BALTIMORE & ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 100 students from the Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, a Baltimore City public school preparing students to enter the fields of science, mathematics and healthcare, today took part in the Advancing Tomorrow’s Leaders in STEM (ATLAS) college and career symposium. ATLAS gave these high school students an opportunity to tour local technology businesses, meet leaders in the scientific community, do hands-on experiments and attend an expo featuring careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
The event, which was hosted by the MdBio Foundation at the University of Maryland BioPark, kicked off with a keynote address from Dr. Justin Rice, the lead for the Goddard Dynamic Simulator (GDS) for the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) mission at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Rice inspired the students with his personal educational journey, from humble beginnings in Jackson, Miss., to the accomplishments that resulted in him being appointed to a distinguished leadership position at NASA before the age of 30.
“The high school students who attend Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy live in a community that is faced with numerous challenges. By bringing the fall ATLAS symposium to them, we hope to share new possibilities for their future,” said Brian Gaines, CEO of the MdBio Foundation. “With inspiring speakers like Dr. Rice, the chance to learn by doing, and a look at the incredible work that is going on at the UM BioPark, which is right in their backyard, we are giving West Baltimore students a glimpse into important and rewarding college and career paths.”
During ATLAS, students toured the University of Maryland School of Medicine Institute for Genome Sciences labs and participated in hands-on workshops led by NASA, Pure Technologies Ltd, MdBioLab and Deloitte. The activities provided students with the opportunity to create a simple 2D game using HTML and JavaScript, practice laboratory skills and learn about internship opportunities.
“The University of Maryland BioPark is honored to continue our long-standing partnership with the Vivien T Thomas Medical Arts Academy and to welcome the students to the Fall 2016 ATLAS Symposium,” said Jane M. Shaab, senior vice president and executive director of UM BioPark. “We salute the MdBio Foundation for their inspired commitment to supporting and providing STEM education for all students in Maryland and thank them for bringing this year’s program to the UM BioPark.”
During a VIP breakfast at ATLAS, MdBio Foundation gave attendees a sneak peek at the new mobile laboratory that is under development. Expected to debut in the first quarter of 2017, the new mobile lab will be one of the largest in the country and enable the foundation to expand the number of individuals who can participate in its hands-on STEM education program. The new mobile lab is being built in collaboration with Triune Specialty Trailers, a Madison Heights, Mich.-based specialty manufacturer of custom expandable trailer solutions.
About UM BioPark
The UM BioPark, a biomedical research park on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), is a growing scientific community of emerging, high-growth life science tenants and UMB translational research and clinical treatment centers. For early-stage to mature bioscience companies, the BioPark offers a sophisticated laboratory and office environment on UMB’s vibrant academic medical center campus. UM BioPark tenant companies and institutes are commercializing new drugs, diagnostics and devices and advancing biomedical research. Workforce training and community development are key components of the BioPark's strategy. umbiopark.com
About MdBio Foundation
MdBio Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization that provides innovative, effective, and experiential STEM education opportunities with a focus on bioscience. The Foundation’s interdisciplinary approach uses science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to explore real-world, problem-centric curriculum that bridges school, community, health, and business. MdBio Foundation’s flagship education program MdBioLab, a mobile laboratory for high schools, has provided quality educational experiences to more than 130,000 students throughout the state of Maryland since its launch in 2003. The Foundation also operates other celebrated STEM education programs such as the Young Science Explorers Program for middle school students, the Maryland BioGENEius Award, and Advancing Tomorrow’s Leaders in STEM (ATLAS) college and career symposia. For more information, visit www.mdbiofoundation.org.
About Truine
Triune is a proud supporter of STEM learning and works passionately to help organizations provide educational outreach programs for students and visitors through interactive and inspiring mobile education and training solutions. For more information, visit www.TriuneMfg.com.
