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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM, are growing faster than other professions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment numbers will increase by more than 10% by 2031.
On Saturday, various scientific and environmental organizations gather to spread knowledge about science and art.
More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the St. Petersburg Science Festival, sponsored by USF St. Pete and the FWC Fish and Wildlife Institute’s MarineQuest. This event was born out of the growing interest in STEM careers.
Scientists from NASA, the National Weather Service, and the Florida Aquarium, to name a few, will exhibit their research results.
The festival also welcomes a junior scientist program. Students from approximately 30 middle and high schools will learn directly from experts on topics ranging from marine biology to engineering and robotics.
“The young scientists and children being exposed here are the future,” said Natalia López Figueroa, chair of the Junior Scientist Program. She says, “We are not eternal, so we need to pass on knowledge. Everyone needs a teacher. We learn something from everyone.”
The Junior Scientist Program was created by students in the USF College of Marine Sciences. The goal is to show young students the full range of possibilities in science, inspire them and prepare them for a successful future.
“A lot of these careers are upwardly mobile, so having a background in that field is a good decision,” said Jennifer Giuffre, magnet program coordinator at Bay Point Middle School. “Many of the skills learned can be applied to a variety of careers, even if they are not directly involved in his STEM.”
The St. Petersburg Science Festival is free and open to the public. It will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the USF St. Pete campus waterfront and outside the nearby FWC Fish and Wildlife Laboratory.
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