Celebrating National STEM Day: Inspiring the Future of Innovation
At Moderna, our commitment to learning fuels our innovation every day. As Chief Learning Officer, I’ve seen firsthand how a focus on continuous learning can shape individuals, careers and entire organizations. Whether in the lab, the classroom or on the job, fostering a culture of curiosity is essential to staying at the forefront of science and technology.
This mindset is especially important as we celebrate National STEM Day on November 8, a day dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It serves as a powerful reminder of the role education plays in shaping the future. With an estimated 3.5 million STEM jobs needing to be filled in the U.S. by 2025¹, the need for skilled talent is more urgent than ever. At Moderna, we are proud to support STEM education and provide learning opportunities to empower the next generation of innovators worldwide.
mRNAs as Medicines: Making mRNA Science Accessible
Our mRNAs as Medicines course, available for free through Coursera, is helping to make mRNA science accessible to everyone. This three-module program offers a comprehensive understanding of mRNA medicines, how they work and their potential applications.
The course begins by covering the basics of proteins and mRNAs—their structures, functions and roles in human biology. Learners are then introduced to the evolution of molecular medicine, with an in-depth look at how proteins and mRNAs can be used as medicines. The final module focuses on the real-world applications of mRNA medicines, in preventing infectious diseases and in potentially treating rare diseases and cancer. By making this course available to anyone, we aim to close the knowledge gap around mRNA science and inspire learners of all backgrounds to engage with the next frontier of medicine.
Supporting STEM Beyond the Classroom
Our commitment to learning extends beyond the virtual classroom. At Moderna, we support STEM education in the communities where we live and work, focusing on empowering underrepresented groups in science and technology. For years, we’ve been a proud sponsor of the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair, which provides students with opportunities to showcase their talents and explore careers in STEM.
Additionally, the Moderna Charitable Foundation partners with organizations like Science Club for Girls, which offers free STEM programs to girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities. The Foundation also supports Science Journal for Kids, which simplifies complex academic research so it’s accessible to students. These programs help ensure everyone—regardless of background—can explore and thrive in STEM.
At Moderna, we are dedicated to fostering a culture where curiosity thrives, and learning is a continuous process shaping all that we do. This outlook drives our team members and future innovators to push the boundaries of science and technology. On National STEM Day, we celebrate the role STEM fields play in addressing global challenges, and we are excited to see what the next generation of scientists and engineers will accomplish.
¹https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/consulting/articles/stem-diversity-inclusion.html