One Small Step for STEM

Learn about ways you can get involved in STEM outreach.

Melody Richardson’s personal mission is to show science is everywhere, even if we don’t talk about it. Richardson has served as a volunteer at every level. She has led STEM education workshops, paired educators with technical resources, conducted lunch and learns for university students, partnered with local and national organizations, and developed an award-winning STEM outreach event from the ground up. Richardson is happiest when she is helping others on their path of STEM discovery. Richardson has donated books to local schools, science kits to public libraries, and personally executed over 100 custom Family STEM nights for an audience of over 40,000 She serves as a subject matter expert when it comes to STEM educational outreach throughout IEEE. She knows what works well, what does not, and why ice cream in a bag does not work in certain environments. Since 2018, she has produced IEEE-Atlanta and IEEE Region 3’s sponsorship of the Curious Kids Zone at the Atlanta Science Festival’s Exploration Expo for an annual audience of over 25,000 people. In 2021, Richardson founded STEM on the MOVE, the STEM educational outreach arm of IEEE International’s MOVE Community Outreach program. Richardson released her first STEM adventure book in 2022. A North Carolina native, Richardson holds degrees from UNC-Greensboro and DeVry University and loves a good baking adventure.