On Thursday, November 3, more than 65 St. Petersburg College students had the opportunity to sit down with eight STEM professionals at the Bay Pines STEM Center for the fourth annual A Night with Science.  The annual event is popular among students and Bay Area professionals, as most see this event as an opportunity to get to know our students, connect with potential interns, and even look for new employees. 

Participants began the evening with a dinner sponsored by SPC Student Life and Leadership and a keynote speech about the direction of STEM careers delivered by NBC News Climate Specialist and Chief Meteorologist Jeff Beradelli, locally seen on News Channel 8. Beradelli challenged students to look for connections between their passion in the STEM fields and the local needs of this community.

“Match your passion to your talents and a need in society, and this will help guide you to a fulfilling career,” Beradelli advised.

He also spoke in depth about career paths directly related to climate and things that cannot be imported, such as wind, solar and wave energy, as they have to be created and used locally, becoming the job market of the next generation. 

After dinner, participants joined round table discussions with professionals representing a wide range of fields and industries. Companies included Solar Source, the Clearwater Aquarium, the City of Oldsmar, Pinellas County Water Services and Blue Ring Imaging. Topics and career discussions covered aspects of sustainability, chemistry in the brewing industry, and geographic information systems (GIS).