YOUTH SCIENCE INITIATIVE
Inspiring the next generation of scientists
EMW’s Youth Science Initiative seeks to educate, inspire, and expose underserved local youth to the brilliant world of biotechnology and other sciences through a social lens. Through opportunities for creative and critical thinking, team work, and exposure to technical industries, EMW is preparing the next generation of scientists to make a measurable positive impact.
By empowering diverse youth with opportunities for creative and critical thinking, as well as team work experience, EMW is cultivating a vibrant environment for intellectual growth. Fostering a diverse workforce pipeline for the science industries is essential to the advancement of science. The Youth Science Initiative is preparing the next generation of scientists to make a measurable positive impact.
Youth Science Initiative works toward...
- Diversity: Increasing representation of diversity backgrounds in the scientific field.
- Youth Empowerment: Empowering youth by encouraging critical thinking and intellectual growth, building a future community of forward-thinkers.
- A Better Workforce Pipeline: Inspiring youth to pursue science careers focused on sustainable solutions and, in the future, partnering with colleges and science companies to cultivate career networks.
In past events, YSI has partnered with Ginkgo BioWorks, MIT Media Lab Open Ag, Life Long Kindergarten (LLK), Koinonia Collaborative Institute, Museum of Science, and NASA to bring YSI participants impactful, educational experiences.
WHAT WE'VE DONE
YSI helps youth explore how biotechnology and science can play an essential role in creating sustainable solutions for the future. Our events are comprised of hands-on activities, group discussions, and fun presentations to relay complex information in a simple way. We also bring youth into local science companies and laboratories in an effort to demystify such spaces. Here’s what happened at our last event.
making molecules
At Gingko Bioworks, the youth learned about the building blocks of life. They were exposed to the latest concepts in organism engineering through discussions and demonstrations, then designed their own microbes and created “microbial music.”
BIO-TINKERING
In collaboration with the MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten group, the youth experimented with microscopes and “Scratch,” a programming language, to create animated stories using organisms and samples collected from nature.
FUTURE OF FOOD
At the MIT Media Lab Open Agriculture Initiative, the youth learned about urban farming. They harvested basil from a computerized farm inside a shipping container and learned about how we could farm our own food in the city.
LIFE BEYOND EARTH
At the Museum of Science, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman talked to the youth about life on the International Space Station. Together they explored ideas about how we might travel to and sustain life on Mars.
TESTIMONIALS
“[My son] has a clearer understanding of the role of STEM in addressing critical global issues. YSI serves as a rich experience that his schools would never be able to offer.”
“YSI increased [our daughter’s] appreciation of science and engineering. She now finds STEM really cool and wants to study and work in these fields."
“I am in awe of the range of complex science concepts my son understands and can explain in detail—it is because of YSI. YSI is building a team of brilliant youth to be the leaders of the future.”
“What an awesome group of people! Thank you for making STEM so fun and interesting. Thank you for the confidence you have given my children. I loved how the assignments that were given were reflective of real life problems that adults worked on.”
“Both twin daughters have grown to love subjects as math and engineering. They then have asked to participate in their school’s “Coders Club” because they have gained the confidence from their participation in the YSI program."
