Praxis Week 2026

Each June, upper-school students have an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of STEM during Praxis Week, a program designed and coordinated by Martha Keeley (Science) to connect classroom learning with its real-world applications. Throughout the week, students explored a wide range of STEM fields through hands-on experiences, conversations with industry professionals, and visits to leading organizations across the St. Louis region.

Industry Exploration

Praxis Week 2026 began on campus with a deep dive into pharmaceutical and vaccine research, development, and production. Students participated in a microbiology lab experience and heard from professionals working in the pharmaceutical industry, gaining firsthand insight into the science behind modern medicine.

The remainder of the week took students across the region to explore STEM careers in a variety of settings. At Bayer Crop Science, students learned how biotechnology, data science, and engineering are driving innovation in modern agriculture. They also visited Zavation, where they explored the intersection of neuroscience, biomedical engineering, manufacturing, and technical sales within the medical device industry.

Partnerships with local universities added academic depth to the experience. At Washington University's McKelvey School of Engineering, students explored electrical and systems engineering as well as chemical, energy, and environmental engineering through discussions and laboratory demonstrations. At Saint Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology, they examined the principles of aerospace engineering through lab tours and design challenges.

Students also investigated the role of STEM in business, economics, entrepreneurship, and the built environment. A visit to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis highlighted how data analytics informs economic decision-making, while a tour of the Catalyst: Powered by WashU construction site offered a behind-the-scenes look at architecture, structural engineering, and large-scale construction management. At Cortex, students participated in a Shark Tank-style entrepreneurship challenge focused on healthcare innovation.

JBS Connections

One of the defining features of Praxis Week is its connection to the broader Burroughs community. Throughout the week, students learned from alumni and parents working across a wide range of STEM fields, gaining valuable perspective on educational pathways and career opportunities.

The week began with virtual conversations featuring JBS alumni in the early stages of their STEM careers. Adam Banga, Mike Jin '09, Emiko Pope, Reese Roberts, Ros Shinkle '14, and Cori Spetnagel '22 shared insights from their work in fields including artificial intelligence, robotics, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, and project management.

Several site visits also featured members of the Burroughs community. At Zavation, neurosurgeon Victor Williams '89 discussed his career path and the role of biomedical engineering in advancing patient care. At Cortex, JBS parent Matthew MacEwan, PhD (Ava '28, Felicity '30), co-founder and chief science officer of Acera Surgical, led students through a healthcare entrepreneurship challenge that encouraged them to develop and pitch innovative scientific solutions to real-world problems.