Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in Maryland received a big boost today thanks to a $30,000 contribution from AT&T to the MdBio Foundation. The contribution will support MdBioLab, a custom-built, 45-foot mobile bioscience laboratory that visits schools across Maryland, giving students a unique opportunity to explore the life sciences through captivating experiments, ranging from crime scene forensics to the diagnosis of diseases.
La Tara Harris, AT&T’s regional director of external affairs, will present the check to officials from MdBio during a special event at Watkins Mill High School on October 22, where students are learning about STEM disciplines aboard the MdBioLab. Maryland State Senator Nancy King also will be in attendance at the event.
“AT&T is thrilled to continue its support of the MdBio Foundation,” said Harris. “The foundation’s work helps Maryland develop and grow its STEM-educated workforce, which, in turn, will allow Maryland to remain a leader in the technology and biosciences industries.”
MdBioLab, which has served 110,000 Maryland students during the past 11 years, is designed to increase student interest in science and make them aware of career opportunities in the biosciences field. As Maryland’s economy becomes increasingly reliant on science, technology, engineering, and math, there is new focus on encouraging students to consider study STEM subjects and thereby be better prepared to compete for positions in these fields.
“At MdBio Foundation, we strive to awaken the innovator within every student who climbs aboard MdBioLab,” said Brian Gaines, CEO of the MdBio Foundation. “Thanks to AT&T, students across Maryland will experience what it’s like to be a crime scene forensics expert or a geneticist working on a breakthrough discovery. We are deeply grateful to AT&T and all of our corporate partners for their steadfast commitment to inspiring Maryland’s next generation of scientists.”
