STEM²: Connecting Grade Schools with Industry

The culmination of a comprehensive STEM program providing high-value education and networking resources for grade school educators came to completion this month with the STEM² Summit: “Nurturing students’ curiosity and inspiring innovation.” The event was a capstone to a five-part, professional development series of workshops held over the past several months for educators from the North Shore of Massachusetts.

The workshops were hosted by education non-profit STEM², which champions “Strengthening Teaching of Elementary Minds in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)”, and took place at Gordon College. Each event drew upwards of 300 attendees per day and covered topics including hands-on methods, STEM industry skill requirements for new hires and the many pathways to innovation. Replays of the workshops can be found on the STEM² website.

As a collaborator and supporter of STEM², Applied Materials participated at various levels over the course of the series, including hosting more than 100 teachers at our Gloucester, Mass. site for in-depth technology discussions and manufacturing floor tours.

Eight speakers from local government and STEM organizations, including Massachusetts Congressman John F. Tierney, presented their perspectives on innovation in industry at the summit. A favorite for many in attendance were the keynote presenters including Dr. Bernie Gordon, inventor, philanthropist and one of the North Shore’s high-tech luminaries; and Dean Kamen, entrepreneur and inventor of the Segway and  recipient of the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award for pioneering innovation in health-care technology.

A number of employees attended the summit and networked with attendees, sharing the company’s contributions to local STEM activities, including participants and graduates from  the FUSION college engineering program which provides students with cross-functional rotational assignments.

In all, it was a great day of learning and connecting for everyone involved.

*Source: Ebersole Photography