Inspiration grows at 25th anniversary of Build Big Dreams Youth STEM Conference

More than 800 middle and high school students gathered at Princeton University for the Build Big Dreams Youth STEM Conference, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The students, ranging from 7th to 10th grade, participated in hands-on activities, viewed science demonstrations, listened to panel discussions and met prominent scientists and engineers who shared advice about entering science-focused careers. This was the conference’s 25th anniversary and PPPL’s 75th anniversary.

“PPPL takes its historic role as educator seriously. I’m thrilled to see all of the students get this type of networking experience,” said event organizer Deedee Ortiz, a senior program manager in public engagement and workforce development at the Lab.

The conference began with a keynote presentation at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium by Stephanie Wissel, Downsbrough Early Career Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy/Astrophysics in the Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University. Wissel shared how there are many paths to pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). “Science is really a team sport,” she said. “It’s something scientists typically do together. At our neutrino experiment in Greenland, we have scientists from more than 50 countries, as well as engineers, electrical engineers, project managers and more, showing that there are also a lot of careers you can pursue that support science without being a research scientist.”

After the address, the Princeton University Band escorted the students across the campus to Princeton’s Frick Chemistry Laboratory, playing songs with energy and vibrancy, providing entertainment for students while on foot. In the Frick building’s atrium, students experienced hands-on learning on a variety of chemistry concepts.

They also listened to a panel of scientists discuss how to enter the STEM field. The speakers included Erin Flowers, assistant director in STEM education in the Center on Science and Technology at Princeton University; Emma Zoccoli, a third-year mechanical engineering student at Georgia Institute of Technology who recently spent a summer at PPPL as part of the DOE’s Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program; and Ananya Chakravarti, a graduate student in Princeton University’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

The conference was aided by a cohort of 30-40 PPPL volunteers who led and coordinated logistics to make the day a success.

Teachers from central New Jersey brought their students for a dose of inspiration and to see the range of STEM opportunities available to them. “We have been bringing students to this event, which is one of the best of its type, for 14 years,” said Jessica Doyle, a science teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School.

“It’s really inspiring to come to this event and meet incredible people working in a variety of science fields,” said Nicole Molinelli, a science teacher at Lawrence Middle School. “Every year, we make coming here a priority, and every year it gets better.”

“We’ve been doing this for many years,” said Tracy Bozarth, a science teacher at Lawrence Middle School. “We bring students so they can see great people doing great things. They love science, so it’s important that they see themselves in that field.”

Students were eager to talk to the STEM professionals and learn more about their options. “I’m not sure what I want to do in STEM specifically, but attending events like this one could help me narrow it down,” said Muzen Mohamedsaeed, a junior at McNair Academic High School in Jersey City, New Jersey.

“I’m thinking about pursuing engineering, and learning from these professionals will help me see how the engineering industry relates to what we’re doing in school,” said Henna Patel, a junior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.

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PPPL is mastering the art of using plasma — the fourth state of matter — to solve some of the world's toughest science and technology challenges. Nestled on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey, our research ignites innovation in a range of applications, including fusion energy, nanoscale fabrication, quantum materials and devices, and sustainability science. The University manages the Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the nation’s single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. Feel the heat at https://energy.gov/science and http://www.pppl.gov.