Stem4Families

An independent nonprofit initiative

Big questions.
Small circles.
Real discovery.

A community where children and families explore science and math alongside the people who love to teach them.

Discover the idea

Scientists. Educators. Families. Together.

Children and an instructor working with notebooks around a table during an earlier program.
Learning starts around a table.From the earlier program
ScienceMathematicsTechnologyEngineering

01 / The idea

Curiosity grows
in good company.

Every child has questions. Imagine a place to explore them with a scientist, a few new friends, and time to think.

Stem4Families brings families and educators together around that idea. Our approach combines the conversation of a math circle with the experimentation of a science workshop.

We want young people to feel comfortable asking “why,” trying something unfamiliar, and explaining what they discover.

02 / Ways to explore

A small circle.
A world of possibilities.

We’re developing three ways to learn and connect. Program dates and enrollment details will follow as each offering takes shape.

Think together

Science &
Math Circles

Small groups, interesting problems, and room for every question. Explore patterns, discuss ideas, and work through challenges with guidance from scientists and educators.

A question to explore
How many ways can we solve the same problem?

Inside a circle

A session might begin with a puzzle, a pattern, or an observation. Students compare approaches and explain their reasoning while an instructor helps them take the next step.

Planned emphasis: discussion, conceptual understanding, and learning from one another.

Make a discovery

Guided Science
Projects

Follow a question from the first “what if” to an investigation. Make observations, look for evidence, and share the result in a notebook, model, or presentation.

A question to explore
What would make an experiment a fair test?

Inside a project

Students could investigate an environmental question, build a model, or examine a dataset. A scientist helps them choose a manageable question and consider what their evidence can tell them.

Planned emphasis: research notebooks, careful observation, and a final presentation or project.

Bring the family

Family Science
Events

Discover something new together through talks, demonstrations, and conversations with scientists. A place for children and grown-ups to ask their big questions.

A question to explore
What have you always wanted to ask a scientist?

Inside an event

A scientist introduces an idea from their field, makes it tangible through examples, and opens the conversation to the audience. Questions from children and adults are part of the experience.

Planned emphasis: accessible explanations, shared curiosity, and conversation.

03 / Learning in action

Real questions.
Shared experiences.

Photographs from the earlier program: small-group lessons, family lectures, and an ambitious student project. These shared experiences inform our next chapter.

An educator shows a small molecular model to children gathered around her.
Science, up close

Ideas you can see and discuss.

A model and a conversation can make an unfamiliar scientific idea easier to explore.

Children and adults attending a public science lecture in a tiered classroom.
A room full of curiosity

Something to discover at every age.

Earlier public lectures brought children and adults together around topics from space to the living world.

Young people and adults preparing a large white balloon outdoors for the 2019 engineering project.
Earlier program · Summer 2019

A project beyond the classroom

How high can
an idea go?

In 2019, a group of middle and high school students worked on a high-altitude balloon project.

Over about a month, students worked with a mentor to prepare a balloon launch. The project carried a camera into the stratosphere and captured views of Southern California.

It’s the kind of experience that inspires our approach: a shared question, a tangible challenge, and something worth investigating together.

04 / How learning happens

Start with “why.”
See where it takes you.

  1. Ask.

    Notice something interesting. Turn that curiosity into a question.

  2. Explore.

    Try an idea, make a model, or plan an investigation.

  3. Think.

    Look at the evidence. Compare ideas. Change your mind.

  4. Share.

    Explain what you found and what you want to try next.

05 / Our story

A scientist’s idea.
A family’s sense
of belonging.

Dr. Eugenia (Jenia) KhoroshevaFounder · Scientist · Educator · Parent

Stem4Families grows from a simple belief: science can bring a community together.

Founded by biochemist and educator Dr. Eugenia Khorosheva, the initiative draws on her experience building learning communities where scientists share their knowledge and families form lasting connections.

Our next chapter is independent and community focused. We’re shaping a nonprofit initiative that helps young people experience scientific thinking and gives scientists a meaningful way to teach.

Our ambition: a place where curiosity is welcome, ideas are taken seriously, and learning is something we do together.

06 / For families

A few good
questions.

Here’s what we can share as the next chapter takes shape.

What is a science or math circle?

A small group that explores ideas together with an instructor. Students ask questions, try different approaches, and explain their thinking. The aim is deeper understanding through conversation and investigation.

Is this homework help or tutoring?

The planned programs focus on scientific inquiry, problem solving, and shared projects. Homework support and test preparation are not the focus of this initiative.

What ages will the programs serve?

The broader vision includes school-age children and families. Each new offering will have its own age or grade range, shared with the program details before enrollment opens.

When and where can we join?

Dates, venues, fees, and registration arrangements are still being developed. We’ll publish confirmed details here. The photos on this page show earlier activities.

Will financial assistance be available?

Making science learning more accessible is part of our mission. Any financial assistance will depend on confirmed funding and will be described alongside the relevant program.

07 / The next chapter

Let’s make room
for discovery.

We’re bringing the next chapter of Stem4Families to life, with families, educators, and community supporters at its heart.

  • FamiliesBring your questions and help shape a learning community.
  • Scientists & educatorsShare your subject and your way of thinking.
  • Community supportersHelp make meaningful science learning more accessible.

Programs in development

New classes, events, and ways to participate will be announced here as plans are confirmed.

Our priorities are thoughtful teaching, a welcoming community, and broader access to science learning.

Explore the planned programs
Meet the founder