$84.84 is the cost of supplies for each student. The following is the cost breakdown for a class of 12 students. For a class of 12 students, I prepare 14 kits: one for class demonstration, one for spare parts, and 12 for individual student use.
STEM education is expensive, even when the equipment is DIY. The organization’s policy caps lab fees at $60, which would include items in the area shaded in green. The supplies cost exceeded the policy limits of $60, as seen in the pink shaded area. However, I do not collect more than $60 from any student.
I teach these classes because science has the power to shape the future. As a retired Research Chemist with 52 years of experience in the private STEM sector and government, I am passionate about investing in the next generation.
In my youth, I found joy in building my scientific equipment, a philosophy inspired by the 1964 UNESCO book 700 Experiments for Everyone. That hands-on, DIY approach nurtured my curiosity and reflected a time when innovation and manufacturing were at the heart of our country’s progress. Today, I grieve the decline of that spirit. Many of the materials I use must now be imported to remain competitive, highlighting the challenge of STEM education in our modern economy.
Although my one-person LLC has never turned a profit, that has never been my goal. What drives me is the meaning of the work: to spark curiosity, build skills, and inspire a lifelong love for science. The income I receive goes directly back into researching and developing new ideas for future classes.
Thank you for supporting my mission. Your participation and encouragement make a difference—not just for my classroom but for the future of science and innovation.