“I really enjoyed having Cailene present to our students. She was engaging, energetic, and her presentation on marine renewable energy was geared appropriately for a high school audience. I would love to have her back in my class in the future.” Kim, Chiawana High School science teacher

PNNL’s STEM Ambassadors are staff members who receive training on how to channel their passion for their work and share it with others in engaging and accessible ways. Through our STEM Ambassadors in the Classroom Project, PNNL offers online classroom visits free-of-charge and focused on either STEM subjects with research connections or on STEM career pathways. The STEM Ambassadors lead 30-minute sessions and provide students with insight into the wonder and excitement of STEM subjects and careers. Students will have the opportunity to connect with PNNL’s diverse research staff who work to change the world every day to make it safer, cleaner, more prosperous, and secure.  

STEM Subject Sessions: The STEM Ambassador will discuss a specific topic and share how their research relates to it. For example, they might focus on computer science and describe how their research in cybersecurity helps keep our nation safe. Our STEM Ambassadors represent a wide array of disciplinary backgrounds, including biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, mathematics, and physics. They also encompass a range of cross-disciplinary science subjects, like 3-D printing. Specific subtopics within these broad subjects are provided in the contact form below for reference.

STEM Career Pathways Sessions: The STEM Ambassador will share those pivotal moments that inspired them to become STEM professionals, including how they first became interested in STEM subjects, who inspired and mentored them, and how they found or created their career pathways. They will also describe the frustrations, hurdles, or failures they encountered along the way, how they overcame them, and provide inspiration and encouragement for students exploring STEM careers.