Exploring the Future: High School Students Discover Potential STEM Careers at Salt Lake City’s Human Innovation Day

The second annual Human Innovation Day in Salt Lake City brought around 50 high school students from the Salt Lake City School District to explore potential future STEM careers. Organized by the district in partnership with the Salt Lake Education Foundation and Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s Tech Lake City initiative, the event aimed to introduce students to the growing life science industry in the state.

The day began with a keynote speech from Mayor Mendenhall, who emphasized the importance of growing the tech industry in Salt Lake City not just for economic reasons, but also to provide young students with valuable and fulfilling job opportunities. She encouraged students to pursue careers in STEM, emphasizing their unique perspectives and ideas in advancing scientific innovation.

Students had the opportunity to visit facilities such as ARUP laboratories and Recursion’s biotechnology facility to learn about the work being done in these fields. They also engaged in discussions with working scientists, professionals, and university students to gain insights into career opportunities, internships, and more.

Brian Pantle, a project manager at the department of economic development for Salt Lake City, emphasized the importance of exposing students to different aspects of science and showcasing the variety of career paths available in STEM fields. The goal was to give students a vision of their potential future by interacting with professionals who are already working in the industry.

Throughout the day, attendees were inspired by presentations from leading experts in various fields including genomics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and robotics. They learned about cutting-edge technologies that are driving innovation across industries while gaining insights into how they could apply these technologies to solve real-world problems.

The organizers hope that this initiative will inspire and support students from a young age to explore their interests in STEM fields and help them envision a successful future in these areas. By creating a conducive environment for learning and growth, they aim