Bayer, 4-H to Grow Tomorrow’s Science Leaders

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/77126512-bayer-4-h-launch-science-matters/. 

Science Matters will leverage Bayer’s more than 150 years of scientific breakthroughs and 4-H’s century of hands-on learning to equip more than 25,000 youth with tools and support they need to deepen their understanding of science.

“Advancing health and nutrition is what we do best and care about most at Bayer,” said Ray Kerins, Bayer’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and a former 4-H’er. “We can’t do that unless we grow tomorrow’s innovators today and fill the critical pipeline of future STEM leaders—not only for agriculture, which is increasingly technologically-driven, but for all STEM-related fields. Bayer sees this as a sacred responsibility and we’re proud to work with 4-H, a first-class organization that shares this vision,” he said.

Science Matters will bring together 4-H leaders with Bayer employees to work alongside young people demonstrating why science matters to all of us. In addition, Bayer will sponsor the 4-H Agri-Science Summit in Washington, D.C., where students will learn about modern agriculture, careers in agriculture and gain more than 30 hours of hands-on learning and problem-solving experience. Bayer will also provide as many as 200 scholarships and offer community grants to extend the program’s impact. And Bayer’s continued sponsorship of the 4-H Youth in Action Award will add yet another dimension to Science Matters.

“In 4-H, we believe in the power of young people, and we are thrilled to join with a company like Bayer that also sees the potential when you equip youth with the skills and opportunities they need to be true leaders,” said Artis Stevens, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, National 4-H Council. “Science Matters will extend the reach of our hands-on STEM programming, which is proven to grow 4-H’ers who are two times more likely than others to enter STEM careers.”

The world’s need for expertise in STEM has never been more intense than it is today. Many of the millions of STEM-related jobs generated in America alone go unfilled due to a lack of relevant graduates and skilled professionals—a scarcity acute in agriculture, which is not always considered the STEM-related field it has become. Scientists who focus on plants, food and water, among other areas, are in demand as growers tackle some of the most complex challenges of our time: sustainably providing nutrition for a rapidly growing population in the face of a changing climate, dwindling natural resources and evolving pests and diseases, to name just a few.

“At Bayer, we believe in the power of science and its ability to positively impact the health of people, plants and animals, and we know that 4-H shares this belief with us,” said Kerins. “That’s why we’re excited to be on the ground floor of a wonderful relationship that will help develop a new generation of innovators who will address some of the most critical issues facing our society today.”

Bayer and 4-H made the announcement in the Bayer tent at the Farm Progress Show, where Bayer also addressed issues important to America’s farming future, such as integrated weed management, insect and disease control, and the 2018 Farm Bill.

Bayer and the National 4-H council are now doing a photo contest! Titled “Why Science Matters to Me,” the contest will require participants to submit photos explaining why science matters in their lives. Contestants will be eligible to win a trip for three to the National Youth Summit on Agri-Science, January 12 -15, 2018. The deadline to submit a photo is 11:59PM ET on November 26th, 2017. For more information, click here.