Broadcom engineers volunteer to help science fair youth solve community problems with coding
Volunteer Highlights
Broadcom engineers team up with the Broadcom Foundation to promote digital and AI literacy as volunteers at science fairs. With confident use of the full range of digital technologies, including basic knowledge of coding and AI, students participating in science fairs have important tools to create projects that solve problems in their communities.
Broadcom Inc. employees play important roles as judges, mentors, and supporters at local science fairs. Their involvement helps connect project-based STEM learning with the practical skills young people need as they engage in scientific and engineering processes by asking questions, conducting research, testing hypotheses, making presentations, and listening to feedback. Their contributions help advance STEM education, workforce readiness, and future opportunities in emerging industries built on technologies of the future that are present in many communities today.
The Colorado Science and Engineering Fair illustrates how Broadcom volunteers help support science fairs. For more than 70 years, Colorado State Science Fair, Inc., has provided a statewide platform for young people to develop and showcase their research in science, technology, engineering and manufacturing, and mathematics. The fair relies on volunteers at every level, from its board of directors to judges and mentors, giving Broadcom Inc. employees in Fort Collins many opportunities to support young scientists, engineers, and innovators. For Jon Oiler, R&D Integration Engineer, Wireless Semiconductor Division, this connection is one reason Broadcom Inc. colleagues should consider volunteering. “The science projects are as amazing as the kids who are presenting,” Oiler said, “and our broad background in semiconductor technology is the perfect experience for judging projects."
Additionally, Broadcom Inc. volunteers from the Fort Collins office have seen that impact firsthand. Tim Taylor, Technical Writer, Wireless Semiconductor Division, became a volunteer after learning about Broadcom Foundation’s support of STEM. He views science fair judging as a way to give back to the community while encouraging the next generation of STEM leaders. “Interacting with the next generation of brilliant and successful young people and providing feedback and encouragement on their projects and passions is something that I see bringing me back for years to come.”
York The Red Lion, a retired Fort Collins software engineer, began volunteering at science fairs years ago as a Grand Awards judge at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). More recently, he has served as a local category judge and a judge and presenter for the Broadcom Coding with Commitment® award. “The positive can-do attitude of young people about solving problems and learning keeps me coming back,” he said. “Most of the best projects come from young people who have a passion for a particular problem or subject area.”
John D., 2026 Broadcom Coding with Commitment® winner Colorado Fair
That passion is also at the heart of Broadcom Foundation’s Broadcom Coding with Commitment® award, which recognizes middle school students who combine STEM learning with coding to solve a community problem they care about that aligns with one or more of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This award gives Broadcom Inc. volunteers another meaningful way to encourage young people who use coding and AI to address real-world problems. Last year at the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, 8th grader John D. received the award for his project “Reducing Human Pesticide Exposure Through Technology."
Broadcom Inc. employee David Roecker, Equipment Maintenance Training and Retention Advisor, said the judging interview gives young people practice explaining their work while providing Broadcom Inc. employees with a meaningful way to support their community. “The interview process helps young people prepare for real-world situations and gives them an opportunity to show their passion in their respective areas of study,” Roecker said.
Duluth Georgia Broadcom Inc. Team: Brian Wheeler, Carol Coleman, Vinay Shaw, Justin McCollum, Stephen Tallau
Similar connections between Broadcom Inc. employees and local science fairs are growing in Georgia at the Broadcom Foundation-sponsored Gwinnett Regional Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair. In 2026, the fair served 1,710 young people and provided Gwinnett County Public Schools students from Pre-K through 12th grade with an opportunity to develop skills in advanced scientific research, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. Five Broadcom Inc. employees volunteered at the 2026 Gwinnett fair and are now recruiting additional employee volunteers at Broadcom Inc.’s offices in Duluth, Georgia. Their growing involvement shows how local science fairs create meaningful opportunities for Broadcom Inc. engineers and staff to support young people in the communities where they live and work.
Sage M., 2026 Broadcom Coding with Commitment® winner at Gwinnett Fair
Georgia student Sage M’s Broadcom Coding with Commitment® project demonstrated the type of community-focused problem-solving Broadcom Inc. volunteers can encourage at local science fairs. Sage received the Broadcom Coding with Commitment® award at the 2026 Gwinnett science fair for his project, Robotics and Intelligent Machines, designed to identify which items in the trash can be recycled and which cannot through the use of coding, AI tools, and troubleshooting to support sustainability.
With questions, feedback, judging interviews, and encouragement from Broadcom Foundation and Broadcom Inc. volunteers, young people can see themselves as creative problem-solvers who are ready to think critically, communicate clearly, collaborate with others, and build skills for a tech-driven society. They might also see themselves as Broadcom engineers!
Broadcom Inc. employees who wish to volunteer at Broadcom Foundation-sponsored events can look for local science fair opportunities at Science Buddies Science Fair Directory. Contact local fair organizers to ask about judging, mentoring, and volunteer opportunities during the 2027 science fair season. Broadcom Foundation will be sponsoring the 2027 ISEF Outreach Day in Los Angeles California in May 2026.
ABOUT:
Broadcom Inc. is a technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductors and infrastructure software for global organizations’ complex, mission-critical needs. Broadcom combines long-term R&D investment with superb execution to deliver the best technology, at scale. Broadcom is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, CA.
Broadcom Foundation advocates basic coding and AI literacy as 21st Century+ skills to solve community problems that students care about that align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Broadcom Foundation promotes digital literacy as the confident use of the full range of digital technologies, including basic knowledge of coding and AI, and provides a catalyst for students to learn basic coding and AI as essential problem-solving tools in STEM.
