Almaty, November 27, 2020 – The U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan and Chevron reaffirmed their commitment to supporting STEAM education in Kazakhstan by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
As part of her visit to Kazakhstan, Assistant Secretary of State Marie Royce joined Marc Payne, the Deputy Managing Director of Chevron’s Eurasia Business Unit, in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that launches the “Makerspace Expands!” project at the American Space in Almaty.
Access to activities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) varies throughout Kazakhstan. In 2015, to address this imbalance, and to meet the huge interest in STEAM fields, the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan first established Makerspaces at American Spaces in Almaty and Nur-Sultan in partnership with Chevron. Equipped with 3D printers, software, robotics, electronics, science kits, and other tools, MakerSpaces are the place where students and young professionals create, invent, and learn together.
Today’s event reaffirms the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan’s and Chevron’s commitment to provide more Kazakhstanis with greater learning opportunities by expanding access to STEAM activities to all American Spaces in 10 cities across Kazakhstan and through the Chevron-sponsored Jaspace at the Atyrau Youth Palace.
Under this new private-public partnership Chevron and the U.S. Mission will work with local partners. As emphasized by Assistant Secretary Marie Royce, the goal is to empower young people with the knowledge and skill sets to be competitive in the global market during a time of rapid, technological development, providing them with access to high-tech resources, innovative programs, like-minded peers, viable business connections, and inspiring mentors.