Sparking Global Interest in STEM Careers

Aug 23, 2022 12:00 PM ET

STEM job opportunities are abundant, but the diversity among those who work in STEM fields is not always reflective of the population, especially in the U.S.  DuPont employees from around the globe are taking action to inspire students of all backgrounds to explore the possibilities of working in STEM. Colleagues volunteered their time and talent to support students from middle school through college in a variety of programs.

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

In Kingston, Ontario, Canada we continued to engage with Queen’s University and their Bonds for Success virtual mentorship program. Through two sessions in 2021, over 20 new mentor/mentee pairings were made between DuPont volunteers and college students interested in STEM careers. DuPonters shared their own career experience, learned student aspirations and helped them to create education and career development plans.

Shanghai, China

Our Shanghai Innovation Center hosted 35 students from Shanghai Tech University. Over two days, students toured our Center and learned how our Tyvek® and Kevlar® products contribute to a better world. By talking directly with DuPont scientists and engineers, students could better appreciate the real-world applications of what they were reading in textbooks.  

Mexico

In Mexico, we partnered with the nonprofit Movimiento STEM to promote education and raise awareness of STEM career opportunities among Mexican students. In the first few months of the partnership, DuPont volunteers held 15 video conference sessions, reaching 600 high school and college students at 12 different schools in 8 states. Our ultimate goal is to hold 100 sessions per year and engage in ongoing mentoring activities.

Tarragona, Spain

Employees from our Water Technology R&D Center in Tarragona, Spain, volunteered with the EXPERIMENTA Challenge, hosted by Rovira I Virgili University. Over 600 middle school students participated in science challenges and designed, experimented and presented chemistry case studies with help from DuPonters. 

Wilmington, Delaware, United States

In Wilmington, DE, USA, DuPont supported an inaugural STEM talent pipeline conference hosted by the Delaware Alliance for Sustainable Chemistry and FAME Inc. DuPont presented the Keynote session, hosted a virtual career booth, and led science demonstrations for K-12 students. More than 25 employee volunteers represented DuPont at the event, interacting with 500 educators, industry professionals, and students from 30 middle and high schools and 18 universities.

For more stories, visit DuPont’s Sustainability Stories Hub.