- link Copy URL - [ Share on X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Collaborative Leverages Business and Community Resources for Transformative Approach to STEM Education https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/289006?absolute=1&via=3blnews "Share on X") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/289006?absolute=1 "Share on Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/289006?absolute=1 "Share on Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Collaborative Leverages Business and Community Resources for Transformative Approach to STEM Education&body=ESG News from MilliporeSigma https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/289006?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Education & Workforce Development](/categories/education-workforce-development) # Collaborative Leverages Business and Community Resources for Transformative Approach to STEM Education ##### By Victoria L. May and Myra Lopez Jun 22, 2020 2:30 PM ET Campaign: [Employee and Community Engagement](/news/campaign/employee-and-community-engagement) ![](https://3blcdn.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/2026-08/723A3905_web_1786755663.jpg "Members of the 2018 STEM TQ cohort perform a water filtration demonstration during a hands-on lab visit to MilliporeSigma.") Members of the 2018 STEM TQ cohort perform a water filtration demonstration during a hands-on lab visit to MilliporeSigma. [Originally Published by Connected Science Learning](http://csl.nsta.org/2020/03/stempact/) A dialogue was sparked in 2010 among St. Louis–area corporate leaders, spearheaded by Deborah Patterson, then president of Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company (now operating as Bayer), about the need to attract STEM talent to the St. Louis region. The group spent two years studying the problem. Their starting point was to perform a needs assessment and focus group research. They surveyed K–12 educators, university faculty, informal education providers, and corporate stakeholders before identifying teacher training as the critical piece to [improving STEM education in the region](https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/creating-a-stem-strong-st-louis/article_80bd9077-159d-51f1-945a-f52b90738216.html). Determining that money alone could not solve the problem, and that talent is pivotal to a successful business, the companies decided to pool their resources and invite representatives from universities, schools, and informal institutions (e.g., YMCA, YWCA, Girls Inc., Boys and Girls Club, Saint Louis Science Center) to one planning table. Ultimately, that early dialogue and research led to the formation of [STEMpact](https://stempact.org/), a collaboration of St. Louis’ top STEM employers, local foundations, a team of STEM instructors from across formal and informal settings, and [Washington University in St. Louis](https://wustl.edu/) (WashU). Founding funding members of STEMpact include Boeing, Monsanto (now Bayer), Emerson, Sigma-Aldrich (now MilliporeSigma), Express Scripts, and WashU. The collaborative has grown to include individuals and foundations, such as the James S. McDonnell Family Foundation. [Continue reading on Connected Science Learning.](http://csl.nsta.org/2020/03/stempact/) ### Additional Media #### Images [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/723A3905_web.jpg?h=199d8c1f) Members of the 2018 STEM TQ cohort perform a water filtration demonstration during a hands-on lab visit to MilliporeSigma. ](/sites/default/files/images/723A3905_web.jpg "Members of the 2018 STEM TQ cohort perform a water filtration demonstration during a hands-on lab visit to MilliporeSigma.") [![The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada](/sites/default/files/Clients/MERCK_MSIG_VMagenta_RGB.jpg)](/profiles/milliporesigma) ### More from MilliporeSigma ###### [A Decade of Curiosity: A Mid-Year Look at SPARK’s Momentum](/news/decade-curiosity-mid-year-look-sparks-momentum) Aug 6, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Wins 2026 Business Intelligence Group Sustainability Product of the Year Award](/news/milliporesigma-wins-2026-business-intelligence-group-sustainability-product-year-award) Aug 4, 2026 12:10 PM ET ###### [From Bench to Breakthrough: Empowering the Next Generation of Science Communicators](/news/bench-breakthrough-empowering-next-generation-science-communicators) Jul 14, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [Bio-Based Solvents Take Center Stage at CHEMUK](/news/bio-based-solvents-take-center-stage-chemuk) Jun 23, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma's Approach to Embedding Sustainability Earlier in Product Development](/news/milliporesigmas-approach-embedding-sustainability-earlier-product-development) May 28, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Launches Supplier Sustainability Toolkits to Help Advance Supply Chain Impact](/news/milliporesigma-launches-supplier-sustainability-toolkits-help-advance-supply-chain-impact) May 21, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Receives 2026 Environment+Energy Leader Spotlight Award ](/news/milliporesigma-receives-2026-environmentenergy-leader-spotlight-award) May 5, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Launches First Bio-Based Solvent Portfolio for High-Performance Liquid Chromatography](/news/milliporesigma-launches-first-bio-based-solvent-portfolio-high-performance-liquid) Apr 21, 2026 10:30 AM ET