This article was originally published in UCSB’s ‘The Current‘.
On a recent rainy day, fourth- through sixth-grade students from Glen City Elementary made the trip from Santa Paula to UC Santa Barbara. Unfazed by the weather, they arrived at Elings Hall buzzing with excitement and ready to flex their creative muscles as the inaugural participants in UCSB’s new Future Makers Program, which brings elementary and middle school students from underserved districts to campus for a day of creativity and empowerment.
Future Makers is a collaborative effort between UC Santa Barbara’s California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) and Los Ingenieros, a longstanding student organization focused on inspiring and mentoring future generations of Latin@ STEM graduates. Dedicated to professional growth, academic opportunity and community engagement, Los Ingenieros partnered with CNSI staff, undergraduate students and graduate volunteers to bring the program to life. Together, they created a welcoming, hands-on experience that introduces students from underserved communities to the possibilities of a STEM pathway — an approach that reflects CNSI’s broader mission to foster curiosity, build community and inspire the next generation of innovators…