Student Sergio Crespo Presents at New Jersey’s First-ever STEM Month Event

Governor’s Scholar and NJCU senior Sergio Crespo presented his research project at a STEM Fair in March to more than 100 attendees of New Jersey’s first-ever celebration of STEM Month. The fair was held at the New Jersey State House in Trenton.

The fair showcased 17 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) organizations from across the state, each highlighting their work to drive excellence in New Jersey’s STEM pipeline. Each of these organizations also received a ceremonial legislative resolution requested by Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, of the 16th Legislative District.

The following organizations were in attendance:

• Association for Women in Science
• Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• Delran STEM Ecosystem Alliance
• Douglass Project for Women in STEM
• Garden State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation/Rutgers University
• Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
• Governor’s STEM Scholars/Research & Development Council of New Jersey
• Hudson County Community College
• Liberty STEM Alliance
• Mindbytes
• Newark STEAM Coalition
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• New Jersey STEM Pathways Network
• Rahway Public Schools
• Rowan Civil Engineering
• South Jersey STEM and Innovation Partnership
• Woodrow Wilson New Jersey Teaching Fellowship

Many guests, including dozens of state legislative representatives, visited the presenting organizations to learn about numerous STEM initiatives taking place around the state.  

“New Jersey STEM Month and this STEM Fair are all efforts to increase the engagement of policymakers, STEM stakeholders, and the general public in building capacity in STEM education and overall innovation in the state,” said Kim Case, Executive Director of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey and Manager of the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network.

The STEM Fair is one of more than 90 events held in support of New Jersey STEM Month. For the past three years, New Jersey has hosted its annual New Jersey STEM Week to promote the state’s commitment to STEM excellence. This year, in recognition and celebration of New Jersey’s world-class STEM economy, both Governor Phil Murphy, via gubernatorial proclamation, and Assemblyman Zwicker, via legislative ceremonial resolution, have designated the entire month of March 2018 as New Jersey STEM Month.

The month-long observance highlights the Garden State’s strong presence and accomplishments in STEM, including its industry, academic and government sectors.

“It is critically important that we as policymakers support efforts to drive innovation for our STEM industry and its professionals, as well as efforts that result in excellence in STEM education,” said Assemblyman Zwicker, New Jersey Legislative District 16 and champion of New Jersey STEM Month. “The organizations here are doing the work that train future scientists, engineers, mathematicians – people who change the world.  I thank them for this work and encourage others to join them. 

A public-private strategic alliance, the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network was established in 2014 to inform the alignment of STEM resources, support an education-to-workforce STEM pipeline, identify exemplary learning opportunities, and promote STEM career pathways. NJSPN is now managed by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey and funded by the Overdeck Family Foundation.  You can learn more about the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network and New Jersey STEM Month by visiting www.njstempathways.org.