Rice students seek to empower local students to explore STEM careers

More than 150 eighth- and ninth-grade students from Houston Independent School District schools will visit the Rice campus March 7-8 to attend STEM Expo, a two-day event designed to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The event is hosted by Rice Empower, a service organization founded in 2010 by Rice students to promote science literacy and the exploration of STEM careers. The organization partners with K-12 institutions, Rice academic departments and community members throughout the Houston area to give students a real-world taste of STEM careers.

The event will include hands-on scientific demonstrations, lectures and discussion sessions with Rice professors and students and campus tours.

“K-12 students are often unaware of careers in science and engineering,” said Carolyn Nichol, director of Rice’s School Science and Technology Program and a member of Rice Empower’s outreach team. “However, the Rice Empower STEM Expo will excite students about innovations in science and help motivate more students to pursue careers in the STEM subject areas.”

“Not only will students be immersed in a top research university, but they will also be surrounded by enthusiastic student and faculty mentors,” said McMurtry College senior Trent Navran, president of Rice Empower. “This is the first time we’re spearheading such an event, and I’m really excited to see what kind of impact we can make.

For more information, visit http://rice.worldstemworks.org.