Training: Inspiring Young People With Stories In Science

by Fanuel Muindi 

What is your scientific origin story? When did science first captivate you? Who were the people who truly engaged you in the scientific process and taught you how to think? As scientists, we often forget – and do not share enough – those experiences that inspired us into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the first place. Yet, young people must hear these experiences, or scientific origin stories, as part of their training. A platform for sharing STEM stories is urgently needed to capture these narratives and share them with young people around the world.

 We often get bogged down in the day to day obstacles – failed experiments, struggles to obtain funding, and the publication process, just to name a few. But, amidst these challenges, it is imperative that we do not forget our passion for discovery in science. We must start from the beginning, reflecting deeply on those experiences that ignited our scientific fervor. Even tenured academic scientists need to be reminded of the first sense of curiosity that guided them into the scientific life. And ultimately, we must share this excitement with others.