San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc. and Virginia Tech announced Tuesday a multiyear agreement to operate a laboratory designed to foster creativity, engineering and science skills in underserved youth in metro Washington, D.C.
The facility at Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church is the first Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab outside San Diego.
Since starting Thinkabit at its San Diego headquarters two years ago, the maker of mobile device technology has expanded the program to three middle schools and a library in San Diego, exposing more than 8,000 students and teachers to STEM education and careers — in science, technology, engineering and math.
According to Qualcomm, the Thinkabit Lab experience will offer some students their introduction to hands-on STEM learning and real-world careers.
“We know that STEM skills can enhance every student’s future, regardless of their field of study, and we need to prepare both students and teachers to address the complex challenges of tomorrow,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands.
“The Thinkabit collaboration with Qualcomm will allow us to join complementary strengths and work synergistically to create opportunities and lower barriers,” he said.
The company bills the facility as part lab, makerspace and classroom — to foster creativity, collaboration and the critical skills necessary for the 21st century.
The responsibility for operating the new lab will be shared by two departments at what’s officially the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, based in Blacksburg — Engineering Education in the College of Engineering, and the School of Education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
— City News Service
