The future of Lake County’s life sciences workforce is already taking shape. This week, 125 girls in grades 3–8 are participating in Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO)’s STEMgirls Summer Camp in the City of Waukegan, celebrating the program’s 10th anniversary with a detective-themed experience called Case Breakers. Programs like this play an important role in building a strong talent pipeline for one of Lake County’s most important industries.
As home to a globally recognized life sciences ecosystem, Lake County’s continued success depends on inspiring the next generation of scientists, researchers, engineers and innovators. We’re especially excited to see industry leaders like Abbott supporting these efforts through hands-on experiences that connect classroom concepts to real-world medical innovation. The impact is already evident: over the past decade, STEMgirls has served 2,500+ participants, expanded to 11 states, and given alumni a chance to return and inspire the next generation. Investing in STEM education today means strengthening Lake County’s life sciences workforce for decades to come.
Thanks to iBIO, Abbott, the Steans Family Foundation, TerSera, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, and all of the educators, volunteers and partners making this initiative possible.