Igniting Tomorrow’s Innovators: Vanderbilt-MNPS STEM Alliance

Speaker Friday, February 27, 2025

From smartphone apps to renewable energy, STEM innovations shape our daily lives—yet America faces a critical shortage of skilled STEM professionals. What happens when a physicist takes an unconventional journey from laboratory research to the front lines of education reform?

The Vanderbilt Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (CSEO) is transforming how we inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators. By connecting university researchers, K-12 educators, and students through hands-on experiences, we’re creating a model that turns curiosity into lifelong passion.

Join Dr. Desmond Campbell at the Green Hills Rotary meeting on February 27, 2025, at 7:15 am at the Boy Scout Service Center. Dr. Campbell will share personal insights from his unexpected path through fundamental physics, biomedical breakthroughs, and ultimately to reimagining science education. He’ll reveal surprising discoveries about how early, authentic scientific experiences can ignite enduring enthusiasm for STEM—and demonstrate why this matters for everyone, not just future scientists.

Prepare to question conventional wisdom about how we teach science, witness the power of collaborative learning, and perhaps experience the thrill of discovery yourself with a few live demonstrations. Because in today’s rapidly evolving world, STEM literacy isn’t just for specialists—it’s becoming an essential language for informed citizens everywhere.

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