1 minute read
SRQ Magazine | October 2021 | Women Who Roar Special Feature
WOMAN WHO ROAR | FALL 2021
PING FAULHABER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, SUNCOAST SCIENCE CENTER
THE LEGACY LEFT BY MY LATE HUSBAND, DR. FRITZ FAULHABER, continues to inspire me and the difference I aim to make in our community. Fritz’s passion for making Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) education hands-on, accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages was unmatched. My desire to make an impact is continually fueled by the special moments when I get to see that legacy live on through the unique community we’ve built at the Faulhaber Fab Lab. There is nothing quite like watching a child’s eyes widen as they experience science in a way they never have before, or hearing a student volunteer express genuine gratitude for creating a safe space for them to flourish.
I believe we can create a brighter tomorrow locally and globally by supporting and empowering our youth to tackle anything that comes their way. Instilling the technical skills students need to be competitive in future pursuits is a crucial part of what we do at the lab, but even more significant are the real-world opportunities we provide for them to build life skills, confidence and grow as individuals. Equipped with these tools and with a supportive community behind them, there is no limit to the difference they can make in our world. I try to live by the belief that failure is nothing to be feared. It is through our failures that we discover ourselves and strive to do and be better the next time around. We weave this idea throughout the entire fabric of the Fab Lab, with the hope that our youth, in particular, will learn to take a moment to pause and be gentle with themselves in moments of stress. From that pause, growth blossoms.
4452 S Beneva Rd. Sarasota, FL 941-840-4394 | suncoastscience.org
