FIRST Creates Opportunities for Kids to Get Interested in STEM

The Siemens Competition in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math puts the greatest young minds in research to the test. Contestants are judged on their research in topics ranging from better cancer diagnosis to better understanding of black holes, and from cybersecurity to preventing deadly hospital infections. The winning team, made up of Arooba Ahmed, Jillian Parker, and Jiachen Lee, joined Cheddar to discuss their game-changing findings. The trio successfully identified a protein that could potentially play a role in a number of diseases, including Alzheimer's. They explain that their interest in cell division led them to decide this was the right issue to tackle. The finding means they may be able to manipulate the levels of this protein to impact other events involved in several diseases. One of Parker’s main motivations for entering the competition was the under-representation of women in science. She highlights the importance of having a female role model, and hopes to be an inspiration for others. In the finals, the trio were the only all-girl team.

Former astronaut Mae Jemison is a groundbreaker on many levels. And now she's advocating to get children toys that can teach them about science and technology at an early age.

This summer 'Codeverse' opened its flagship location in Chicago's Lincoln Park. The new learning center will offer students ages 6 to 12 supplemental classes on coding. Katy Lynch, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at the company, says Codeverse's proprietary language stands apart from other code educational offerings. Eventually, Codeverse plans to form partnerships that offer scholarships and educational opportunities, further inspiring young kids to learn how to code.