Curiosity and discovery are at the heart of what we do at Galapagos. So, when we had the chance to participate in “Da’s Geniaal Technopolis Experience Days,” we couldn’t wait to engage young minds with the wonders of science and technology. Our Galapagos STEM* Ambassadors shared their STEM stories and helped out with lab-based activities. The youngsters also discovered how much fun science can be through Technopolis’ interactive exhibits and live experiments.
*STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Urgency of Promoting STEM and Access to Education
Before we dive into this initiative, let’s set the scene with some numbers. STEM fields play a vital role in driving innovation and economic growth, yet significant disparities persist in STEM education and careers, particularly among women and underserved communities.
By engaging young students in STEM, we can pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in science and technology
In the United States, women make up just 27% of the STEM workforce¹. In the European Union, women represent 41% of scientists and engineers². The gap is even more pronounced for underrepresented minorities.
In the U.S., Black and Hispanic individuals are significantly less likely to earn STEM degrees than their white and Asian peers³. Similarly, in the EU, certain ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged groups remain underrepresented in STEM education and careers⁴.
These inequities underscore the importance of initiatives that inspire and support people from all backgrounds to explore STEM fields. By engaging young students, we can pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in science and technology. Enter ‘Da’s Geniaal’!
Da’s Geniaal: Bringing Science to Life
Getting young people aged 10 to 14 excited about science, technology, engineering, mathematics, production, and design is the purpose of ‘Da’s Geniaal’
A couple of years ago, Galapagos joined Da’s Geniaal (Flemish for “That’s Genius”). It’s a partnership of over 20 international companies and local organizations with the ambition to get young people aged 10 to 14 excited about science, technology, engineering, mathematics, production, and design through an inclusive, gender-sensitive journey involving their classmates, parents, and teachers. This journey can take place at school, in the workplace, at events, or online.
Kim Carrein, Galapagos STEM Ambassador, explains how a STEM Passport works during the Technopolis Experience Days
In this context, the Da’s Geniaal group organized the ‘Experience Days’ at Technopolis in Mechelen (Belgium), close to Galapagos’ headquarters. It’s an event that ignites young students’ interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Our STEM ambassadors, Kim Carrein and Sara Musch, welcomed four classes of students, aged 10 to 12, to the lively science museum Technopolis. Through experiments and interactive discussions, they showed students how science shapes the world around us and how it might one day shape their own careers.
In small group sessions, Kim and Sara guided students through a challenge: finding a soda thief, CSI-style. Through experiments in the lab, they were able to track the thief. The goal? To make science feel approachable, fun, and relevant.
“As a proud STEM ambassador for Galapagos, I had the honor of guiding an Experience Day at Technopolis, showing teenagers how STEM is present within our company, and how it shaped my career. It was inspiring to solve the mystery of the stolen cola with the students, perform experiments, and help them discover their talents through a STEM passport. I’m excited to continue inspiring future scientists to follow the STEM path!”, said Kim.
A STEM Ambassador’s Perspective: Let’s hear from Sara Musch
To capture the essence of these special days, we recorded an interview with Sara at Technopolis. Sara, a cell biologist in oncology at Galapagos, shared her passion for making science accessible to kids and why she believes in the power of curiosity.
Through her own story and enthusiasm, Sara invites students to dream big and consider their own futures in science. As she puts it: “Science is not about a few smart people. It’s about a variety of people with different talents working together to solve everyday problems!”
Hear from Sara Musch, STEM Ambassador
Sara Musch shares how she experienced the “Experience Days”, and why she wanted to be a STEM Ambassador
References
1 U.S. Census Bureau. (2021, January 26). Women making gains in STEM occupations but still underrepresented. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/01/women-making-gains-in-stem-occupations-but-still-underrepresented.html.
2 Eurostat. (2024, February 12). 41% of people employed as scientists and engineers are women. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240212-1.
3 National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. (2021). The STEM Labor Force of Today: Scientists, Engineers, and Skilled Technical Workers. Retrieved from https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20212/participation-of-demographic-groups-in-stem.
4 NESET. (2024). Addressing the gender gap in STEM education across educational levels. Retrieved from https://nesetweb.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NESET-AR02-Analytical-report-with-identifiers.pdf.
That’s Genius!
Discover fun challenges for kids!
Want to learn how to extract DNA from a banana? Or how to make a microscope out of your smartphone? Discover fun challenges with a scientific edge on Da’s Geniaal’s website
The website is available in Dutch and French