Hitachi High Technologies America's Inspire STEM Education Outreach Program Brings Nanotechnology to Students Across the Country

As our business is part of society, we need to be a part of the ecosystem that supports a sustainable future. Strategically speaking, businesses flourish when the communities and ecosystems in which they operate are heathy. To reach this, our mission is to inspire, develop and attract the next generation of innovative pioneers through the advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math that is essential to deliver innovative solutions for our future.

In our role as leaders in promoting global sustainability, Hitachi is committed to being a good corporate citizen. Hitachi believes in engaging in activities that contribute to long term social progress. Through our global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, Hitachi is engaged in tackling global challenges such as energy, water and education.

With this goal always in view, Inspire STEM Education Outreach Program has shown sustainable impact in regions we first implemented our program - California, Washington DC/Maryland and Arizona, Brazil and South Africa. The same outcomes are being seen in its expanding footprint - Chicago, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Southern California, Texas, Ireland, London, and Australia. The number of units in the field have also increased.

Along with the education outreach program field work, the program is adapting its website – www.inspirestemeducation.us. This tool is key to the success of the program and is becoming the hub for showcasing the program, sharing information and best practices, collecting vital information and reports as well as gaining support from other Hitachi division and outside collaborator and partners. Also, with the use of technology, the program will be relaunching social media within its strategy. This strategic effort to use social media (Hitachi_STEM@Hitachi_STEM) to release messages and successes of domestic and global outreaches. Another area of using technology is conducting programmatic training virtually. Program staff can train and support all regions, worldwide, with the development of our training program and manuals.

Imbedded in the landscape for STEM Education, is workforce development and diversity initiatives. Engaging in projects within these areas support the ‘big picture’ of education and business and industry. This engagement opens our involvement with other Hitachi divisions and embraces the One Hitachi Brand. Two examples of this are the initiative at the Henry Ford Museum and the Global Women in Hitachi. By participating in this project with the Henry Ford Museum and their Education Department and Conservancy Department, we have developed a collaboration with Hitachi Automotive, Hitachi Ltd and in the process of engaging other Hitachi Group divisions.