San Diego Science Alliance

Enhancing the ethnic diversity and strengthening the pipeline is what our Health Science Initiative is all about. We provide high school Career Pathway Programs with resources and expertise to get students engaged in the STEM content they need, and to incubate their passion for the health industry. We connect students with hands-on, real-world experiences with health/medical professionals, which creates meaningful and lasting engagement.

SDSA's Engineering and Robotics programming ignites passion for the art of engineering using industry mentor connections, robotics competitions, professional development programming, and the annual Robo Expo. More than just great robot fun, this program aligns with state standards and builds capacity within schools by developing teachers who learn how to guide students in robotics and STEM education. Kids learn engineering principles to create sea, wind, and land-worthy robots, expanding well beyond traditional robotics programs. Portions of this work are funded with a $1.3M National Science Foundation grant led by SDSA in collaboration with San Diego State University Research Foundation.

High Tech Fair is our flagship event because of its wide impact across San Diego County. Thousands of kids get hands-on learning experiences from San Diego's STEM industry, who showcase their innovations in engaging, interactive learning exhibits. STEM professionals spark kids' interest in STEM careers by engaging in conversations about what it's like to work in the San Diego's STEM industries. This 2-day event includes a parent night, student showcases, and teacher engagement.

SDSA incubates collaborative ventures, and with our SDCaN collaboration, we coordinate efforts to teach STEM through nature because kids are healthier, happier, and smarter when they learn in nature and play outdoors. We bring together educational, environmental, business and community groups to provide schoolyard habitat workshops, teacher professional development, school nature consultants, and nature-based events to advance STEM learning.