INL looks to help teachers get students excited about jobs in STEM fields

On Wednesday more than 40 teachers had the chance to fly drones, build robots and learn about cyber security at Idaho State University. And while there was lots to do, the event was not just for fun. The Idaho National Laboratory said they partner with events like this in hopes of helping teachers get their students excited about careers in STEM fields

“If we can teach the teachers and help them see what career paths and opportunities there are, then they go back armed with the information they need so Idaho National Lab will have those students somewhere down the road,” commented Anne Seifert, the K-12 STEM manager at INL.

Currently more than 30 percent of the workforce at the INL is 55 or older. As older generations get ready to retire, the INL will have to look to hire new people.

“So that means in the next five or seven or ten years, we are going to need a whole lot of people to fill our workforce,” added Seifert.

The INL is not the only place that will be looking to hire employees in STEM fields. Scott Rasmussen, the dean of the College of Technology at ISU said many employers in Idaho will need people to go into STEM fields.

“We are excited to have teachers learn about these careers and be able to help us increase the pipeline of the workforce that we will need in Idaho in the next ten to twenty years,” said Rasmussen.