Founded in 2017, San Diego LabRats is a non-profit organization in Encinitas dedicated to ending the science literacy crisis in our nation. As you can see on our website, sdlabrats.org, we engage students with an exciting and empowering introduction to the world of STEM. Through private funding, we have expanded our program from courses and labs taught at various local locations to a permanent STEAM Discovery Center housed at the San Dieguito Boys and Girls Club (Griset Branch). In addition to our courses, we now have a maker space with a laser cutter and math and science academic coaching. Most importantly, we have never turned away a student for financial reasons. To date, through private funding we have provided 36% of our students with full scholarships. As a team of professional research scientists who teach science, our passion is to introduce young people to the world of STEM. We also see the challenge ahead. The National Bureau of Economic Research and labor economists see science, technology, engineering and healthcare fields growing rapidly. Many of our students are not prepared to enter these fields. We believe access to a proper education not only creates success in the future, but is a basic right. The LabRats Education Team is committed to ensuring that every student experiences the world and opportunity of STEM. We have found that students discover through our programs that working through difficult problems is how they learn, and that just because they don't understand something at first doesn't mean they never will. This is a lesson that will help them in all aspects of their lives.