INL gives students a hands-on look at STEM careers

Eighth grade students pulled on safety goggles and protective gear before slipping their arms into a model glove box. A ripple of excitement moved through the room.

“I didn’t even know there were jobs like this!” a student said, glancing up from the equipment.

Around them, laughter and curiosity filled Idaho National Laboratory‘s Energy Innovation Laboratory on April 10 as small groups moved from station to station, testing, experimenting and asking questions. It was the first time many of them had seen science come to life.

For nearly two decades, INL’s My Amazing Future event has introduced Idaho students to the possibilities within science, technology, engineering and math. What began in 2007 with a small group has grown into a signature program that has expanded each year, with a goal to reach 300 students annually from communities including Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, Firth, Fort Hall and Pocatello.

The program was designed to help students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences see themselves in STEM. Today the annual event continues to focus on turning curiosity into confidence and showing that these careers are not distant impossibilities, but possible and attainable.

“At INL, we do work every day that drives our nation’s energy future and security,” said INL Director John Wagner. “Programs like My Amazing Future matter because our mission needs people, now and in the future. We want the students to see the opportunities that exist to make a difference in STEM and to know that a path is available for them to be the Lab’s next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Throughout the day, students rotated through hands-on sessions led by INL professionals. Each activity connected classroom learning to real-world applications, whether handling specialized equipment, exploring energy systems or working through problem-solving scenarios alongside scientists and engineers.

“It’s not just science, it’s identity,” said INL education outreach specialist and coordinator Cait McGraw. “We wanted students to leave thinking, ‘I can do this. I belong here.’”

Access to advanced STEM opportunities vary across Idaho’s communities. My Amazing Future helps bridge that gap by partnering with schools and reaching students from many different walks of life. Teachers nominated participants based on their interest in math and science, and INL provided transportation and resources to ensure students could attend.

“This event showed students that STEM wasn’t out of reach,” said Sunshine Shepherd, INL education outreach lead. “It was about opening doors and giving students the chance to imagine themselves in these roles, and to realize those paths were real and within reach.”

By reaching students early, the program helps spark interest that could carry into internships, higher education and careers supporting the nation’s energy and security missions.

For many students, it was a glimpse into a future they may not have considered, and a reminder that they had a place in it.

This story was provided by Idaho National Laboratory.