Biography
Science Educator, Justin Shaifer: His ‘Magic Cool Bus’ is Bringing Exciting STEM Technology to Underrepresented Students Nationwide
Justin Shaifer, science educator and communicator, and Executive Director of Fascinate, Inc. (an innovative organization designed to excite students about STEM) is on a mission to attract more underrepresented students to STEM careers. Justin, who holds an undergraduate degree in Marine and Environmental Science and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Science Education at Columbia University, says: “Kids are more likely to do something when they see someone who looks like them doing it.” The same is true, he says, when comes to getting underrepresented students involved with STEM. “When they don’t see people who look like them” in these fields, this can impact “why they don’t find STEM exciting and cool.”
To address the issue, he has launched an engaging STEM outreach program on wheels called the Magic Cool Bus designed to take cool, cutting-edge gadget technology, such as 3D printers, drones and body fat percentage calculators (staffed and demonstrated by young minority STEM professionals and mentors) directly to underrepresented schools across the nation, thereby bringing emerging technology to minority students across the country for STEM engagement, motivation and mentoring.
In his continuing quest to make STEM cool, Justin is also the creator of the animated series Hood Science.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.magiccoolbus.org/
