In Salt Lake City, 50 high school students recently took part in Humane Innovation Day, an event that provided them with a closer look at STEM careers. The event was organized by the Salt Lake Education Foundation and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s Tech Lake City initiative, and aimed to introduce students to the growing life science industry.
The day began with a tour of ARUP laboratory, which offers reference laboratory tests for hospitals and health centers. This was followed by a visit to Recursion’s biotech facility at the gate. After the tours, students engaged in discussions with professional scientists and students studying various STEM fields.
The goal of the event was to inspire students by showing them the different paths they could take in the world of science. Brian Pantle, a project manager for Salt Lake City’s economic development department, emphasized the importance of students seeing faces like themselves in the industry. He wanted to give them a vision of what they can achieve in the future.
Mayor Mendenhall expressed her desire to grow the tech industry in Salt Lake City not only for economic reasons, but also to provide fulfilling career opportunities for students. She encouraged students to think creatively and consider pursuing careers in STEM fields. The event was aimed at freshmen and sophomores to help them plan their futures and inspire them to explore new ideas that could contribute to the scientific community.
Overall, Humane Innovation Day provided these high school students with valuable insights into potential STEM careers and inspired them to pursue their passions in science.