Big Orange STEM Saturday: Tomorrow’s Cures, Today’s Innovations

April 20, 2026
Students view a 3D printer during tabling event
Students visit a tabling event at Big Orange STEM Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Knox County high school students recently experienced the cutting edge of science and technology through the 2026 Big Orange STEM Saturday (BOSS) conference, hosted by the University of Tennessee Libraries. This year’s theme was “Tomorrow’s Cures, Today’s Innovations.” 

Designed to spark an interest in STEM careers by providing engaging, interactive educational sessions, the conference welcomed over 100 attendees from high schools across Knox County to the John C. Hodges Library on March 28. Students were invited to explore future careers and gain foundational knowledge in fields ranging from nursing and data science to computational astrophysics.

Librarian Thura Mack welcomes BOSS attendees.
Librarian Thura Mack welcomes BOSS attendees.

A key feature of the conference was the variety of immersive learning environments:

  • Data and Design: In the "Designing the Future with Data" session, students collected data on Nerf blasters to apply real-world analytics in a creative lab setting.
  • Healthcare Foundations: The "Building Your Future in Nursing" session utilized competitive matching games to teach students about diverse nursing roles and the educational pathways required for the medical profession.
  • Advanced Computation: Students explored the world of supercomputers and artificial intelligence in the "National Lab Innovations in Computation" session, learning how classical and modern computing solve the world’s biggest problems.

Adding to the learning experience, students visited the Medbery Makerspace to create their own reusable rice packs and learn about sewing techniques. Other sessions, such as "InnoCreate," challenged participants to use nuclear science and creativity to tackle real-world environmental and health challenges.

Students visit a tabling event at Big Orange STEM Saturday, March 28, 2026. Students create reusable rice packs in the Medbery Makerspace.
Students create reusable rice packs in the Medbery Makerspace.

The conference also featured a heavy emphasis on personal wellness and future-ready skills:

  • Financial Wellness: Philippa Satterwhite, Associate Director of UT’s Center for Financial Wellness, delivered an opening address on shaping a financially engaged future, teaching students to use money as a tool for opportunity.
  • Mindfulness: David Dupper, Professor of Social Work, led sessions on finding inner calm, introducing students to meditation as a practice for reducing stress and building empathy.

The event ended on a high note with the keynote address presented by Mikhael Loo, an AI Integration Specialist. His presentation, "Tomorrow’s Intelligence: Powered by Us," reframed the future of technology as a landscape driven by human creativity and effort.

Mikhael Loo delivers the keynote address at BOSS, March 28, 2026.
Mikhael Loo delivers the keynote address.