Argonne Advances AI in STEM Education for Workforce Readiness

By: Argonne National Laboratory via Business Wire

September 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM EDT

Artificial intelligence is quickly changing how scientists make discoveries and how students learn in the classroom.

On September 19, nearly 200 STEM educators and academic leaders from across Illinois gathered at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory for the first AI STEM Education Summit, “One Ecosystem, Many Pathways – Building an AI-Ready STEM Workforce.” The summit brought together high school, community college and university professionals to explore how AI is changing scientific discovery and the impact this has on STEM learning. They also discussed how educators can prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

Participants learned about practical ways AI is used in research, teaching and workforce development. The summit showcased Argonne’s leadership in responsible AI innovation and its focus on building an AI-ready workforce, a national priority for DOE and the United States. Educators, researchers, industry representatives and government officials came together to share ideas and form new partnerships. Attendees left with models, best practices and connections to enhance STEM education and help students navigate an AI-driven world.

Argonne is leading the way in AI innovation. The laboratory uses machine learning, data science and high-performance computing to drive scientific breakthroughs and solve real-world problems. Argonne researchers are developing AI tools to create new materials, improve the nation’s energy infrastructure, speed up medical advances and automate scientific experiments. These efforts open new frontiers and help the United States stay competitive in critical fields. Argonne’s new Aurora exascale supercomputer, one of the fastest in the world, is powering breakthroughs in AI research and helping scientists tackle problems at an unprecedented scale.

Educators and leaders heard from AI experts representing Argonne, Intel and Genetech. They also heard from education professionals from the Education Development Center (EDC), Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), Illinois Tech, Waukesha County Technical College and Chicago State University (CSU). They shared real-world examples of AI’s impact in research and education.

Panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions invited participants to exchange ideas and explore practical strategies for integrating AI into STEM classrooms. A guided tour of the Aurora exascale supercomputer at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) gave educators a firsthand look at how advanced AI tools are driving innovation and shaping the future of science. They also helped attendees connect classroom learning to real world breakthroughs and inspired new ways to prepare students for tomorrow’s opportunities. The ALCF is a DOE Office of Science user facility.

The success of the AI STEM Education Summit shows the power of collaboration and innovation in preparing the next generation of STEM leaders. The summit served as a launchpad for ongoing partnerships and progress in AI and STEM education. Argonne remains committed to working with educators, researchers and industry leaders to prepare the next generation for an AI-powered future.