Future's Unlimited!
On December 17th, Oakton Community College’s annual program Futures Unlimited, welcomed local students from 16 middle schools, and 8 high schools. The full day program is designed to foster an immersive experience in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The annual event, dedicated to young female and gender-expansive students, has become a cornerstone for nurturing curiosity and introducing local students to endless possibilities within STEM fields. This year our EPIC SEM Facility Manager Tirzah Abbott volunteered to be a facilitator and presented a session entitled: MicroWorlds Unveiled: Exploring Natural and Engineered Materials with Electron Microscopy. With assistance from Hitachi Hightech, Tirzah and the team were able to bring a tabletop SEM to the event, allowing the participants to get practical experience on the instrument.
"It was incredibly rewarding to host these workshops for so many young women excited about careers in STEM. Seeing their excitement and curiosity as they explored materials under the tabletop SEM was truly inspiring. I loved having the opportunity to teach them about how electron microscopy is used across various fields and industries, from biology to engineering, and especially in earth sciences, which is my area of expertise. Their enthusiasm and thoughtful questions reminded me of why outreach like this is so important—it sparks interest and empowers the next generation of scientists and innovators!" - Tirzah Abbott
With 43 engaged participants, it was a successful day of STEM in the community. Here’s to inspiring the next generation of microscopists! A big thank you to the team at Oakton College for the invitation and for creating space to nurture the next generation! Hope to see you again next year! And thanks to Liam Foley, NUANCE Program Assistant for documenting the day!
