STEM Identity Day
November 7, 2025
STEM is for everyone.
Too many students decide STEM is
“for other people.”
By grade 6, belonging and interest drop sharply. Students begin to believe math and science are too hard, their efforts don’t pay off, or technology just isn’t part of their futures.
STEM Identity Day is meant to help reverse that story.
Today, especially as AI touches more and more aspects of work and life, STEM identity is critical in every career, not just traditional STEM fields. For the schools and community leaders building the workforce of tomorrow, that means partnering to focus on building that confidence in today’s students.
What is STEM Identity?
At SmartLab, we explain it this way: A person’s STEM identity is a learner’s self-belief that I belong , I can master rigorous challenges, and my ideas make an impact.
This mindset takes shape through active, student-centered learning cycles—each ah-HA! moment steadily converting raw curiosity into resilient, purposeful problem solving.
Learners with strong STEM identities believe:
• I belong here. This space welcomes my background and ideas.
• I can do this. Iteration and ah-HA! moments prove my capability.
• I add value. My solutions matter to my team and the real world.
• I’m future-ready. The skills I’ve honed travel with me to any challenge.
You don’t need a S-T-E-M job to build or have STEM Identity. STEM Identity Day is a national initiative that extends SmartLab’s commitment to ongoing support and partnership, ensuring schools and communities work together in ways that expand opportunities for students long after the event.
Are you a potential Volunteer/Community Partner looking for a local STEM Identity Day to support? Click here to for help finding a host school!
Whether you would like to host an event or join forces with a local school to prepare students for tomorrow, use the form to the right to register your event and/or obtain resources.
Getting Started is Simple.
For Host Schools
Flexible timelines let you choose a short session, several blocks, or a full day. Resources and examples are provided to keep prep time minimal. Teachers guide student discussion and reflection, making the day easy to run while strengthening STEM competence, performance, recognition, and interest.
For Volunteers/Community Partners
Volunteers can share stories, answer questions, or support setup with little preparation. Community involvement shows students authentic career-connections and broadens their concept of what STEM looks like in real-world work–even for people who do not work in traditional STEM fields or roles. Partner involvement also builds community partnerships that last far beyond the event.
Host schools and volunteers receive ready-to-use materials including preparation and scheduling help, promotional templates for social media and email, and more upon registration.
Who to Invite
For Host Schools
Think broadly about who to include from within your school community. Students are the core audience; conversations with professionals should deepen their understanding of how STEM shows up in real work. Invite industry professionals to share how they use STEM in their work, local media to spread awareness, and parents to attend as authentic audiences.
For Volunteer/Community Partners
Local businesses and civic groups play a critical role. Invite employees to volunteer as guest speakers or help in other ways. Their involvement shows students that STEM is accessible and valuable in every career path.
Together, schools and partners create a stronger event—broadening perspectives, building ongoing partnerships, and helping every student see where STEM fits into their future.
Resources for Your STEM Identity Day
Materials to Support Planning, Promotion, and Implementation of Your Event
These resources are designed to make your STEM Identity Day smooth, impactful, and engaging. Whether you’re starting from scratch or embedding STEM Identity Day into an existing event, you’ll find the tools to bring your vision to life and spark lasting STEM.
When you register to host or volunteer for a STEM Identity Day event, SmartLab will share a planning guide, templates for engaging others via email and social media, along with a few other helpful resources.
Host School
- Planning timelines
- Templates for engaging staff, parent, and community volunteers
- Activity prompts for sharing volunteer career expeiences with students
- Event “badges” to use in your communications
- Guide for making your partnership with volunteers successful
Volunteer/Community Partner
- Planning timelines
- Templates for inviting coworkers to volunteer with you
- Activity prep for career talks
- Event “badges” to use in your communications
- Guide for making your partnership with schools successful
Success in Action
Districts across the country use SmartLab to strengthen engagement, improve performance, and empower students.
Explore how different communities are making it work.
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Ready to transform learning in your school?
Together, we’ll bring the SmartLab ecosystem to your school. Students will engage deeply in STEM, take on real-world challenges, and build the skills for lifelong learning, leadership, and career readiness.
