STEM Equity in Action Day!
Teachers Got an “Inside Look” at Delaware Companies
Educators participated in business presentations and tours for an in-depth look at Delaware STEM industries and the STEM career positions they offer in recruiting efforts.
Educators and Businesses Collaborate on STEM Equity and Careers
Delaware educators got an unparalleled Professional Development opportunity during their first in-service day of the school year. Twelve businesses statewide offered exclusive access and tours enabling teachers to get a close look at current STEM industry technology and innovation trends they could take back to their classrooms.
“This professional development experience was by far the most
engaging and enlightening PD I have
attended in the last 20 years of teaching science and math.”
Organized and co-hosted by DFSME and Delaware Dept. of Education, educators were able to visit two facilities of their choice from top-tier companies that included Agilent, Bloom Energy, Chemours, Chesapeake Utilities, ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute, Croda, Kraft Heinz, Moonprint Solutions, New Ecology, Delaware Sea Grant UD Lewes Campus, SPI Pharma and Walmart.
“We were able to visit companies that we would not have access to,
being the general public. The Kraft Heinz tour was mind-blowing.
These companies are in our State and I never knew what their capabilities were.”
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STEM Equity In Action Day Contest! Deadline: September 30
“What will you Share with your Students from STEM Equity in Action Day?”
We want to hear from you!
Send us an email (250 words or less) describing which business(es) you visited and what you learned during your experiences at STEM Equity in Action Day. What real-world STEM Equity industry trends and insights will you bring back to your classroom? What will you share to inspire and help build our future Delaware workforce?
Visa Gift Card Prizes!
$200 First Place / $100 Second Place / $50 Third Place
Winning submissions will be published in our October 2024 issue of DFSME News.
Email your submission to rmvasta@aol.com with the subject line “STEM Day Contest” no later than September 30, 2024.
Thank You to our Business Partners for this Professional Development Opportunity:
Agilent • Bloom Energy • Chemours • Chesapeake Utilities
ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute • Croda • Kraft Heinz
Moonprint Solutions • New Ecology • Walmart
Sea Grant University of Delaware at Lewes Campus • SPI Pharma
Co-Sponsored By
KENT COUNTY
Chesapeake Utilities – Morning Session Only
500 Energy Lane, Dover, DE
https://www.chpkgas.com/
8:00am-8:30am – Coffee/Light Breakfast, N/S Conference Room
8:30am-8:50am – Welcome/Company Overview, N/S Conference Room
8:50am-9:30am – Safety Town Tour (closed-toed shoes please)
9:30am-9:45am – SCADA Room Tour, ESNG Wing/1st Floor
9:45am-9:55am – BREAK
9:55am-10:40am – Business Unit Employee Panel Discussion*
10:40am-10:50am – Community Affairs/Marketing
10:50am-11:15am – Talent Acquisition/Employee Resource Groups
11:15am-11:30am – Q&A
*Operations/Construction/Engineering/Renewables/Business Development/Growth & Retention
• Dress Code: Please remember to wear closed-toe shoes. Welcome to Chesapeake Utilities!
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Kraft Heinz – Morning Session Only
1250 W. North Street, Dover, DE 19904
KraftHeinzCompany.com
• Parking: Upon arrival, security will take your information and then send you to the visitor’s parking lot. You will sign into the iPad on the receptionist desk.
• Dress Code: If participants own steel-toed shoes, please wear. If not, please wear sneakers so we can give slip-on shoe protection. No buttons on clothing above the waist. Everyone will be required to wear hearing protection, a hair net and/or beard net, and a bump cap.
• Photography: No photos can be taken within the manufacturing facility.
A Platform for Performance
The Kraft Heinz Company is the third-largest food and beverage company in North America and the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands. A globally trusted producer of delicious foods, The Kraft Heinz Company provides high quality, great taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether at home, in restaurants or on the go.
Grow Your Career with Us
We’re creators. We’re innovators. Greatness is part of the job description. We’re passionate about developing great future leaders as well as great foods.
We value hard work, discipline, and — above all — contribution. And we look for the right attitude, not years in industry.
We need self-starters who want to be immersed in the world of food. To kick-start their careers and pioneer change. No previous experience necessary!
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Moonprint Solutions – Morning & Afternoon Sessions Available
1287 McD Drive, Dover, DE 19901
MoonprintSolutions.com
• Parking: No parking limitations.
• Dress Code: We will be walking on uneven ground outside – comfortable closed-toe shoes are preferred.
Who We Are
Moonprint Solutions is a product development and manufacturing company that serves NASA, DoD, and commercial customers. We design, analyze, test, and fabricate innovative softgoods products to address the needs of our customers. We are experienced innovators who have developed hundreds of products across multiple markets (space, aerospace, military, protective equipment, infrastructure protection, medical, pharm/biopharmaceutical). Our strength is using softgoods (textiles, coated fabrics, membranes) to create inflatable or flexible products to solve challenging problems and develop technologies that advance the state-of-the-art. We achieve growth & sustainability through softgoods technology focus and application breadth that allows us to develop solutions for multiple markets.
The Types of Work We Do
Softgoods technology is used in many applications and markets. Our focus is on the most challenging applications that push the limits of the technology in challenging environments (marine, desert, arctic, microgravity, lunar surface, planetary). We generate solution concepts, perform trade studies and risk analysis, design products, develop materials, produce prototypes, test materials / seams / assemblies, develop manuals, qualify and manufacture products. We do this to develop products that solve complex problems in situations that are often critical to life.
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Walmart Store #2555 – Afternoon Session Only
Note: The location of this session has changed from Kent County to New Castle County
117 Wilton Boulevard, New Castle, DE 19720
Walmart, as the largest private employer in the U.S. with over 1.6 million employees, offers a wide range of jobs that extend beyond retail. While many roles are in customer service, cashiering, and stocking, a significant number of positions within Walmart are directly related to STEM fields. Here’s how Walmart’s size and its various job functions tie into STEM.
1. Data Science and Analytics
2. Supply Chain and Logistics.
3. Information Technology and Cybersecurity
4. Pharmacy and Healthcare
5. Environmental Sustainability and Engineering
6. Automation and Robotics
7. Optical and Vision Care
8. Product Development and Research
Walmart’s scale requires constant innovation to maintain efficiency and profitability, and STEM professionals are at the forefront of this. From developing new technologies that streamline operations to implementing environmental initiatives, STEM roles are essential to the company’s competitive edge. The retailer’s use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and robotics reflects the growing importance of STEM in shaping Walmart’s future.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Agilent – Afternoon Session Only
2850 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19808
What will Agilent offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
We will offer teachers an introduction to Agilent; a tour of our Center of Excellence where we give instrument demonstrations for customers; a tour of our manufacturing floor; and a short panel discussion.
Agilient offers internships for college students in various disciplines on a rolling basis, which can be searched at https://careers.agilent.com/graduates-students/. Click on “search student jobs”.
Instructions for September 10
• Parking: Please park in the visitor lot at the front of the building (turn left towards the building entrance just before the barrier gate).
• Dress Code: We ask visitors to please wear closed toe shoes during their visit, as they will be touring areas with active instrumentation.
• Photos: Teachers will not be able to take their own photos inside our facility, but we will take photos during the event and will share them with the teachers afterwards so that they can show their students.
We Are Champions of Science
Agilient supports scientists in 110 countries in cutting-edge life science research; patient diagnostics; and testing required to ensure the safety of water, food and pharmaceuticals. Our advanced instruments, software, consumables, and services enable our customers to produce the most accurate and reliable results as well as optimal scientific, economic, and operational outcomes.
We’re Bringing Great Science to Life
We play a role in advancing important research and testing, with our scientists creating some of the world’s most leading-edge technology and our field engineers working side by side with customers to help them maximize productivity. We bring these solutions to a variety of markets, from pharma and diagnostics to applied materials and chemicals.
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Bloom Energy – Morning and Afternoon Sessions Available
200 Christina Parkway, Newark, DE 19713
BloomEnergy.com
What will Bloom Energy offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
Tentative Agenda:
1. Welcome and Introduction (8:30-8:45am)
2. Tour of Facilities (8:45-9:30am)
3. Educational Session (9:30-10:15am)
4. Interactive Demonstrations (10:15-10:45am)
5. Community and DEI Initiatives (10:45-11:00am)
6. Talent Development (11-11:15am)
7. Roundtable Discussion (11:15-11:30am)
Bloom Energy offers a range of career development opportunities for students interested in clean energy technology. Entry-level positions include technicians, who assemble, install and maintain solid oxide fuel cell systems, and electricians, who focus on the electrical aspects of clean energy technologies. For those seeking advanced careers, there are roles in engineering, research and development, and consulting. These positions involve designing clean energy technologies, improving SOFC efficiency and performance, and advising organizations on clean energy implementation. This pathway provides a progressive career trajectory for students passionate about contributing to the clean energy sector.
Instructions for September 10
• Parking: Please park in front of the building, follow signs for visitor parking. Take Charge of Your Energy
Powering our planet with resilient, sustainable, and predictable energy is the defining challenge of our time. Bloom empowers businesses and communities to take charge of their future with abundant, clean energy without compromises.
Job Opportunities
Bloom is proud to have created 21st century manufacturing jobs, rooted in the STEM competencies that are so vital to America’s continued leadership in innovation. We continually invest in Bloom employees to provide training to keep their skills at the leading edge. We provide a safe work environment, and provide full healthcare benefits
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Chemours – Morning Session Only
Star Campus, 201 Discovery Boulevard, Newark, DE 19713
Chemours.com/en
What will Chemours offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
8:30am-9:00am – Introduction to Chemours, Our Values, and Our Employee Resource Groups
9:00am-9:30am – STEM of Sustainability
9:30am-10:00am – Talent Acquisition and Careers at Chemours
10:00am-11:15am – Tour of CDH (break into smaller groups)
11:15am-11:30am – Wrap Up, Q&A
Teachers will get an overview of the facility and the company. We will review the company talent acquisition efforts, types of jobs/careers, DEI efforts including a description of our Employee Resource Groups. We will then give a tour 1-1.5 hours highlighting Chemours Technology and how it is used to benefit society.
We will also highlight types of jobs at Chemours, careers at Chemours, and how jobs in STEM benefit them on a daily basis.
About Chemours:
Chemours is a different kind of chemistry company, driven by our purpose to create a better world through the power of our chemistry. With a world-class portfolio, we provide solutions for industries ranging from automotive, paints, and laminates to advanced electronics, construction, energy, and telecommunications.
Chemours’ chemistry is a vital part of our everyday lives, enabling virtually everything people touch including many products we use every single day. From smart phones to other advanced electronics, high speed communications and connected devices via the Internet of Things, to more climate friendly refrigerants in our homes and cars—chemistry is at work. And increasingly, we are enabling technologies and innovations that are more environmentally friendly including electric vehicles, clean energy such as hydrogen, coatings that create durable and advanced infrastructure, and more energy-efficient cooling. The world needs our chemistry so we are hard at work bringing solutions that are better, safer, more reliable and sustainable thanks to our chemistry.
Instructions for September 10
• Identification: Two forms of ID will be required (such as Driver License and a Credit Card).
• Parking: Park in the back of the facility.
• Dress Code: All attendees must wear long pants and shoes that cover the entire foot. We will provide safety glasses for the tour.
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ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute – Morning & Afternoon Sessions Available
550 S College Avenue, Newark, DE 19713
https://GeneEditingInstitute.com/home
What will ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
We will offer teachers the opportunity to walk through the CRISPR in a Box™ educational kit(s) while also learning about the following objectives: understanding scientific tools and reagents; understanding CRISPR/Cas technology and its role in gene editing; learning about multiple DNA repair pathways; and learning and practicing lab safety.
Teachers have the ability to request a CRISPR in a Box™ kit for their class and instruct the experiment to their class during the school year, or they can opt to bring their students to the Gene Editing Institute for a CRISPR in a Box™ experience. Teachers can also share that we will be offering a summer 2025 internship experience and additional details will be available mid to late fall 2024.
Instructions for September 10
• Parking: The University of Delaware monitors our parking. We strongly encourage carpooling due to limited available visitor spots. If a ticket is received, we will do our best to dispute it. In the case we are not capable of resolving the ticket, it will be the responsibility of the driver. If all spots are full, please find additional visitor parking. For parking info and entrance map, click here.
• Dress Code: Proper lab PPE will be provided. All participants will need to wear proper lab clothing including, closed toe shoes, long pants, t-shirt/long sleeve shirt and long hair pulled back. Gloves and safety glasses will be provided.
• Photography: Please no photos or videos during the window lab tour of the research lab.
For a Canva video About Us, click here.
Leading the World in Patient-First Genomic Science
The ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute accelerates breakthroughs in CRISPR gene editing to improve human health. Driven by its urgent mission to develop disease-conquering therapies, the Gene Editing Institute both accelerates the science and hones the precision of gene editing. The scientific discoveries of the Institute have led to the development of a highly innovative lung cancer therapy to test CRISPR gene editing in solid tumors for the first time.
The Gene Editing Institute explores the potential of CRISPR-directed gene editing for application in oncology and inherited disease. We focus on bringing innovative research from bench to bedside by using CRISPR-directed gene editing to mitigate the failure of standard cancer care. Our education and outreach program aims to demystify gene editing technology while enriching STEM education at both the high school and collegiate level with CRISPR in a Box™.
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Croda – Morning Session Only
315 Cherry Lane, New Castle, DE 19720
Croda.com
What will Croda offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
During the visit, teachers will get an overview of our facility, see how our products are used in different sectors, and tour the property. Teachers will have the opportunity to learn about the types of equipment used in our labs, understand the roles of union operators, and gain insights into our HR hiring practices.
At our New Castle site, we currently have opportunities for students who are in college or above, including positions in our labs and engineering roles. For high school students, while we don’t have specific opportunities at the moment, they can look forward to internships and job opening as they advance in their education.
Instructions for September 10
• Parking: If there is only one vehicle, it can park directly in front of our guardhouse. For multiple vehicles, they will be directed to one or two available lots.
• ID Verification: A government-issued ID is required to issue a visitor badge for the duration of your visit.
• Dress Code: Please ensure your legs are covered (no shorts or short skirts). Please wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes suitable for walking. Although we may use golf carts for the tour (weather permitting), there will be areas where we might exit the cart and encounter uneven terrain.
• Prohibited Items: Firearms, drugs, tobacco are not allowed on site. Smoking, vaping, and other tobacco use are not permitted on site, including parking lots. Lighters, matches, or other flame generating devices are also prohibited.
We are the name behind the sustainable high-performance ingredients and technologies that feature in many of the world’s most successful brands.
Smart Science
‘Smart science’ embodies using the knowledge, passion and entrepreneurial spirit of our people to create, make and sell speciality ingredients used by industries and consumers around the world. We are built on a foundation of turning renewable raw materials into innovative ingredients. This focus remains the heart of what we do: harnessing innovation to create market-leading products and ensuring that we have a positive effect on our environment and society.
Improving Lives
This is about the positive impact our activities and ingredients have on the environment and world around us. Our ambition is to become the most sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients and aligning our approach with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will ensure we can help to tackle some of the biggest challenges the world faces today. Our ambition is to be Climate, Land and People Positive by 2030. From sustainable processes and innovative ingredients helping to protect skin, reduce carbon emissions and grow more food, to improving wellbeing and the efficacy of life-saving drugs, we are using our Smart science to improve lives™ every day.
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New Ecology – Afternoon Session Only
What will New Ecology offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
Advancing sustainable practices, ensuring accessible, affordable and healthy environments in which to live and work.
Teachers will participate in a two-part session. The first portion is held in our office and the second half is taking a job site tour of one of our active projects in Wilmington. The in-office portion will give an overview of our practice in the greening or affordable housing, and will explore how building science influences the design decisions and construction processes that result in durable, healthy, and energy-efficient homes and buildings. The job site tour will feature an active redevelopment project on the 800 and 900 blocks of Bennett Street in Wilmington’s Eastside neighborhood.
These new townhomes are being built to energy performance standards far above what’s minimally required by the building code. ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Homes certifications have shaped their design along with a high-efficiency, all-electric overlay specification funded by Energize Delaware and administered by New Ecology called Climate Smart Homes. Once completed, these homes will be among the most energy-efficient in the state and will serve as models of net zero energy capable construction.
Instructions for September 10
• Arrival: Participants are welcome to arrive at our office early to eat their lunch and chat before the session begins.
• Parking: Available one block from the office at the Community Service Parking Garage, 111 W. 11th Street (entry on N. Orange Street). Please bring your entry/exit ticket to our office to be validated.
• Dress Code: The second half of the session will be a tour of an active construction site. Sturdy, closed toe shoes are required.
New Ecology addresses global environmental issues by bringing the benefits of sustainable development to the community level with a concerted emphasis on equity. We make the built environment more efficient, healthy, and resilient by advancing sustainable practices, ensuring accessible, affordable, and healthy environments in which to live and work.
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Walmart Store #2555 – Afternoon Session Only
Note: The location of this session has changed from Kent County to New Castle County
Walmart, as the largest private employer in the U.S. with over 1.6 million employees, offers a wide range of jobs that extend beyond retail. While many roles are in customer service, cashiering, and stocking, a significant number of positions within Walmart are directly related to STEM fields. Here’s how Walmart’s size and its various job functions tie into STEM.
1. Data Science and Analytics
2. Supply Chain and Logistics.
3. Information Technology and Cybersecurity
4. Pharmacy and Healthcare
5. Environmental Sustainability and Engineering
6. Automation and Robotics
7. Optical and Vision Care
8. Product Development and Research
These new townhomes are being built to energy performance standards far above what’s minimally required by the building code. ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Homes certifications have shaped their design along with a high-efficiency, all-electric overlay specification funded by Energize Delaware and administered by New Ecology called Climate Smart Homes. Once completed, these homes will be among the most energy-efficient in the state and will serve as models of net zero energy capable construction.
These new townhomes are being built to energy performance standards far above what’s minimally required by the building code. ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Homes certifications have shaped their design along with a high-efficiency, all-electric overlay specification funded by Energize Delaware and administered by New Ecology called Climate Smart Homes. Once completed, these homes will be among the most energy-efficient in the state and will serve as models of net zero energy capable construction.
SUSSEX COUNTY
Barcroft Processing Plant / SPI Pharma – Morning & Afternoon Sessions Available
40 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE 19958
What will Barcroft Processing / SPI Pharma offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
STEM careers in pharmaceuticals are available to all education levels and backgrounds, from operators to technical specialists to management. You don’t have to have a Ph.D. or even a college degree to have a good career in science.
Instructions for September 10
• Parking: Pull up to the first gate (on right), where you will be directed on where to park an the visitor entry process.
• Dress Code: Please wear long pants covering the ankles, socks, shirt with long sleeves, and closed- toed, preferably flat, shoes. We will supply hard hat, safety glasses and safety shoe covers. If you have your own safety glasses or clean steel-toed shoes you many bring them.
• Photography: No photography or recording allowed. Group photos or select photos can be arranged with permission.
Adding Value to Pharmaceutical Products
For over 75 years, we have supplied the pharmaceutical industry with highly engineered products and innovative solutions that improve the formulation and delivery of drug products to meet patient needs. Our functional excipients and active ingredients meet the highest-quality standards possible and can offer customized, cost-effective options for many applications. We invite you to explore our product offerings. Our global technical team of experts can also help you select the right product to solve your formulation challenge.
Careers
SPI Pharma is firmly committed to being a leading supplier of solutions to our pharmaceutical and nutritional customers worldwide. To accomplish this goal, we invest in our people. We believe our success as a company relies on the personal success of our employees. We look for passionate, hardworking individuals who are eager to learn, develop and thrive. In return, we guarantee all employees an equal opportunity to succeed in a safe and respectful work environment. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, lifelong learning & development opportunities as well as a collaborative, team-based approach.
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University of Delaware Campus – Morning and Afternoon Sessions Available
Cannon Lab, 1044 College Drive, Lewes, DE 19958
https://www.UDEL.edu/academics/colleges/ceoe/
What will University of Delaware Lewes Campus offer Teachers on their Visit & Tour?
Participants will get an overview and background on the research going on at the UD Lewes Campus, a tour of the facilities, and a look at various careers in Marine Science.
Instructions for September 10
• Parking: Free parking in lot in front of the building.
• Dress Code: Please wear close-toe shoes.
Join our tour! Visit the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) on our Lewes Campus. The study of environmental, atmospheric, earth, and ocean systems is a vital part of ensuring a healthy future for our planet and its inhabitants. Learn how CEOE is dedicated to this mission through research, teaching and outreach.
Our focus is on marine and coastal science and research, oceanography (biological, chemical, physical, and geological), underwater robotics, remote sensing (data from satellites and other sources), and wind energy. College programs include Global Visualization Lab, deep sea/hydrothermal vents, and wind energy.
Do you have STEM-related
career or job to share?
Do you want a professional
to visit your classroom?
We want to hear from you!
Contact our Executive Director, Randy Guschl
Get In Touch
Interested in connecting with STEM in Delaware?
guschlrj@gmail.com
Phone
(302) 547- 2256
