Global Talent Mentoring hosted an International Expert Meeting from 28–31 May 2024 (IEM 2024) on “The Transformative Power of Mentoring for Reaching Excellence in STEMM” in Nuremberg, Germany. Prof. Dr. Heidrun Stoeger, co-director of the program, and Dr. Mariam AlGhawi, director of the Centre for Giftedness and Innovation at the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, welcomed a diverse group of distinguished experts. The event featured a variety of complementary perspectives on mentoring across the sciences, with each expert presenting their research and engaging in vibrant discussions.
The event kicked off with Prof. Dr. Stoeger’s presentation on effective mentoring in STEMM for various groups. Prof. Dr. Stoeger’s remarks included an overview of Global Talent Mentoring, with information about the program’s structure, development, and current status. Following her introduction, the stage was given to the invited experts.
First, Angela Tabiri, PhD, a research associate and academic manager for the Girls in Mathematical Sciences Program (GMSP) at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Ghana, presented on “Nurturing the Talents of Girls in Ghana in the Mathematical Sciences.” Dr. Tabiri highlighted the importance of fostering female participation in STEM fields, particularly in mathematics.
Her presentation offered valuable insights into inspiring girls in Ghana to pursue careers in the mathematical sciences. Dr. Tabiri’s success at promoting diversity and empowering young women in mathematics has earned her international recognition, including selection for the 2024 Female Science Talents Program by the Falling Walls Foundation.
Next, Richard Briscoe, CEO of PASCO Scientific, a long-term partner of Global Talent Mentoring, presented on “PASCO Scientific: 60 Years of Innovation Improving STEM Education.” By designing and manufacturing innovative hands-on science lab equipment and teacher resources, PASCO Scientific has been improving outcomes in STEM education at primary, secondary, and university levels for decades.
Mr. Briscoe shared what he has learned from having his finger on the pulse of the STEM-education market for more than 30 years. He emphasized the importance of offering no-hassle teacher training alongside the innovative tools teachers need to support STEMM education effectively.
Sally Frank, manager of philanthropic programs at Agilent Technologies, then presented on “How Life Sciences, Tech, and Other Corporations With Employees in STEM Fields Can Build a Sustainable, Global Network of Virtual STEM Mentors.” One of the goals of the Agilent Foundation, a philanthropic organization associated with Agilent Technologies, is to promote STEM subjects among underrepresented groups. Agilent has successfully promoted the mentoring opportunity among its employees worldwide, including
Global Talent Mentoring since 2023. Ms. Frank’s presentation showcased how a global corporation can encourage its employees to make a difference for the next generation of leaders in STEM.
Francis Batac, from the GitHub Education, then presented on “Building Psychological Safety in Mentoring Relationships.” In his interactive presentation, Mr. Batac showed how a psychologically safe environment plays a crucial role in effective mentoring relationships. Mr. Batac’s presentation also highlighted the importance of clearly communicating the fundamental concepts of mentoring to all STEMM experts who undertake such a task.
Prof. Dr. Robert Rosner, a renowned physicist from the University of Chicago, then presented on “Building a World-Class Cross-Disciplinary Academic Team for Forefront Computing.” Prof. Dr. Rosner discussed the challenges and successes of creating a cross-disciplinary computational physics and astrophysics group. He highlighted the integration of diverse experts as a coherent group that collaborated
effectively, ultimately creating what eventually became known as the Flash Code—a computational tool with a current user base of 1,000s, used in various fields ranging from inertial fusion to astrophysics.
Leading talent-development expert Dr. Rena Subotnik concluded the IEM 2024 with her talk on “Infusing Insider Knowledge Into a Trajectory of Mentoring for Talent Development.” Dr. Subotnik explained the distinguishing features of insider knowledge and its impact on mentoring and teaching. Dr. Subotnik also discussed the importance of mentoring in developing skills and
its influence on artistic performance and productivity. She addressed why gifted and talented individuals often miss out on opportunities and highlighted the crucial role mentors play in this process.
The sessions provided valuable insights for the future for Global Talent Mentoring, developing talent development strategies, and offering optimal support for outstanding youth and young adults in STEMM fields. Discussions extended beyond the official program into social events, where participants continued to exchange ideas, forging stronger connections and collaborative relationships.