Students can meet professionals one-on-one at STEM Career Expo April 18

How does one go about becoming a scientist? What courses in college will help you become a mechanical engineer? What opportunities are available for math majors? What is the daily life of a computer technician really like?

On Wednesday, April 18, the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory will offer high school students a valuable opportunity to ask those questions in person.

The annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Career Expo will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the atrium of Wilson Hall, off Pine Street in Batavia. It is free and open to all high school students.

The expo offers the chance for students to speak face-to-face with people actually doing the jobs they will be applying for in the coming years.

In addition to Fermilab scientists and engineers, the STEM Career Expo will feature more than 100 professionals from 40 local companies and research organizations who will be on hand to explain what they do. But this is not a college or job fair, and is not about recruiting, according to organizer Susan Dahl of the Fermilab Office of Education and Public Outreach.

Rather, she said, this is a chance for students to talk one-on-one with professionals working in their fields of interest.

The expo also will include five panel discussions on STEM-related topics, with an opportunity for students to ask questions.

"We hope students come away with a new view of the possibilities of finding careers in these fascinating fields and a more realistic idea of the individuals working in these very relevant and interesting jobs," Dahl said.

During the expo, there will be panel discussions on career areas. Several panelists within groups of careers are organized so you can compare and contrast the types of fields available. After short presentations, a question-and-answer period is offered. Afterward, students can return to the booths for further discussions with these professionals.

At 6:15 p.m., a Science Panel will meet in the One West room on the first floor. It will include a food scientist, geologist, metalworking fluids scientist, neutrino physicist and forest ranger.

The Engineering Panel at 6:15 p.m. in the auditorium will feature engineers in the following fields: chemical, electrical, mechanical, quality assurance and software.

A Math/Tech Panel will meet at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. It will feature an actuary, computer science, computer engineer, health information manager and metrologist.

At 7:45 p.m., the Science Panel in the first-floor One West room will include an accelerator operator, accelerator physicist, ecologist, flavor chemist, and synthesis chemist.

A second Engineering Panel will be offered at 7:45 p.m. in the auditorium, with engineers in the following fields: acoustics, chemical, distribution systems, mechanical and structural.

The expo is a collaborative event organized by the Fermilab Office of Education and Public Outreach and educators and career specialists from DuPage and Kane county schools. Sponsors include Fermilab Friends for Science Education, Batavia High School, Geneva Community High School and York High School.

For more information, visit ed.fnal.gov/programs/careerfair.