The Baxter Foundation Announces $2.6M Grant to Advance STEM Education in Chicagoland Through Partnership With Northwestern University
- Funding from the Baxter Foundation builds on 15+ year partnership with Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy to promote engagement and confidence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for Chicagoland youth and professional development opportunities for Chicagoland teachers
- Three-year funding will support continuation and evolution of existing Baxter Center for Science Education programs
- New grant announcement coincides with National STEM Day to drive greater awareness of the need to collectively support the next generation of innovators
The Baxter Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), a global medtech leader, today announced the continuation of a partnership with Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) to provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs for students and teachers throughout the Chicagoland area. Supported by a three-year $2.6 million grant from the Foundation, the Baxter Center for Science Education (BCSE) – an affiliated center with Northwestern University's SESP – will continue to help elevate educators through cutting-edge science, support classrooms through lab supplies and equipment, and engage students in STEM experiences to support and expand potential career pathways.
"Our partnership with Northwestern University to advance STEM education through the Baxter Center for Science Education is part of the Baxter Foundation's longstanding commitment to developing the next generation of innovators," said Verónica Arroyave, Ph.D., vice president of corporate responsibility and global philanthropy at Baxter and executive director of the Baxter Foundation. "We're proud to help the Baxter Center for Science Education continue its work to positively impact the development of our future scientists, engineers, researchers, healthcare providers and more."
The BCSE was founded in 2009 with an initial grant from the Foundation and today operates as a partnership between the SESP at Northwestern University, Lindblom Math and Science Academy in Chicago, Round Lake Area Schools and the Baxter Foundation. Since its founding, the Foundation has now provided nearly $9 million in funding to support meaningful programming. During that time, the BCSE has reached approximately 260,000 students and trained nearly 4,000 teachers across more than 400 schools in Cook and Lake counties. Program highlights include:
- Elevating educators: Innovative professional development opportunities – such as an immersive research experience program, free workshops that are eligible for professional development hours with the Illinois State Board of Education and an annual symposium – offer Chicagoland educators hands-on experiences, real-life laboratory practice and collaborative settings to inspire ongoing excellence in STEM education delivery.
- Supporting classrooms: To help ensure educators have the supplies they need to create meaningful STEM lessons for their students, initiatives like the Baxter Box program – which offers teachers the ability to borrow materials and equipment for biology and biotechnology labs for free – and Lab Grants – which fund requests for lab equipment and supplies, from lab coats and goggles to blood typing kits, pipettes, incubators and more – are signature to the BCSE's work.
- Engaging students, partner schools and local communities: Dynamic partnerships with schools, districts and other community organizations help to engage students in valuable STEM experiences that connect directly to future academic and career pathways. Partner schools both design and participate in impactful learning opportunities, such as field trips to Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. These experiences are enriched by near-peer mentoring, where students engage with undergraduates working in STEM fields, fostering inspiration and insight into potential career journeys. The BCSE is continuously assessing and adapting opportunities to expand and better meet community needs and opportunities.
"Teachers often share with us how highly they value BCSE experiences and resources. When teachers can learn alongside each other during events led by teacher leaders, it empowers them to share that joy and learning in their own classrooms – to students' benefit," said Jen Lewin, director of the BCSE. "As we celebrate and recognize National STEM Day, we thank the Baxter Foundation for the support to sustain this work, which prioritizes listening to what our communities are asking for."
Access to robust STEM training and materials is crucial, particularly in settings with limited resources. Programming offered by the BCSE, with support from the Baxter Foundation, helps ensure that teachers stay up to date on STEM trends and teachings while students get exposure to interesting and interactive lessons to inspire the next generation of innovators.
About the Baxter Foundation
Every day, Baxter and the Baxter Foundation strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who depend on our products, and in the communities where our employees live and work. The Foundation helps advance Baxter's Mission to Save and Sustain Lives by partnering with organizations around the world to increase access to healthcare for the underserved, develop the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing healthcare and to create a positive, long-lasting impact in communities globally. For more information, please visit Baxter's Corporate Responsibility page.
About Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy and the Baxter Center for Science Education
The interdisciplinary School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) explores how people learn, grow, and develop throughout life. We study this across different ages, settings, and scales—in both policy and practice. Our mission is to understand and support human wellbeing, helping individuals, communities, and places thrive. SESP catalyzes change by connecting a range of disciplines – including psychology, economics, computer science, organizational studies, political science, sociology, and education.
The Baxter Center for Science Education (BCSE) is a collaborative partnership between the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) at Northwestern University, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Round Lake Area Schools, and the Baxter Foundation, with evolving and responsive expansions to our broader communities of Cook and Lake Counties. The BCSE helps to provide impactful educator professional development programs, support meaningful classroom and student STEM experiences, and catalyze mutually beneficial collaborations within the STEM education ecosystem of Chicagoland. Through these initiatives, the BCSE seeks to promote engagement and confidence in STEM among Chicagoland youth and teachers, and leadership opportunities among Chicagoland teachers.
Baxter is a registered trademark of Baxter International Inc. or its subsidiaries.
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