Brandon Pope: Building STEM bridges
Targeted outreach inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals
Brandon Pope’s life was changed during a third-grade campout, when he encountered what appeared to be a large, strange-looking dog. Noticing the animal did not bark, he asked, “What kind of dog is that?” His teacher replied, “That’s a doe, Brandon — a female deer.”
The incident sparked an intense curiosity in Pope. He wanted to learn more about the weird and wonderful creatures of Earth. This interest led him to earn a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Poultry Science from Tuskegee University.
From there, he embarked on a career of sharing the joy of science. When he worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium, he communicated each organization’s mission to the public. He enjoyed conveying the significance of investment in wildlife conservation, marine and freshwater habitats, and the study of the universe.
This experience is what he brings to his role as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Education Outreach Coordinator at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. His work involves learning how to use science to engage the public. Fortunately, “science is everywhere,” says Pope, “and Argonne’s research covers such a wide focus area. I find it simple to connect a person’s questions, thoughts or interests to a research area at the lab.” After all, he says, “There’s no aspect of life that does not include STEM.”
As coordinator, Pope develops, facilitates and evaluates educational outreach programs to connect K-12 students to the research at Argonne. Currently, he is preparing for the summer portion of Argonne’s Bridge Into Internships program and planning the annual Autonomous Vehicle camp.
“Science is everywhere, and Argonne’s research covers such a wide focus area. I find it simple to connect a person’s questions, thoughts or interests to a research area at the Lab. There’s no aspect of life that does not include STEM.” — Brandon Pope, Argonne STEM education outreach coordinator
He also supports the volunteer efforts of Argonne staff by connecting them to the requests of the surrounding community. In spring 2024, staff members represented Argonne in over 50 career days and STEM fairs in schools across the Chicagoland area.
The goal of this outreach is to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. Pope is especially excited to engage with future scientists from historically underserved communities. “We know there are many students who may not be aware of opportunities at Argonne,” he says. “We make efforts to increase the diversity of participants by proactively reaching out to these audiences.”
Having grown up on Chicago’s South Side, Pope is personally aware of the barriers to opportunities that students from underresourced communities might face. “It is extremely satisfying to know that I play a role in helping students develop their identity as scientists,” he says. “I get to provide them a firsthand look into the wide variety of careers at Argonne.”
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.