About Us

Who is Science from Scientists?

Science from Scientists (SciSci) is an award-winning, national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We engage real scientists, selected and trained to deliver hands-on, inquiry-based STEM lessons in a collaborative program that is cost-effective, scalable, and measurably impactful. Our lessons align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and other state standards. Additional programs include professional development for classroom teachers, large-format science events, and custom curriculum and content creation.

Our mission

Science from Scientists’ mission is to teach and inspire the next generation to identify and solve real-world problems by improving STEM literacy.

Our vision

Science from Scientists’ vision is to inspire students, ignite interest, and improve STEM competency with the goal of filling the workforce pipeline with talented, competent individuals.

The problem:

The US STEM crisis

We are facing a crisis in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) workforce training pipeline. STEM job positions are growing by 17%, compared to non-STEM jobs, which are growing at a rate of 9.8%. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that of the 32% of adults who earn a Bachelor’s degree, only 29% will earn a degree in STEM.

As a country, we are not producing enough STEM workers to take advantage of the growth in STEM jobs. Lack of competency and low interest in STEM are drivers of this workforce gap.

In the US, students are routinely outperformed by their international peers – we rank 17th in the world in science literacy. The Business Higher Education Foundation determined that by the time students reach high school, 83% report lacking proficiency and/or interest in STEM. Thus, the STEM challenges must be addressed earlier, in elementary and middle school, where gaps in STEM content competency and interest begin.

STEM job growth rate

  • STEM 17%
  • Non-STEM 9%

Students lacking proficiency and/or interest in STEM

  • By high school 83%
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Our solution is unique:

Real scientists

Our staff members are charismatic, passionate role models with strong academic backgrounds and/or demonstrable research experience in STEM.

Hands-on, minds-on experiences

We provide discovery-based, curriculum-relevant, and exciting hands-on/minds-on STEM activities designed to engage students and ignite their interest in STEM.

Expansive reach

We bring STEM to every space by delivering our programs during school, after school, over vacation, and for special events.

Measurable impact

Our programs have shown measurable impact, from raising standardized test scores to improving students’ attitudes towards future careers in STEM.

About our founder

Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a doctorate in biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine, founded Science from Scientists (SciSci) in 2002 with the specific mission to teach and inspire the next generation to identify and solve real-world problems by improving STEM literacy.

Watch Erika’s 2008 feature on Nova’s The Secret Life of Scientists to hear how suicidal cells in crocodiles got her interested in science, how impactful science mentors sparked her passion to share science opportunities with youth, and what it was like participating in the Miss America program.

Why elementary and middle schools?

Our signature program focuses on grades 3–8 because this is often the time when various pressures and challenges influence whether or not a young person decides to pursue STEM subjects.

Below are just a few of the factors that sway students from pursuing STEM:

Social pressure
Excelling in science is often seen as ‘uncool’ by elementary and middle school students. This is especially common among young girls, for whom this stigma persists and impacts diversity in the STEM workforce pipeline.
Teacher preparedness
Many teachers feel anxious and unprepared to teach science due to various factors.
Teacher time constraints
There is an emphasis on allocating time toward English language arts (ELA) and mathematics due to state testing requirements, and a lack of time to prepare and create hands-on science lessons.
Staffing shortages
There is a shortage of elementary and middle school science teachers. Unfortunately, it is common that a physical education (PE) teacher is reallocated to teach science.
Out-of-date content
Science content is always being updated, and classroom teachers feel anxious teaching content that has since been updated outside of the textbooks.
Lack of hands-on labs
Students rarely have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning until they reach high school. By bringing hands-on STEM learning to elementary and middle school students, we are able to excite and engage students earlier in the pipeline and prepare them for more challenging high school courses.
Lack of parental involvement
Parents struggle to find opportunities to extend students’ learning at home. Research shows that parental involvement and support, particularly in earlier years, boosts academic achievement.
No aspirational role models
Students in elementary and middle school rarely have the opportunity to interact with STEM professionals and role models outside of their doctor or dentist. This limits their understanding of exciting career opportunities in STEM.

Science from Scientists 20+ year history

  • 2024Served 12,700 students and 104 schools through our ISMB program

    A new record!

  • Launched Grade 2 full science curriculum

    Piloted in 8 schools in MA, MN, and CA in spring 2024—adopted by our first district, Revere Public Schools, MA, in fall 2024

  • Hosted 16 STEM kit build team-building events

    With the release of our new Candy Chromatography take-home kit and Grade 2 classroom supplies, corporate teams came together to build STEM kits for a great cause

  • Launched STEM Demo-in-a-box service

    A custom volunteer experience for corporate partners that allows their staff to engage youth and their families in impactful STEM experiences

  • Featured at 10 Boston Red Sox games in the Kids Concourse

    Youth and their families participated in SciSci’s baseball-themed STEM activities sponsored by Collegium Pharmaceutical at 10 Red Sox home games

  • 2023Served 12,500 students in 101 schools through our ISMB program

  • Minnesota Twins STEM Day at Target Field

    Presented table activities at the MN Twins STEM Day at Target Field

  • Boston Red Sox STEM Day at Fenway Park

    Presented a live science theater show during the Red Sox’s STEM Day at Fenway event in May

  • Red Sox collaboration with Collegium Pharmaceutical

    Launched baseball-themed tabling activities for youth and their families to participate in during 10 Red Sox games at Fenway Stadium

  • Nominated for the Tekne Award

  • 2022SciSci celebrated 20 years

  • Red Sox collaboration with MuRata

    Launched Red Sox collaboration with MuRata as part of their ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to attend 2 games at the ballpark and provide kids and their families with hands-on STEM experiences

  • 2021Disney: Launched Growing the Future

    Launched a live interactive demonstration presented by MuRata at Epcot at Walt Disney World® Resort, presented to more than 6,000 children and families

  • Teamed up with the Minnesota Vikings

    Minnesota Vikings players team up with Medtronic and SciSci to promote STEM education for youth

  • 2020Virtual Lessons during COVID

    During COVID, created 50 virtual lessons and launched our first distance learning program option to send 130,000 distance kits to partner schools

  • 2019Disney: Completed The SpectacuLAB at Walt Disney World® Resort

    Completed The SpectacuLAB live stage show at Walt Disney World® Resort, serving over 110,000 children and families!

  • 201710,000 students served in a single year for our ISMB program

  • Disney: Launched The SpectacuLAB at Walt Disney World® Resort

    Launched The SpectacuLAB presented by MuRata featuring Science from Scientists, located at the Innoventions® pavilion in Epcot at Walt Disney World® Resort and presented to more than 150,000 children and families

  • Official partner of America’s Cup Endeavour Program in Bermuda

    Official partner of America’s Cup Endeavour Program in Bermuda to provide hands-on STEM experiences about sailing (over 7,000 children reached!)

  • 2016Expanded operations to Twin Cities Area, Minnesota

  • 2015Expanded operations to Central Massachusetts

  • 2014Expanded operations to the Bay Area, California

  • Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle featured on NECN

    Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle featured on NECN to discuss how SciSci is helping more students get excited about science

  • 2013Disney: Launched Science Thrills Live!

    Launched Science Thrills Live!, a live science theater stage show presented by Raytheon at Walt Disney World® Resort

  • Won the @Scale Award

    Won the @Scale award from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

  • 2008Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, PhD featured on Nova's The Secret Life of Scientists

    Founder Erika Ebbel Angle, PhD featured on Nova’s The Secret Life of Scientists to discuss how she got interested in science, what sparked her passion to share science with others, and what it was like participating in the Miss Massachusetts scholarship pageant

  • 2005Launched our In-School Module-Based (ISMB) STEM Enrichment Program Program

    Presented our signature program, In-School Module-Based (ISMB) program, at our first partner school in Massachusetts

  • 2002Science from Scientists was founded

    Science from Scientists was founded by Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle in Boston, Massachusetts