries—and you’ll germinate seeds of hope.  

Recently Ruberg received funding from the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium to partner with West Virginia University and Iowa State University Extension faculty to develop 4-H Hydroponics Education lessons for grades 4-6. Currently she is conducting a Smart Hydroponics community research project and serves as the West Virginia coordinator for the NASA Space Grant Enhanced Plant the Moon Challenge international science competition.  

As an advocate for fostering K-12 and girl empowerment, Ruberg is a volunteer leader of Girl Scout Troop 10467 based at Laughlin Memorial Chapel in East Wheeling.  

Email: LFRuberg@gmail.com 

Website: e-learningtalk.com