2nd Annual STEM Conference

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math took a front row seat this Friday, October 10, as St. Mark’s welcomed three special guests to its second annual STEM Conference. This year’s panel of distinguished speakers included Scientific America contributing editor and Dallas Morning News staff writer Anna Kuchment, Chief Technology Officer of SCI Technology and alumnus Max Klein ’00, and Harvard doctoral candidate and former St. Mark’s science teacher Heather Olins.

 

Before a packed Upper School assembly, the three scientists discussed the latest hot topics in their fields, the convergence of science with other disciplines, and the source of their scientific passions.

 

“My advice is to keep an open mind to the big picture and don’t get lost in the weeds of how it’s always been done,” Dr. Klein told Upper School students. “Always re-evaluate the problem you’re trying to solve. Remember, you’re not trying to build a better mousetrap; you’re trying to get the mice out of your house.”

 

After assembly, the guests spent the day visiting science and journalism classes, delving deeper into their own areas of expertise, and chatting one-on-one with budding Marksmen scientists. 

 

This year’s STEM Conference was co-chaired by Forest Cummings-Taylor ’15 and Vikram Pattabi ’15.