Nifty 50 spreads word on science careers

Alex Sette of the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology presents a lecture. Part of the Nifty 50 program, he was at La Jolla High on Friday. Courtesy: UCSD

Fifty science role models — 30 of whom are from UCSD — have joined the “Nifty 50,” a speaker series that is part of the San Diego Science Festival.

The 50 science professionals from a wide range of fields and backgrounds are visiting classrooms around the county to raise interest and awareness in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Life Technologies Foundation, a platinum corporate sponsor of the festival is the lead sponsor.

The event kicked off Feb. 3 with a reception at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park for scientists, teachers and select students.

The scientists are visit middle and high schools to speak to students about the rewards and challenges of these fields, their own career paths and today’s “hottest” careers in science. The scientists previewed the upcoming activities for the San Diego Science Festival, encouraging students to take advantage of the numerous free activities offered.

The Nifty 50 come from local and regional research institutions and establishments, including UC San Diego, University of San Diego, San Diego State University, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, The Salk Institute, Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) and a host of telecommunications, information technology, defense, biotechnology and renewable energy companies.

To learn more about the San Diego Science Festival go to www.sdsciencefestival.com.

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2. Scripps Institution of Oceanography to head $25 million climate research project
3. UCSD marine ecologist honored
4. UCSD marks International Week
5. Research Report: Citizen scientists aid studies from afar

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Posted by Kathy Day on Feb 6, 2011. Filed under Featured Story, Health & Science. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.