Inspiring Future STEM Leaders

Over the past four months, I had the privilege of participating in several Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) events at which Thermo Fisher Scientific was a sponsor – including one at the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair in March, and the “Space Bound, Safe and Sound” event in collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania and the Carnegie Science Center in June. Both events supported Youth/STEM programs in the Pittsburgh community.

Truly, it was a privilege to participate in both events, because what I witnessed was nothing short of remarkable.

I think back to when I went to college. I wanted to be a doctor. My junior year, I realized that the end game of becoming a doctor seemed like it would take an eternity and I was impatient. I also realized I loved science, but the laboratory setting wasn’t the best fit for me.

Back then, STEM wasn’t as prominent as it is today. I was fortunate to get a job in technical sales serving the Life Sciences market. This was my opportunity to shift my thinking and forge a career that combined my love of science with my love of building relationships.

The demand for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent continues to grow at a remarkable pace, while access to high-quality STEM education often lags. Connecting students with high-quality STEM education empowers us to nurture a future workforce that reflects our diverse society and positions us to solve the world’s most complex problems.

Today, inspiring children’s interest in STEM from an early age opens up a world of possibilities for their future. I take immense pride in Thermo Fisher’s unwavering commitment to providing widespread and equitable access to STEM education across the educational ecosystem. The Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair (PRSEF) is one of nearly 300 fairs nationwide affiliated with Society for Science, which means the top middle school performers can apply for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC)—the premier U.S. middle school STEM competition hosted by Society for Science.

The students who presented work at PRSEF were some of the most creative, engaged, brilliant I have met. I talked with students about Car-T cell therapy, wastewater analysis for identifying COVID in communities, and identifying clean energy and renewable energy sources, all of which align with our Mission of enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. These students are our future colleagues. We hope to see them at the Thermo Fisher JIC this fall!

As the world leader in serving science, Thermo Fisher is committed to nurturing a global STEM workforce that reflects our diverse society. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is one of our?longtime U.S. partners in this effort. Last year, our?award-winning?partnership reached 30,000 Club youth nationwide.

In June, as part of an ongoing celebration of?National Boys & Girls Clubs Week?and BGC Great Futures Day, Thermo Fisher took on out-of-this-world opportunities to help students discover their passion and potential for STEM careers in Pittsburgh.

With the help of our Pittsburgh-based Community Action Council, we convened nearly 20 colleague volunteers, several Customer Channels leaders and 60 elementary school Club members at the Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse (part of the BGCWPA network) for an exciting STEM event called?Blast Off to Great Futures:?Space Bound, Safe and Sound. The hands-on space- and safety-themed event included an assembly show and 10 hands-on adventure stations where Club kids did fun and engaging activities like testing objects in a vertical wind tunnel, programming robots and constructing rovers. Our colleagues guided Club kids through the activities, which were facilitated by staff and friends from nearby Carnegie Science Center.?

To see the kids’ reaction to these experiences was priceless. And to hear their questions was proof positive that we need to continue to provide these opportunities to awaken their interests in non-traditional ways.

Participating in these STEM events and witnessing first-hand the incredible potential of these young minds has been an enriching experience. Special thanks to our Community Action Council and Pittsburgh colleagues who make these events possible. Thermo Fisher’s dedication to advancing STEM education continues to make a positive impact on the lives of countless students and reinforces our commitment to building a brighter and more innovative future.?