Parametric Studio Inc., a cohort company at the Iowa State University Startup Factory, has received a $200,000 federal grant to commercialize its innovative STEM augmented reality software app for young students. The company has developed Newton, an engineering puzzle-based AR sandbox that’s designed to support PreK-2 STEM learning concepts. The U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences Small Business Innovation Research grant will enable Parametric Studio to conduct research and development work on AR-enabled and engineering- and computer science-focused STEM games, software, kits and curricula. Christopher Whitmer, Parametric’s founder, said with the advent of new science standards and computer science education initiatives, even PreK-2 level students must learn engineering, programming and more STEM subjects. With the software, students can design contraptions using age-appropriate engineering and programming tools.