Our story
We are best friends, and we also happen to love all things STEM. Our STEM journey began when we started participating in the Eden Prairie Science Fair in 1st grade. As we grew older, we began to build relationships with professors from universities and the Mayo Clinic by partnering with each other on challenging research projects. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much about the world around us through great resources.
In 2019, when our local science fair was put on hold due to lack of interest and funding, we started a mission to bring it back to our community. We initiated and successfully organized the 2021 Eden Prairie Science Fair for elementary and middle school students with support from Community education staff. With one-on-one mentoring, Q&A Sessions, and information packets, we guided the students through the process of conducting a science experiment from start to finish. However, we realized that the privileges students in our community have may not be the same for others. Encouraging young kids motivated us to start a nonprofit foundation to promote STEM opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
And that was the birth of ionSTEM.
Abi Rajasekaran (Co-founder, ionSTEM)
Hi, I’m Abi! I enjoy working with little kids through summer camps, especially inspiring them to be curious about learning. In mentoring young elementary and middle school girls for their science fair projects, I also learned what a difference I could make in their mindset about women in STEM. Through ionSTEM, I would like to bring the same coaching and guidance to other kids that my mentors have provided me in the past. At school, I’m actively involved in Concert Orchestra, Youth in Government, and Science Olympiad. I like to play the piano for fun.
Harini Senthilkumar (Co-founder, ionSTEM)
Hey there, I’m Harini! My passions in life surround science, music, and writing. Now these may seem disconnected, but there’s a common thread: creativity and feeling. I believe that STEM is more than just technical or logistic; it stimulates your inner emotions and challenges both your mind and heart. Through ionSTEM, I look forward to engaging more youth in seeing these connections and creating joy around the learning. I am also a Speech captain, journalist, and amateur vocalist.
Our credentials
2021-22
Research with mentor from US Department of Agriculture collocated at University of Minnesota, worked on a project titled, “Secure the manure: Utilizing sequential fiber methods to assess the effect of manure on forage nutritive value of Medicago sativa”.
Awards
- #GirlsoftheFutureAward. This is awarded to 12 girls in the nation who use stem to build a better future. https://www.girlsofthefuture.org
- MN State Science Fair SSEF:
- Silver Award (top 15%)
- Science Communication Award: Sponsored by the Science Museum of Minnesota. This award recognizes presenters who demonstrate exemplary science communication skills including display, conversation, and awareness of the audience.
2020-21
Research with mentors from University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic, worked on a project titled, “Predicting compensatory exercise behaviors from anxiety symptomatology in patients with eating disorders”.
Awards
- 2021 Society for Science Community Innovation Award. The Society for Science offers this $500 award to high school students who seek to help mankind through science and engineering at 34 science fairs around the world, one award chosen per fair.
- 2021 Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS):
- Outstanding Achievement Award at North Central Region (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota). Minnesota Academy of Science awards six students who conduct exceptional scientific research and presentation of their results a certificate and a $50 prize.
- Honorable mention for Nationals. Research paper placed in Top 10 out of 71 papers submitted from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
- International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Alternate
2019-20
Research with mentors from University of St. Thomas and University of Minnesota, worked on a project titled, “A computational analysis of the effects of Dreissena polymorpha on the ecological integrity of Minnesota lakes”.
Awards
- Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) - State Winner. Single project selected as 2020 MN State Winner to represent MN in Nationals. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) sponsors the SJWP as the world’s most prestigious award presented to high school students for water-research projects.
- INSPO Research & Innovation Competition Finalist - $10,000 scholarship to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
- MN State Science Fair SSEF:
- Silver Award (top 15%)
- International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Alternate
2019
Target Women in Science & Technology (TWIST) EPIC Award Winners. The TWIST EPIC Awards recognize and honor 25 high school girls from state for their dedication to STEM. Certificate awarded by Target CIO.