Reflecting on 15 Years of Bridging the Gap: Innovation, Community, and Practical AI in STEM
Reflecting on 15 Years of Bridging the Gap: Innovation, Community, and Practical AI in STEM
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Supercharge STEM Learning For Your Students
Raleigh, NC – October 30, 2026
What an incredible experience at the Bridging the Gap (BTG) 2026 Conference!
A huge congratulations to Suzanne Wilkison and the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR) team on celebrating the 15th anniversary of this phenomenal conference. Bridging the Gap continues to be a cornerstone for uniting North Carolina’s K–16 STEM educators, industry leaders, and innovators.
On a personal note, this milestone year was especially meaningful. It marked my 14th year attending and presenting at BTG! Watching this community grow over nearly a decade and a half, and continually push the boundaries of science and technology education, has been inspiring.
Key Takeaways & Inspiring Sessions
Every year, BTG brings together brilliant minds, and this year’s sessions were exceptional:
Dr. Todd Brown (Operation Outbreak): Hearing Dr. Brown share how a simple middle school question about Ebola grew into Operation Outbreak, and seeing the scale and global reach of that initiative today, was a powerful reminder of how student curiosity can spark real-world change.
Nancy Catrell (WISE): Nancy’s dedication to empowering and inspiring young women in STEM through Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), now spanning more than 12 years, continues to set a gold standard for grassroots equity and mentorship.
Rachael Polmanteer (CIBL): Rachael and the team at the Center for Inquiry-Based Learning (CIBL) shared terrific insights into hands-on, inquiry-driven science. From rocket launches to cell membrane experiments, their approach showed exactly how active learning drives deep engagement.
Dr. David Chamblee (North Carolina A&T State University): Dr. Chamblee led a crucial discussion on shaping the next generation of STEM educators, sharing practical frameworks to prepare new teachers for success in today’s classrooms.
Pat Shane (STEM Teachers Fellows Program): Pat highlighted the essential work of the STEM Teachers Fellows Program and how sustained leadership, mentorship, and fellowship help teachers thrive throughout their careers.
Practical AI for Today’s Classrooms
I also had the opportunity to lead my session, “AI-Infused Science: Integrating Data and Computational Thinking Into Any Class.”
We explored how educators can layer AI foundations, data literacy, and computational thinking into the science lessons they already teach, using simple, screen-balanced strategies. Teams worked through real-world phenomena with our Red, Blue, and Green cards: breaking down the problem, spotting the pattern and the bad data, and writing the decision rule behind the prediction. The response was energizing! Attendees shared how practical and immediately usable the strategies were, with no heavy tech setup required.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up another inspiring conference, I’m filled with gratitude for the educators, partners, and leaders who show up year after year to elevate STEM education.
Thank you, NCABR and Suzanne Wilkison, for 15 years of bridging gaps, building connections, and inspiring the future of STEM! Here’s to many more years of innovation together.
Written by Moni Singh
Founder & CEO, STEM For Kids®
Moni works with educators, district leaders, and out-of-school-time programs to bring computational thinking, AI literacy, and real-world engineering to every child, with or without screens. A computer science engineer, Duke MBA, and published author, she was named one of Entrepreneur’s 100 Women of Impact and received the Triangle Business Journal Women in Business Award as a Leader in STEM.
Connect with Moni: LinkedIn (singhm) | X (@EngineerSTEM) | Instagram & TikTok (@MoniMsSTEM) | Facebook (@STEMForKids)
About STEM For Kids
STEM For Kids® empowers educators and caregivers with hands-on STEM programs that blend fun, real-world discovery with life skills like the 4Cs (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity). Founded in 2011 in Raleigh, NC, by Moni Singh, the organization has grown to serve communities globally through camps, afterschool programs, in-school partnerships, and franchises. With a mission to "Make STEM Fun and Real," STEM For Kids inspires young innovators while fostering educator fulfillment.
Learn more at https://stemforkids.net/
For media inquiries contact sales@stemforkids.net
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