I was invited to an IVY Tech Community College- Lake County STEM Club meeting, where I presented “The Unknown”. The objective was to do an outreach/ informational presentation focused on internships, research, and pathways into science through hands-on experience. This presentation explored the role of uncertainty, field experience, and learning through action in STEM. Rather than presenting STEM as a fixed path, this talk explored the importance of curiosity, discomfort, and learning through action.
Using my 2025 internship with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station as a case study, the presentation introduced students to field research, threatened species monitoring, dune ecology, data collection, and the realities of scientific work beyond the classroom. The central message was simple: meaningful opportunities in STEM often begin by stepping into the unknown and being willing to show up, learn, and grow.
Following the presentation, students remained for an extended discussion and question-and-answer session that continued for approximately one hour, covering internships, fieldwork, research opportunities, career paths, and navigating uncertainty in STEM education.