Session: STEM Ambassadors - Exposing STEM to Future Generations

The Ohio State University chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers was the first student chapter to have a STEM Ambassador program. We were asked to pilot this program by AIChE National, and it began in the Autumn of 2021. The goal of STEM Ambassadors is to inspire the next generation of scientists by teaching K-12 students about STEM topics through hands-on experiments. In going to schools in the local area, ambassadors can teach students about a number of interesting STEM topics by presenting the material at the beginning of the period and guiding the students through the experiment for the remaining time. It is important that the students have fun, learn something new or expand on previous knowledge, and, most importantly, stay safe! Guiding the students through the experiments gives ambassadors the opportunity to teach them something new, allow them to observe the idea they just learned, and emphasize safety throughout the process.