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IEEE Foundation Directors Witness STEM Excitement at the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago, IL, USA
By Lorena Garcia, IEEE Foundation Director
I recently had the pleasure, along with three other IEEE Foundation Directors and Foundation staff, of visiting the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago, IL, USA, to see firsthand the impact of the IEEE Region 4 Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) program. This initiative, spearheaded by John Zulaski, is igniting curiosity and creativity in young minds across the region through innovative Discovery Pack backpacks.
These STEM-focused kits, partially funded by the SKPL program, are available in all 80 programming branches of the Chicago Public Library. Each backpack is filled with hands-on tools that allow children to explore a wide range of STEM topics directly from their local library. Subjects include robotics, magnets, weather, dinosaurs, and electricity, ensuring every child finds something to ignite their interest.
Visiting the Harold Washington Library and seeing the SKPL program in action, as well as the excitement and pride shared by the library team, was truly inspiring. These backpacks are more than STEM kits; they’re a way to spark children’s interest in science and engineering, helping them discover the many opportunities these fields offer and see themselves as the next generation of problem solvers.
Under John’s leadership, SKPL awarded a record 26 grants in 2025 across 10 U.S. states, reaching over 25,000 youth annually. By supporting public libraries, the program helps bridge educational gaps and ensures that all children have access to meaningful STEM learning experiences.
The SKPL program is a model of how closing the STEM gap doesn’t require fancy labs to spark a lifelong love for science and engineering. Backpacks filled with STEM resources can unlock curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young learners. It would be amazing to see this kind of program replicated and expanded globally.
Thanks to the generosity of IEEE donors and the vision of leaders like John Zulaski and his team, the IEEE Region 4 SKPL program is significantly expanding its impact throughout the Midwest USA. Our visit highlighted the power of collaboration among volunteers, donors, public libraries, and local partners in expanding access to STEM education and building a more equitable future. Together, we are empowering the next generation, one backpack at a time.
For more information on how you can help inspire the next generation of scientists, visit IEEE’s Region 4 SKPL website to make a donation or apply for a grant to launch a new library program.
