Making science exciting
607. Jessica Okoro
Jessica Okoro, is the founder of Leicester-based ‘BeScience’, a pioneering movement of students and recent graduates inspiring young people to explore STEM subjects.
Jessica and her volunteers aim to show that science can be creative and fun with programmes such as ‘Library Lab’ which takes over libraries in underprivileged areas and transforms them into mini laboratories for the day and ‘Creative KidsLAB’ staging pop-up science workshops in shopping centres and community centres.
Jessica receives her award the day after BeScience’s first ‘#StemSocial’ conference, which brought together 500 GCSE and A-level students in Leicester with representatives from STEM industries.
In a personal letter to Jessica, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“In ‘BeScience’ you have created a pioneering movement of students and recent graduates inspiring young people to explore STEM subjects. Your innovative interventions demonstrate that science can be creative and fun. I wish you every success as you continue to grow this exciting project.“
Jessica said:
“It’s an honour to be recognised for the Points of Light Award with the BeScience STEM movement. Myself and everyone who also supports thoroughly enjoys changing the misconceptions of STEM and will carry on doing so, as we have grown to realise that its very much necessary.”