Students 2 Science

We are committed to equalizing access to STEM education and providing workforce readiness skills for 21st Century careers. We serve as a convener between public and private sectors, promoting cross-sector collaborations between businesses, institutions of higher education, district leadership, and workforce-readiness agencies while aligning STEM education with the projected economic growth and global leadership of NJ and USA.

We have created innovative, hands-on STEM education experiences, complete with modern, commercial-grade laboratories and professional scientists, which allow students to perform age-appropriate, rigorous science experiments to solve relevant, contemporary problems. The trajectory is designed to start STEM education early by building on skills from elementary school and continuing through high school. While all students benefit from the experience and guidance S2S provides through its programs, our focus is primarily on those who most need assistance and on those who are least likely to receive such an experience. Approximately 90% of the students we serve come from underserved communities in NJ.

In 2016, S2S entered into a formal partnership agreement with the City of Newark and the Newark Board of Education (NBOE) in order to build a facility in Newark to serve Newark Public Schools, New Jersey's largest urban school district with over 32,000 students. The goal of this partnership is to place S2S in the heart of a community in need and work collaboratively to bring district-wide systemic changes in STEM education. S2S is embedded in the NBOE’ system and current strategic plan.

Our overarching vision is to expand our signature STEM experiences and rigorous educational programs to reach 1 million students annually by the year 2030.

S2S has developed three signature programs for accomplishing our mission:

• ISAAC (Improving Student Affinity and Aptitude for Careers in STEM) program offers middle and high school students the opportunity to take part in multiple visits to one of the S2S Technology Centers for practical skills development. They are provided with hands-on access to sophisticated instrumentation and work side-by-side with STEM professionals and volunteer scientists, conducting rigorous, age-appropriate experiments designed to reinforce Next Generation Science Standards.

• Virtual Laboratory (V-Lab), our signature remote learning program, is led by highly qualified instructors from professional studios in our Technology Centers and livestreamed directly into 5th – 12th grade classrooms. Our V-Labs are aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and currently offer over 50 experiences focusing on various STEM content areas.

• Teacher Professional Development offers teachers access to a catalog of professional development (PD) opportunities. Teachers who participate in ISAAC and V-Lab programs are provided with job-embedded PD. Prior to each session, teachers are provided with instructional resources which includes lesson plans for the day as well as “How-to Video” for every experiment in V-Lab session.

S2S programs have been designed based on the Next Generation Science Standards:

• Emphasis on hands-on activities and project-based learning
• Interaction with professionals from the private sector and exposure to workforce readiness skills
• Use of programs that are research- and evidence-based
• Employment of programs that are rigorous and consistent with college and career readiness
• Adherence to the goal of preparing students for success in the 21st century global economy

S2S has achieved tremendous growth in recent years, including the opening of a second technology center in downtown Newark and solidifying our role as an authorized leader in STEM education and a convener between public and private sectors. The uniqueness of our approach lies in our state-of-the-art laboratories, our strong cadre of volunteer mentors, and the collaborative relationships that we have formed with a diverse group of partners. Our highly experienced leadership and our generous supporters provide the foundation and guidance for our growth and success.

• Volunteers: The driving force in the success of S2S programming are the hundreds of volunteer mentors - corporate volunteers, individuals and educators - who work directly with students in the ISAAC program and as part of the V-Lab experience. Our volunteers are professional scientists, many with PhDs. The volunteers serve as role models and introduce students to a wide variety of 21st Century STEM career options so that students understand firsthand the possibility of rewarding work in STEM fields.

• Leadership: S2S was established by successful entrepreneurs and veterans of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Their collaboration attracted the support of other successful professionals in the sciences, law, education, and marketing. S2S has an outstanding Board of Directors who provide invaluable guidance, advice and financial support in the establishment and growth of the organization.

• Partnerships: Our ability to form productive collaborations with school districts and other stakeholders is critical to our success. All program development and outreach are conducted within a strong STEM ecosystem comprised of both public and private partners, including school districts, higher education partners, corporate and philanthropic partners, community leaders, local and state policy officials, and more. Such partnerships inform our programming with insights into the needs of the school districts as well as industry demands. Our formal partnership with Newark Public Schools, New Jersey’s largest urban district, is a successful example of our collaborative model.

• Supporters and donors: Funding support for S2S comes from a variety of sources including cash donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals; gifts-in-kind from corporations; and a broad range of pro bono professional services. This diverse mix of funding fosters our growth and enhances our effectiveness. Volunteer mentors from our corporate partners are a critical and essential part of our success. Our growing list of corporate partners include Airgas/Air Liquide, Ashland, Bayer, BD, Benjamin Moore, Bristol Myers Squibb Corporation, Celgene, Cisco, Daiichi Sankyo, Edison Properties, Merck, Novartis, Panasonic, PerkinElmer, Pfizer, PSEG, Sanofi, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The past few years at S2S have been marked by tremendous growth, incredible milestones, and exciting achievements. We opened a second laboratory - the S2S Newark Technology Center; our signature programs are expanding rapidly; our volunteer and employee engagement programs, the driving force behind our success, are thriving; and we are continuing to promote and encourage the development of STEM Ecosystems by working with a diverse group of partners and collaborators.

Following are highlights of our achievements over the past decade:
- Developed a comprehensive, district-wide STEM solution for students in economically disadvantaged communities
- Engaged over 158,000 students in S2S programs
- Established two 10,000 sq. ft Technology Centers
- Created a formal partnership with Newark Public Schools, New Jersey’s largest school district
- Partnered with 30 New Jersey school districts and schools in Pennsylvania and North Carolina
- Interacted with over 2,200 teachers
- Involved more than 1,000 corporate and higher education volunteers
- Partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for after school STEM programming

Going forward, S2S will continue to work towards reaching our full potential as a national model in authentic STEM education and urban community development.

Our larger, overarching vision is to reach 1 million underserved students annually via the following two strategies:

• Expand to 10,000 V-Lab sessions across the country through collaboration with national partners and school districts in targeted regions.

• Establish 3 – 5 S2S Technology Centers in strategic locations across the country. For the establishment of each new Technology Center, we have outlined a 5-year project plan and budget, from initial environmental analysis through planning and development (including building of a local STEM ecosystem) to full implementation of S2S programs through the Center.