STEM Careers Are About To Become Even More Lucrative
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Science, technology, engineering and math make up the acronym STEM.
It's an important concept because, as Mike Schuh reports, that's where our economy and good jobs are heading.
If these kids can stay interested in science, technology, education and math, odds are, they'll find a high paying job after college.
That's where people like Latasha Wright come in. Her crew drove here from New York on an old bus with plants growing on the roof.
A hippie vibe outside, but holding NASA grade equipment inside.
"Well, this was our special microscope built specifically for us on the bus," Wright said.
That, and the electron microscope are here to make kids go wow.
"Sometimes we drive up and the kids go, 'The hippies are here!' And it's very exciting for them to come on board because they feel, 'Ahh! This is a new alternative space,'" she said.
Next door, a semi fitted as a lab for 30 high school students. They do experiments using DNA.
"We come with the fancy equipment and we do the experiments," said one woman.
The lab visits all Maryland counties, has served over 100,000 kids, and when its calendar opens online, it books up in 15 minutes.
Both of these vehicles are part of a conference for 60 educators who own and operate such mobile labs.
"I come away from these gatherings inspired with a lot of new ideas that I can bring to my programs to make them better. And my team members get excited and they come back energized, engaged and motivated," said Mary Stapleton, Towson University STEM Center.
An idea exchange honoring the ultimate client--the kids.
"So it makes people understand that anyone can be a scientist," said Wright.
While the conference is only ten years old, it's been held in Baltimore four times.
