WiSTEM2D

WiSTEM2D

 Ongoing Project 

supported by:

In 2015, Johnson & Johnson launched WiSTEM2D (Winning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing, and Design), an educational initiative featuring activities for young people ages 6 to 19.

In Romania, the WiSTEM2D project has been underway since the 2018-2019 school year.


PROJECT OBJECTIVE

The project’s activities aim to foster young people’s interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing, and Design, as well as to position professions in the STEM2D fields as catalysts that contribute to the development of skills among youth by:

  • enhancing students' ability to make informed decisions about their own professional development;
  • raising awareness of the importance of STEM²D careers;
  • strengthening collaboration between schools and the business community through volunteer activities;
  • implementing hands-on activities at the national level.

SKILLS DEVELOPED: critical thinking, analytical and synthesis skills, problem-solving, teamwork, effective communication, adaptability, making informed career decisions, applying STEM concepts to real-world situations, negotiation and organizational skills.


EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

The WiSTEM2D project activities are aimed at elementary, middle, and high school students and take place in the classroom under the guidance of teachers and volunteer consultants from Johnson & Johnson.

Based on the Inspire, Prepare, Succeed methodology, the WiSTEM2D project includes the following components:

  • INSPIRE: 14 applied learning activities available on the JA Learn™ platform – based on experiments of varying levels of complexity – through which students aged 7 to 18 discover, in an engaging and hands-on way, basic principles of science and technology.
  • PREPARE: Students have the opportunity to interact directly with Johnson & Johnson volunteers through sessions conducted in a hybrid learning format, during which they can ask questions about their professional future and the various roles within the company. In this way, they gain clarity on key aspects of professional life, enabling them to make informed decisions that will facilitate their entry into the job market. Additionally, during STEM²D Innovation Day, students have the chance to work in teams to develop practical solutions to real-world community problems, benefiting from mentoring, guidance, and feedback from professionals.
  • SUCCEED: WiSTEM²D Day offers selected students a hands-on experience in a professional setting, including a company presentation, guided tours of the departments, and direct interactions with employees through Q&A sessions and career counseling.

The 14 WiSTEM2D activities recommended for classroom use are:

  1. Building with Wonderful Junk – working in teams, students plan and build various objects using recycled materials.
  2. Green Batteries – students discover how chemical energy is converted into electricity.
  3. Biomimicry in Design and Engineering – students discover that nature and living organisms can be a source of inspiration for solving human problems.
  4. What's the Code? – students use what they have available to create and run code that controls robot movement.
  5. Strawberry Squish – students experiment with extracting DNA from strawberries and learn about the role of genes and DNA in evolution.
  6. Research and Development – students take on the role of biomedical researchers and conduct lab experiments to determine the effectiveness of certain pharmaceutical formulations.
  7. Create It, Try It, Manufacture It! – students discover the importance of hands-on activities in choosing future careers and learn about what opportunities people with STEM skills have in manufacturing.
  8. Light Bending 101 – students study the path of light through various optical media.
  9. Physics of Floating – students discover the physical principles that cause certain objects to float or sink.
  10. From Innovation to the Patient – students learn about the discovery and development of innovative medicines that can improve or save people's lives.
  11. Pollution Solution – students discover how pollution affects the environment and propose solutions to prevent and combat it.
  12. Change It, Create It, Solve It, Engineer It! – students learn that new technologies and innovations emerge when engineers apply scientific and mathematical principles to design and develop products that can improve people's lives.
  13. Wind Energy – students take part in a hands-on activity in which they learn how wind is used to generate energy and discover the design process by designing a wind turbine.
  14. The Supply Chain and Lean Manufacturing – working in teams, students use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to evaluate and streamline a supply chain using lean manufacturing principles.


Project results:

For details on the project's global implementation, see: https://www.jnj.com/wistem2d.

“The students’ favorite WiSTEM²D activity was «Wind Energy», in which they learned how wind can be converted into energy and worked as a team to build their own wind turbine model. It was an engaging experience that challenged them, but also brought them a great deal of satisfaction – they were truly impressed by the results of their work. I believe this project helps students acquire valuable skills for life and their future careers. Parents appreciated the quality of the materials, which they found engaging, clear, and well-structured. My colleagues were also delighted with the results and mentioned that they too would like to enroll their classes in JA programsl.” – Teacher, Middle School No. 1, Suceava

“The session led by the Johnson & Johnson volunteer was truly interesting and relevant to me. I really liked the fact that we didn’t just focus on STEM-related information, but also received general advice about life, personal development, and how to make better choices for the future. The presentation was interactive and friendly – I felt like I could ask questions at any time and that my opinion mattered. It was an experience that motivated me to learn more about careers in this field.” – Student, George Cosbuc National High School, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj


About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That’s why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and innovation to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com.