Salisbury Students Visit the Department of Chemistry for STEM Outreach

Keeping up with NC State’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and fostering a strong interest in STEM education within the local community, a group of 17 students and two teachers from Salisbury Academy recently had the opportunity to visit the Department of Chemistry.

During the event, which was initiated by Prof. Ryan Chiechi and organized on behalf of the department’s outreach committee, participants were welcomed by faculty who introduced them to the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. The highlight of the day was a captivating presentation focused on the significance of STEM careers and the critical need for local talent in these sectors. “I emphasized how vital it is for the U.S. to cultivate homegrown talent in STEM positions,” said Prof. Raja Ghosh. “The enthusiasm from the students was palpable, and it was rewarding to see their engagement.”

To measure the program’s impact, Ghosh created surveys to assess the students’ knowledge and interest in STEM careers before and after the talk. The feedback indicated a positive shift in their perception of these fields.

The visit also included an informative tour of the organic labs, led by Katie Rose, a graduate student from the Ohata research group, allowing the students to witness firsthand the exciting research and experiments conducted at the university.