Programs & Initiatives

While the US is still a strong reference in STEM worldwide, a dangerous trend lurks in the shadows, dangerously risking shifting this reality. According to a 2023 report, the US is falling behind in STEM fields and no longer produces the most science and engineering research publications or patents, which are held by China.

Facing the Music

A 2023 study from PISA shows the US ranking 6th in reading, 14th in science, and 28th in math.
Only 8% of American bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2020 were in STEM fields, compared to 21% in China and 14% in India
The U.S. has slipped from 1st to 9th in the 2023 Bloomberg Innovation Index, behind countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Switzerland
Due to predatory outsourcing, since 2000 the U.S. has lost over 5 million jobs requiring STEM skills
China’s R&D investment has quadrupled since 2000, and it is now on track to surpass the U.S. by 2030

Fostering Innovation and Job Growth

The United States faces a crucial challenge: stimulating job creation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields while countering the lure of outsourcing. To achieve this, a multi-pronged approach is necessary, addressing both the financial realities and fostering a vibrant STEM ecosystem.

Sunalei programs and initiatives are tailored to resolve a multitude of challenges, from revamping K-12 education to emphasize STEM subjects to stimulate collaboration between government, industry, and academia to fund high-risk, high-reward research and development projects in critical STEM areas.

Main Challenges for STEM

Industry Leaders, Side-by-Side

Sunalei Programs and Initiatives

Sunalei Strategic Associations

America’s STEM job creation faces a double-edged sword: predatory outsourcing and a K-12 education system lacking the fire to ignite young minds in STEM fields.

These intertwined threats, one draining resources, the other failing to cultivate them, choke the lifeblood of American innovation.

We must face both challenges!

Unlike most other programs that aim to mend the patchwork fabric of today’s STEM landscape, Sunalei embraces a transformative vision by investing in building a robust pipeline of highly skilled professionals and cultivating a thriving culture of innovation. Our plans address not just present challenges, but anticipate future needs, ensuring a lasting legacy of American ingenuity and global leadership in STEM, for today’s reality, and generations to come!

Reenvisioning STEM for K-12 Education

A future sculpted by innovation rests not just on technological marvels, but on the minds that conceive them. And the seeds of these visionary minds are sown during those formative years in K-12 education, not through boring lectures but by exiting experiments.

Investing in STEM education for young students isn’t just about preparing them for technical careers; it’s about equipping them with essential skills for navigating an increasingly tech-driven world. STEM subjects foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, skills vital for success in any field. By demystifying science, technology, engineering, and math through engaging activities and real-world applications, we nurture a generation of curious and resilient problem solvers equipped to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. This early exposure not only sparks a lifelong love of learning but also empowers students to become adaptable and innovative citizens, ultimately shaping a brighter future for themselves and society as a whole.

Even for those who don’t pursue STEM careers directly, the benefits of a strong foundation ripple through their lives. The critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity nurtured by STEM experiences become ingrained tools, guiding decision-making and innovation in any field. Imagine future leaders, shaped by early STEM exposure, tackling complex challenges with a practical understanding earned through hands-on exploration. Their decisions, imbued with the value of knowledge over assumptions, hold the potential to impact countless lives for the better.

Combating Predatory Outsourcing

Predatory outsourcing in STEM fields casts a long shadow, undermining American innovation and threatening national security. By actively combating this practice, we unlock a multitude of benefits for both individuals and the nation as a whole.

Firstly, stemming the tide of outsourced STEM jobs safeguards valuable intellectual property and fosters domestic innovation. Skilled engineers, scientists, and programmers stay on American soil, contributing their talents to local research and development projects. This fuels a vibrant ecosystem of homegrown innovation, fostering cutting-edge advancements in crucial sectors like green energy, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.

Secondly, protecting domestic STEM jobs translates to economic prosperity. High-paying STEM careers boost individual earning potential, fueling local economies and driving national tax revenue. This empowers the government to invest in crucial areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, further strengthening the social fabric and fostering a thriving middle class.

Combatting predatory outsourcing isn’t just about protecting jobs; it’s about reclaiming America’s rightful place as a global leader in innovation.

By safeguarding our intellectual property, nurturing homegrown talent, and empowering our workforce, we pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come

Those challenges are two extremes of the same reality

Sunalei doesn’t shy away from outsourcing’s cost benefits, but we know true innovation blooms in fertile domestic soil. Our focus is on nurturing robust STEM ecosystems across the nation, from industry leaders to fintech and government. We collaborate – not compete – with existing efforts, supporting schools and education organizations that have diligently enriched curriculums.

Yet, acknowledging the good doesn’t negate the need for change. We face a reality of disengaging curricula, uneven access, limited resources, and regional disparities. Sunalei confronts these obstacles head-on, offering evidence-based solutions for curriculum development, resource allocation, and teacher training. We envision a unified landscape where every student, regardless of their zip code, discovers their STEM passion and blossoms into a future innovator.

Industry Leaders, Side-by-Side:

The Engine of Sunalei’s STEM Initiatives is Fueled by the Strategic Partnerships we Identify and Pursue

Sunalei Programs and Initiatives

Sunalei’s programs are custom designed because we understand that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in STEM development. Every state, industry, and market faces unique challenges and needs. While standardized tools like certifications and qualifications offer adaptability, impactful programs – especially those requiring community engagement, significant investment, or complex solutions – must be tailor-made. This customized approach ensures maximum relevance and effectiveness, fostering the desired outcomes on a local level.

Operating as a 501(3)(c) nonprofit helps Sunalei overcome financial hurdles inherent to such bespoke programs. Thanks to our partners, patrons, supporters, donors, and volunteers, we are enabled to invest in solutions beyond immediate successes, aiming for a lasting, nationwide impact. Without those dedication and resources, many of these crucial projects listed below would remain unrealized, leaving the US at a disadvantage in the global STEM race.

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Science

Technology

Engineering

Mathematics

Biotech Talent Pipeline: Partner with community colleges and research institutions to offer specialized workforce training in biomanufacturing, gene editing, and bioinformatics.

Target Companies: Regeneron, Gilead Sciences, Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck.
Success Measures: Increased biotechnology degree completion rates, placement rates in industry jobs, company R&D spending in the US.
Impact: Revitalize domestic biomanufacturing, and accelerate medical breakthroughs.

ClimateTech Internship Boost: Fund summer research internships for undergraduate science majors at clean energy startups and environmental research labs.

Target Companies: Tesla, NREL, EDF Renewables.
Success Measures: Increase in internship placements, startup funding raised, greenhouse gas emissions reduced by adopted technologies.
Impact: Drive clean energy innovation, reduce US dependence on foreign energy.

Rural STEM Initiative: Provide STEM outreach programs, teacher training, and technology resources to underserved rural schools.

Target Areas: Appalachia, Mississippi Delta, Great Plains.
Success Measures: Increased student STEM interest and achievement, college STEM enrollment rates, rural startup formation.
Impact: Reduce rural-urban STEM gap, foster scientific talent nationwide.

Open Science Incubator: Launch a virtual accelerator program for early-stage science startups, connecting them with mentors, investors, and research facilities.

Target Technologies: AI-powered drug discovery, precision medicine, advanced materials.
Success Measures: Number of funded startups, jobs created, commercialized scientific discoveries.
Impact: Stimulate US entrepreneurial science, foster economic growth.

National Science Lab Network: Revitalize and expand access to underutilized government research labs for university and industry collaboration.

Target Areas: Environmental research labs, national parks, energy research facilities.
Success Measures: Increased research partnerships, technology transfer success, patents filed/commercialized.
Impact: Unleash government research potential, boost domestic innovation.

STEM Research Fellowship Program: Award fellowships to PhD graduates conducting critical scientific research in the US, offering career mentoring and research funding.

Target Fields: Quantum computing, advanced robotics, artificial photosynthesis.
Success Measures: Fellowship retention rate, academic publications, patents filed, research funding attracted.
Impact: Attract and retain top scientific talent, advance frontier research.

STEM Educator Fellowship Program: Fund professional development fellowships for middle and high school science teachers, immersing them in cutting-edge research labs.

Target Schools: Title I schools, rural districts, high-poverty areas.
Success Measures: Teacher satisfaction, student STEM engagement, science AP exam pass rates.
Impact: Improve science education quality, inspire student passion for STEM fields.

Science Communication Bootcamp: Train early-career scientists in effective science communication, storytelling, and public engagement.

Target Audiences: Researchers, academics, graduate students.
Success Measures: Media coverage generated, public understanding of science, increased science funding advocacy.
Impact: Bridge the science-society gap, build public trust in science.

Global Science Exchange: Facilitate international exchange programs for US scientists and researchers, forging collaborations and building global scientific connections.

Target Countries: Emerging economies, STEM powerhouses like China and India.
Success Measures: Collaborative research projects initiated, joint patents filed, international research funding secured.
Impact: Enhance US scientific leadership, address global challenges collaboratively.

Science Policy Fellowship: Place science PhD graduates in policy fellowships across government agencies, advocating for science-based policy decisions.

Target Agencies: National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency.
Success Measures: Policy initiatives influenced, science funding secured, science-based regulations implemented.
Impact: Ensure science informs national policy, promote responsible scientific progress.

Cybersecurity Apprenticeship: Partner with tech companies to create industry-aligned apprenticeship programs for cybersecurity analysts and penetration testers.

Target Companies: Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, Crowdstrike.
Success Measures: Apprenticeship completion rates, job placement in cybersecurity roles, reduced cyberattacks on partnered companies.
Impact: Strengthen national cybersecurity workforce, protect critical infrastructure.

AI for Social Good Accelerator: Fund and mentor startups developing AI solutions for social challenges like healthcare, education, and climate change.

Target Technologies: AI-powered disease diagnosis, personalized learning platforms, renewable energy optimization.
Success Measures: Number of funded startups, social impact achieved, commercialization of AI solutions.
Impact: Harness AI for societal progress, address pressing global issues.

Open Source Hardware Challenge: Fund open-source hardware projects with potential for commercialization, connecting inventors with engineers and manufacturers.

Target Technologies: Affordable medical devices, sustainable agriculture tools, low-cost educational tech.
Success Measures: Number of funded projects, commercial products launched, jobs created in manufacturing and engineering.
Impact: Democratize access to technology, promote American innovation.

Rural Tech Hub Network: Establish community-centered technology hubs in underserved rural areas, offering tech training, coworking spaces, and startup incubator programs.

Target Areas: Appalachian region, Native American communities, agricultural towns.
Success Measures: Increase in rural tech startups, local job creation, access to broadband and digital services.
Impact: Bridge the digital divide, revitalize rural communities.

Tech for Good Fellowship: Award fellowships to STEM graduates working on technology solutions for the public good, providing funding, mentorship, and government connections.

Target Areas: Civic tech, environmental monitoring, public health informatics.
Success Measures: Fellowship retention rate, projects implemented, policy changes influenced, public-private partnerships formed.
Impact: Bridge the gap between science and policy, solve critical social problems.

Tech Skills ReBoot: Offer upskilling and reskilling programs for middle-aged and displaced workers, focusing on in-demand tech skills like cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity.

Target Populations: Manufacturing workers, laid-off employees, individuals seeking career transitions.
Success Measures: Program completion rates, job placement in tech roles, increased wages and career advancement.
Impact: Enhance worker competitiveness, strengthen the tech workforce.

Global Coding Exchange: Organize international coding bootcamps and hackathons, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing between US and international developers.

Target Countries: Emerging tech hubs, countries with skilled developer pools.
Success Measures: Number of participants, innovative solutions developed, cross-cultural partnerships formed.
Impact: Enhance US tech competitiveness, build global tech communities.

Tech Accessibility Fund: Support non-profit organizations developing assistive technologies for people with disabilities, bridging the digital accessibility gap.

Target Projects: Accessible AI tools, VR accessibility solutions, inclusive educational platforms.
Success Measures: Number of funded projects, accessibility features developed, lives impacted by increased technology access.
Impact: Create a more inclusive tech ecosystem, empower individuals with disabilities.

Women in Tech Mentorship Program: Connect aspiring female tech professionals with established leaders and mentors, providing career guidance and fostering professional networks.

Target Groups: High school and college students, women transitioning to tech careers.
Success Measures: Mentorship program completion rates, women entering tech workforce, leadership positions attained by program graduates.
Impact: Increase female representation in tech, close the gender gap in STEM leadership.

Tech Policy Internship Program: Place STEM graduates in internships with government agencies and policymakers, shaping tech-related legislation and regulations.

Target Agencies: FCC, FTC, NIST.
Success Measures: Internship satisfaction, policy initiatives influenced, tech-informed regulations implemented.
Impact: Ensure responsible tech development, bridge the gap between tech and policy.

Advanced Manufacturing Internship Bridge: Fund summer internships for engineering students at advanced manufacturing companies, bridging the gap between education and industry needs.

Target Companies: Tesla, SpaceX, Boeing.
Success Measures: Internship placement rates, graduate employment in advanced manufacturing, technology adoption in partnered companies.
Impact: Enhance US manufacturing competitiveness, develop future talent for key industries.

Sustainable Infrastructure Hackathon: Organize nationwide hackathons for engineers and designers to develop innovative solutions for sustainable infrastructure projects.

Target Areas: Renewable energy grids, smart cities, green transportation networks.
Success Measures: Number of participants, innovative solutions generated, funding secured for implemented projects.
Impact: Accelerate sustainable infrastructure development, create environmentally conscious engineering solutions.

Young Engineering Leadership Incubator: Provide mentorship, training, and funding for aspiring engineers to launch their own engineering startups.

Target Demographics: Early-stage entrepreneurs, engineering graduates.
Success Measures: Startup survival rates, funding secured, young-led engineering companies created.
Impact: Increase youngsters representation in engineering leadership, drive innovation in diverse perspectives.

Rural Engineering Apprenticeship Network: Establish a network of engineering apprenticeships in rural areas, creating local STEM career pathways and revitalizing communities.

Target Areas: Farming communities, remote towns, regions with limited engineering opportunities.
Success Measures: Apprenticeship completion rates, local job placement in engineering roles, increased rural STEM interest.
Impact: Bridge the rural-urban engineering gap, build sustainable livelihoods in underserved communities.

Open-Source Design for Disaster Resilience: Fund and support open-source engineering projects developing affordable and accessible solutions for disaster preparedness and response.

Target Technologies: Low-cost flood barriers, earthquake-resistant housing designs, resilient communication infrastructure.
Success Measures: Number of projects funded, solutions adopted by communities, lives saved and property protected.
Impact: Enhance community resilience, democratize access to disaster preparedness knowledge.

Engineering for Social Impact Fellowship: Award fellowships to engineers focused on developing solutions for social challenges like poverty, healthcare access, and education equity.

Target Areas: Water purification systems, affordable medical devices, accessible educational technologies.
Success Measures: Fellowship retention rate, social impact achieved, technologies adopted by communities.
Impact: Bridge the engineering-social impact gap, address pressing societal issues through innovation.

K-12 Engineering Design Challenge: Launch national design challenges for K-12 students, sparking early interest in engineering and problem-solving through hands-on projects.

Target Groups: Middle and high school students, STEM educators.
Success Measures: Student participation rates, innovative solutions developed, increased enrollment in STEM courses.
Impact: Nurture future generations of innovative engineers, revitalize STEM education.

Global Engineering Exchange Program: Facilitate exchange programs for US engineers to collaborate with international teams on real-world engineering projects.

Target Countries: Developing nations, countries with advanced engineering expertise.
Success Measures: Knowledge sharing and collaboration outcomes, joint projects completed, cross-cultural partnerships formed.
Impact: Enhance global engineering collaboration, tackle global challenges through diverse perspectives.

Engineering Ethics & Leadership Training: Offer ethical and leadership training programs for engineers, ensuring responsible development and use of technology.

Target Groups: Early-career engineers, engineering managers, industry leaders.
Success Measures: Training program completion rates, ethical decision-making practices adopted, responsible technology development initiatives.
Impact: Advance ethical leadership in engineering, build public trust in the profession.

Manufacturing Skills Refresh Program: Provide upskilling and training programs for manufacturing workers, adapting their skills to new technologies and automation.

Target Workforce: Existing manufacturing employees, individuals at risk of job displacement due to automation.
Success Measures: Program completion rates, job retention in manufacturing, upskilling adoption in partnered companies.
Impact: Enhance workforce adaptability, maintain US manufacturing competitiveness in the face of technological change.

AI for Medical Breakthroughs Fellowship: Fund and mentor graduate mathematicians working on AI-powered healthcare solutions like disease prediction, personalized medicine, and drug discovery.

Target Companies: Verily, DeepMind, Personalis.
Success Measures: Fellowship retention rate, research publications, patents filed, AI solutions adopted by healthcare providers.
Impact: Accelerate medical progress, improve patient outcomes through data-driven healthcare.

Quantum Computing Apprenticeship Network: Partner with quantum computing startups and research labs to offer apprenticeships for math graduates, bridging the gap between theory and practical applications.

Target Companies: D-Wave Systems, IonQ, Xanadu.
Success Measures: Apprenticeship completion rates, job placement in quantum computing roles, advancements made in partnered projects.
Impact: Propel US leadership in the quantum computing revolution, create high-demand STEM jobs.

Cybersecurity Enigma Challenge: Organize national competitions for students and professionals to develop innovative encryption methods and breach-resistant algorithms.

Target Groups: Cryptography experts, math Olympiad medalists, computer science students.
Success Measures: Participation rates, innovative solutions developed, patents filed, cybersecurity talent identified.
Impact: Strengthen national cybersecurity defenses, cultivate world-class cryptographers.

Math for Social Good Incubator: Support and mentor early-stage startups using advanced mathematics to tackle social challenges like poverty, food security, and climate change.

Target Technologies: Algorithmic resource allocation models, disaster prevention forecasting, financial inclusion strategies.
Success Measures: Startup survival rates, funding secured, social impact achieved, math-driven solutions implemented.
Impact: Leverage mathematical expertise for societal progress, address pressing global issues.

Rural STEM Math Outreach Program: Provide immersive workshops and mentoring programs on advanced math topics for students in underserved rural communities.

Target Regions: Appalachia, Mississippi Delta, Great Plains.
Success Measures: Increased STEM enrollment in rural schools, higher math SAT/ACT scores, greater representation of rural students in STEM fields.
Impact: Bridge the rural-urban STEM gap, unlock hidden talent across the nation.

Advanced Astrophysics Research Institute: Establish a collaborative research institute for astronomers and mathematicians, tackling fundamental questions about the universe with cutting-edge mathematical models.

Target Areas: Dark matter and energy research, gravitational wave analysis, exoplanet exploration.
Success Measures: Research publications, grant funding secured, breakthroughs in astrophysics understanding, Nobel Prize nominations.
Impact: Reassert US leadership in astrophysics, unlock profound discoveries about the cosmos.

Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp: Offer intensive training programs for mathematically gifted high school students, preparing them for international Olympiads and fostering future mathematicians.

Target Students: International Math Olympiad qualifiers, Putnam Fellowship contenders.
Success Measures: Success Medals won at Math Olympiads, Putnam Fellowship finalists, number of students pursuing PhDs in mathematics.
Impact: Nurture world-class mathematical talent, maintain US dominance in international math competitions.

Financial Engineering Masterclass: Offer online and in-person workshops for finance professionals on advanced mathematical tools for risk management, quantitative trading, and algorithmic finance.

Target Audience: Hedge fund managers, investment bankers, quantitative analysts.
Success Measures: Program completion rates, career advancement of participants, adoption of novel mathematical techniques in finance.
Impact: Enhance financial innovation, strengthen US competitiveness in global financial markets.

Data Science for Everyone Online Academy: Launch a free online platform offering interactive courses and resources on data science, statistics, and machine learning, aimed at democratizing access to STEM knowledge.

Target Audience: High school students, career changers, individuals seeking data literacy.
Success Measures: Course completion rates, job placement in data-driven fields, increased public understanding of data science.
Impact: Bridge the digital divide, empower individuals with valuable data skills.

Mathematics for Climate Change Challenge: Organize international hackathons for mathematicians and climate scientists to develop data-driven solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Target Participants: Mathematical modelers, data analysts, climate researchers.
Success Measures: Innovative solutions generated, partnerships formed, climate change policies informed by mathematical models.
Impact: Accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, leverage collective intellect for a sustainable future.

These are just a glimpse of Sunalei’s multi-faceted approach. Each program seamlessly integrates Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, professional qualification support, and rigorous standardization measures. This comprehensive design not only empowers individuals but also attracts fintech and government partners – together, we propel a future where innovation thrives on inclusivity and excellence.