Every child is a STEM child. Every space is a STEM space. This fall, twenty new talkSTEM Ambassadors from across the country are putting that idea into motion, one question, one photo, and one post at a time.
These ambassadors range from high school students to college undergrads, teachers, and lifelong learners. They come from New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, Jamaica, Turkey, Nigeria, and more — a true global community. What they share is a simple practice: notice the world, ask a question, and share their experience. Each week, they’ll post one image from their environment — perhaps a playground, a sidewalk, or a skyline — and pair it with a question that reveals the hidden science, math, or engineering in everyday life.
“Sometimes STEM feels locked inside the classroom,” wrote one ambassador. “I want to help people see that it’s everywhere — in the way water spirals down a drain or how shadows move across the day.”
Curiosity is the Method
The talkSTEM Ambassador program was created by our founder and CEO, Dr. Koshi Dhingra. Koshi’s goal is to spark inquiry. “When we say inquiry-based learning, we mean starting from a real question — one that resonates with you. There’s both an art and a science to asking a good question.”
Each ambassador learns this process of effective questioning by:
- Noticing. Take a close look at a real-world object or space — from a magnolia tree to a subway bench.
- Wondering. Ask questions grounded in those observations. Then select one question that resonates.
- Sharing. Post your image and selected question on Instagram using the talkSTEM social frames.
Ambassadors commit as much time as their schedule allows, posting once a week or ten times a week, and their efforts ripple far beyond social media. Ambassadors inspire their peers or students, in both their schools and community, to see the world in a new way and apply an inquiry-based approach to their lives. As Koshi put it, “Asking questions is frequently harder than answering them — and it takes practice. This program helps build that courage.”
A Community of Explorers
When our ambassadors applied for the program, we noticed that no matter their background, all were motivated by a desire to explore and understand their world.
- “I’ve always loved seeing math show up where it ‘shouldn’t,’ like in the petals of a flower or the design of sneakers.”
- “I want my classmates to see that engineering is about empathy — building things that make people’s lives better.”
- “Science is storytelling. The Ambassador program helps me practice telling that story visually.”
As we reviewed their applications, one theme stood out: these ambassadors see connection — between STEM and art, between local and global, between themselves and their surroundings. These connections help forge their STEM identity, a feeling of empowerment that anyone belongs in STEM — as an area of study, passion, or vocation.
To quote one ambassador: “I want to be a talkSTEM Ambassador because I am passionate about showing that STEM has space for everyone, especially young women who may not always see themselves represented.”
They’ve Already Begun!
Our 2025 Ambassadors have hit the ground running this fall, noticing and asking STEM questions while walking around downtown Chicago, in the JARC Plasma Lab in Fresno, outside an apartment building in Ankara, and even while drinking their morning cold brew.
“Why does whipped cream melt on my drinks but cold foam does not?” Honestly, not a question we’d ever thought about before, but one we’re now deeply curious to know the answer to!
From the magnificent to the seemingly mundane, our ambassadors are embodying the spirit of an inquiry-based exploration. Follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest correspondence from our ambassadors.
Certificates, Meetups, and Mentorship
To celebrate their work, ambassadors can earn Ambassador, Visionary, Expert, or Innovator Certifications based on posting frequency and engagement. Everyone who completes the fall program will receive an official talkSTEM certificate they can include on college or scholarship applications and, more importantly, a record of their curiosity.
Ambassadors will also gather for a virtual meetup on Monday, November 10 at 4pm CT, where they’ll share experiences, swap creative ideas, and connect directly with Dr. Dhingra and the talkSTEM team.
As Koshi reminded the group, “You don’t need to travel far to make discoveries. You just need to notice what’s already there.”
Join the Movement
If you’re an educator or student inspired by what you see on the talkSTEM Instagram, we invite you to take part. You can follow along with this fall’s ambassadors, share their posts with your class, or even start your own walkSTEM journey using the free resources at talkSTEM.org.
Applications for the next cohort open in January 2026, and the community is growing fast. All you need is a love of asking questions, a camera, and a willingness to see your world with fresh eyes.
As one ambassador put it simply: “I joined talkSTEM because I realized I already am a STEM person — I just hadn’t noticed yet.”
