Celebrating STEM Education at Thermo Fisher

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we believe STEM education is the gateway to what’s possible. That’s why our colleagues are active in communities across the globe to help inspire the next generation of innovators. Throughout the year, our colleague-led Community Action Councils partner with nonprofit organizations and local schools to demonstrate for students the endless possibilities available through STEM. And every November, we put a special focus throughout STEM month. Here are just a few examples from around the globe:

In China, our colleagues have partnered with the China Youth Development Foundation to jointly develop a “Science Box” with more than 20 scientific experiments to engage rural primary school students and cultivate their interest in science. The program has grown quickly since 2015 and has reached more than 100,000 students thanks to the involvement of our colleagues.

Science and literacy come together in Mexico, where our colleagues have filmed videos for IBBY Mexico, an affiliate of International Board Books for Young People. These videos were shared on IBBY Mexico’s Facebook and Instagram accounts to reach more students virtually and have been a hit with kids in Mexico.

Lithuania and Estonia are home to the Mobile BioClass program – a partnership between Thermo Fisher, Vilnius University and the University of Tartu – that brings the latest in DNA testing and research methods directly to classrooms. In small, high-intensity workshops led by Thermo Fisher colleagues and university students, secondary school learners gain firsthand experience in biosciences.

In case you missed it, earlier this month we celebrated the winners of the first ever Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, a program of the Society for Science. This U.S.-based STEM research competition engaged more than 65,000 students across the country through local science fairs that culminated with the top 30 finalists traveling to Washington, DC for a weeklong competition. 12-year old Shanya Gill took home the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award.

We see every day how diverse perspectives and ideas fuel innovation, advance science, and bring us closer to solving the world’s greatest challenges. That’s why we’re committed to cultivating generations of STEM professionals that more fully reflect our society. By making STEM education more accessible and equitable for all students today, we can move toward meeting the needs of tomorrow.