STEM San Joaquin celebrates third year of inspiring young minds

STEM San Joaquin marked its third anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the University of the Pacific (UOP) in Stockton. Co-sponsored by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and UOP, the annual event welcomed students in grades 6–9 for a day of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) exploration. The conference is organized by a dedicated team of volunteers passionate about fostering a love of learning in the next generation.

This year’s event offered students a fun environment to engage in a wide variety of STEM activities. The day began with an opening ceremony, followed by three interactive workshops, a lunch break and a closing ceremony.

During the opening ceremony, Megan Eckart, director of the Space Science Institute at LLNL, delivered the keynote address. She discussed the impact of X-ray space telescopes on astronomical research and shared her enthusiasm about participating in a recent launch campaign in Japan. Eckart also reflected on her own career path, from attending similar events as a student to her current role at LLNL.

Eckart highlighted what makes a STEM career fulfilling.

“With a career in STEM you’ll always have interesting puzzles to solve, always be challenged, and have the opportunity to work with great colleagues,” she said. “You never know what will spark a student’s curiosity or change their perspective, but I hope I was able to share some of the excitement that comes with working on space telescopes.”

After the keynote, students rotated through three workshops, each limited to about 20 participants to ensure a personal and interactive experience. The sessions featured hands-on activities such as computer repair and networking, investigating physics with smartphones, imaging planets beyond our solar system, exploring the wonders of optics, solving crimes as a biotechnologist and even creating ice cream aquifers. In total, 18 unique STEM workshops were offered, allowing each student to explore topics that captured their imagination.

For many attendees, this was their first opportunity to engage in such dynamic STEM activities. They left with a new perspective on the possibilities within science and engineering and a greater appreciation for how rewarding and enjoyable a STEM career can be.

“It was rewarding to see so many students eager to learn, alongside familiar faces from the Lab who made up the large volunteer team,” Eckart said.

The success of the STEM San Joaquin Conference was made possible by the dedication of the board and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, including LLNL volunteers Alex Murray, Jeene Villanueva, Cary Gellner, Sharon Langman, Teri York, Elyssa Bishop, Mildred Lambrecht and Joanna Albala, and UOP volunteers Yesenia Rivera and Nancy Shaw-Elium. As the event came to a close, the energy and enthusiasm generated throughout the day were evident among both students and organizers. The conference underscored the importance of STEM education and reaffirmed the community’s dedication to nurturing future innovators.

“It’s always inspiring to bring younger students to a college campus and share the passion our scientists and engineers have for encouraging the next generation,” said Joanna Albala, Science Education program manager at LLNL.