The Scientist in Every Florida School initiative, a state-funded Moonshot program led by the Thompson Earth Systems Institute at the University of Florida, set out to pair a scientist with every public K-12 school in Florida.

While the program faced challenges, including a lack of continued funding from the state legislature, its mission endures—bringing scientists into classrooms to provide professional development for teachers, create meaningful resources, and foster long-term collaboration between educators and scientists.

To support this initiative, we created an inspiring video highlighting its transformative impact. Featuring classroom interactions and interviews with both educators and scientists, the video showcases how the program sparks curiosity and builds scientific literacy among students. Beyond education, the video became a vital advocacy tool, helping the program secure private support and expand its reach.

Despite funding obstacles, Scientist in Every Florida School continues to inspire a love of science across Florida, demonstrating the resilience and impact of its mission to connect students with real-world scientific exploration.