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Justin J. Shaifer

Linkedin Top Voice in Technology, Science TV Show Host & STEM Educator

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Biography

“Step aside Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Justin J. Shaifer is the emerging STEM personality we need to hear.” –Forbes

Justin “Mr. Fascinate” Shaifer is an award-winning TV Host and Producer who is at the forefront of transforming science and tech education. Justin is a visionary leader in media, science and technology. He has produced and starred in creative concepts with major networks and companies like ABC, PBS Digital Studios, Chevy Bolt, NVIDIA, and more. Read More >

As the founder of Fascinate Media, Justin is revolutionizing the way students learn by creating immersive educational experiences and content using 3D VFX, Virtual Production, and Generative AI. His goal is to become the ESPN of STEM, inspiring young people to embrace their inner nerd and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, regardless of their surroundings.

Driven by his own life experience growing up in a single-parent home on the South Side of Chicago, Justin is dedicated to giving back to the community. He leverages his social media influence to create impactful STEM education projects, including the STEM Success Summit, a global conference attended by thousands of diverse STEM professionals.

Justin's active speaking career, which exploded after a popular TEDx talk about Generation Z, has earned him keynote opportunities for corporate stakeholders, students, and educators around the world. His keynotes, ranging from "Innovative Tech and The Future of Work" and “How to Win the War on Information with Science” to "How to Lead Gen Z," are lauded for their thought-provoking insights and fresh perspectives on Media, STEM, and innovation.

To date, Justin's work has reached millions of students, educators, and corporate stakeholders, and has been featured in Forbes, NBC News, Yahoo Finance, AfroTech, and more. He has been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Technology, cementing his status as a leader who is reshaping the landscape of science and technology education with his innovative approach. Read Less ^

Speaker Videos

Who is Mr. Fascinate

Science Host Reel

Speaking Reel

Host Reel

TEDx: How to Speak “Generation Z”

Why STEM is COOL! (To Me)

See Fewer Videos

Speech Topics

The Importance of Diversity in STEM

In the world of STEM, Justin Shaifer sometimes feels like an anomaly: He’s one of the few African-American men who has worked in these areas. That’s why he’s on a mission to make sure there are many more people of color joining these fields, too. In this inspiring talk, Shaifer shares his journey—from growing up on the south side of Chicago with little access to STEM programs to his achievements today. As the founder of the STEM Success Summit—a large-scale recruiting conference for diverse college students and young professionals—Shaifer provides insights on what it takes to overcome adversity and best practices for diverse groups to stay ahead of the curve. Read More >

Shaifer customizes his content for specific audiences, including: Read Less ^

K-12 Students: Learn about real-life experiences of modern STEM professionals and the prospects of STEM scholarship opportunities and careers.
Educators: Based on Shaifer's professional experience in multiple STEM disciplines and STEM youth development programs, this tech-savvy workshop walks educators through unique lesson plans to engage students in STEM.

Why STEM Is Dope

Boring lectures and uninspiring teachers often ruin students’ perceptions of STEM. Justin “Mr. Fascinate” Shaifer changes all that for students. In this keynote, Shaifer shares his own story of overcoming adversity—growing up on the south side of Chicago, where STEM was considered anything but cool—to the amazing heights he’s been able to reach in his career. Students will learn about real-life experiences of modern STEM professionals and the prospects of STEM scholarship opportunities and careers. It’s a refreshing perspective on STEM from an unconventional voice, who entertains, educates and inspires.

STEM Shark Tank

STEM Shark Tank is an interactive workshop where educators are grouped together to brainstorm and pitch innovative STEM solutions for pressing global issues. From battling pollution to addressing space debris, this collaborative workshop melds science, technology, and entrepreneurship, empowering teachers to guide students in thinking creatively and solving real-world challenges.

AI Empowerment: Overcoming Hesitation, Making Your Job Easier & Ushering Students Into the AI Age

Dive into the nuanced world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with award-winning STEM educator, producer and TV host Justin Shaifer. In this timely keynote, Shaifer demystifies the crucial role AI plays in today's educational landscape and beyond. This eye-opening journey illuminates the importance of AI literacy among educators, describing its role in shaping today's learning environments. Shaifer will introduce practical, easy-to-use AI tools, specifically designed to revolutionize teaching practices, help teachers and boost student engagement. Read More >

Shaifer will also demonstrate how to arm students with resilient, future-proof skills, essential for navigating an increasingly AI-oriented workforce. As a powerful call to action, this keynote is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to overcome their hesitation and harness the potential of AI, paving the way for personalized learning experiences and creating unique opportunities for their students.

Shaifer customizes his content for specific audiences, including:

Higher Education:

AI Literacy in Higher Education
AI 101 for Academics
Best AI Tools Used in College
Augmenting Higher Education Curriculum With AI
AI Skills Students Will Need for Today's Jobs
How to Embrace AI in Academia

K-12 Education: Read Less ^

AI Literacy in Modern Classrooms
Why Do Educators Need AI Today?
Best Classroom-friendly AI Tools
Successful Teaching Strategies for AI
Long-term Thinking: Building Future-Proof Skills for Students in the AI Age

The War on Information: How to Outsmart Your Opponents With Science Communication

With today's barrage of fake news, deep fakes and AI-generated Popes, how can we separate fact from fiction? This talk by award-winning Science TV Producer and Host Justin "Mr. Fascinate" Shaifer provides scientists with modern cutting-edge tools that exist in our arsenal to combat misinformation, as well as thought-provoking stories of successes and failures of science communicators throughout the years.

The Future of Technology

With his unique experience working in television and with industry leaders and leading-edge innovators, Justin Shaifer has been on the frontlines of the future—learning about pioneering technologies, like 3D printing, artificial intelligence, genomics, commercial space flight and some of the greatest disruptive innovations happening in Web 3.0 today, like NFTs, DAOs, Smart-Contracts and much more! In this captivating, forward-thinking talk, “Mr. Fascinate” helps prepare corporate, healthcare and non-profit stakeholders on the newest technological breakthroughs and how they can make the most of them, as well as who they need to hire and train to prepare for the future for their companies. He also shares why the metaverse and other decentralized technologies are primed for unprecedented inclusivity and how we can leverage these platforms to create the most equitable technology to date.

How to Lead Generation Z

In his popular TEDx talk, “How to Speak Generation Z,” Justin “Mr. Fascinate” Shaifer taught audiences how to effectively engage a generation who grew up with iPads and smartphones in their hands. His insights were based on his work as the co-founder of the STEM Success Summit, a large-scale recruiting conference for diverse students and young professionals. Now, Shaifer has taken his experiences a step further by creating a workshop for corporate stakeholders to learn how to hire, recruit, market and retain Gen Z workers—one of the most diverse generations in our history. In this talk, Shaifer shares some of these best practices, so that managers and business owners can understand how to lead the next generation as they enter the workforce.

Testimonials

"It was an amazing day and I just don't think Justin's contribution/impact could have been better. His presentation was a home run (my view and that of others) and had real value for our participants and students."

- Oregon Science Teachers Association

"I wanted to extend a sincere thank you for all of your work helping us secure Justin Shaifer, especially on such short notice. Justin was absolutely fantastic with our students and, as evidenced by the hundreds of selfies with students and all of the positive reviews in the building, he clearly resonated with our students and larger community. We hope to have the opportunity to work with Justin again! We appreciate your assistance and look forward to working with you again in the future!"

- Watertown High School

"We LOVED Justin! His keynote address was EXACTLY what we had asked for. Judging from facial expressions and reactions of the audience, and the number of questions asked during the Q&A, it was very clear that the students truly enjoyed the presentation and were sincerely interested in applying Justin’s tips of countering misinformation in their own spheres of influence. The faculty members present were also impressed, including one scientist who said that Justin had grabbed his attention over a normally difficult-to-ignore college basketball playoff game that was being televised on nearby monitors during the talk! High praise indeed. Afterwards, Justin spent a very full hour talking with many students who had lined up to chat with him, as well as a few faculty members from Education or the STEM audience. He was affable and very easy to work with from the very beginning of stepping foot on our campus till the end, and I’d love to see come back again in future. APB was also very easy to work with from the beginning."

- Sacred Heart University

"Justin is such a dynamic and energetic speaker. I truly enjoyed his talk at the Smithsonian Earth Optimism Summit, he opened my mind to the importance of YouTube and Memes to Generation Z students. Book him for your next event, he will not disappoint!"

- CEO ReAgency Science Marketing, Host SciQ

"The event was a success and Justin was the perfect person to launch this year’s GSC. His personality, his work, and his engagement really embodied the spirit of the green schools movement. Audience feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks again for all your assistance and support 😊"

- USGBC

"I want to express my gratitude to Justin for the amazing job he did today. The students and my colleagues enjoyed the discussions immensely. Justin masterfully managed the panelists, attended to audience questions and comments and still stayed within the theme of the discussion. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And APB, I appreciate your patience given the fluidity and uncertainty of these times. I look forward to working with you again in the future."

- Albion College

"...You helped us kick off a project that will no doubt bring value and inspiration to not only A&T but also the broader public...You came through and really blessed it! Thank you for your contribution. We appreciate your thoughtfulness, professionalism, and dedication to the vision. We are still inspired and on a high from everything left in the room which we are looking forward to sharing with the world."

- North Carolina A/T State University

"Justin is such an amazing speaker and his message really resonated with students. We really enjoyed his talk on "STEM is Cool". I highly recommend him as a keynote for any event!"

- Program Manager - FIRST Robotics

“It was really a great success and he was super easy to work with. It wasn’t an easy crowd for a Friday afternoon and high school students but he held their attention. We heard great reviews from the faculty and how relatable Justin was to the students. The faculty were so impressed with how quiet they were — a true indication of how he kept them engaged. I think it was a homerun!”

- Purdue University

"All is well. Justin was great. Justin was the consummate professional. His presentation was tailored as we sought and relevant to all. Students, parents, teachers, administration all loved it."

- Bulb

"Justin was wonderful. I was there for the whole thing. He had teachers and kids laughing and nodding their heads in agreement. It was the youthful, truthful jolt of energy we needed! You should also know that several administrators told me they had already booked Justin based upon videos we circulated about Mr. Fascinate or they were planning to book him after they saw him in action. Justin is humble, gracious and was happy to interact with our participants."

- NYC Department of Education

"We had an outstanding summit and Justin was awesome. His presentation connected with the Innovators and parents. He was received very well and engaged the audience."

- Triangle Uplift Foundation

"Your keynote was absolutely perfect – it was funny, personal, motivating and educational. You hit all the right points and got the room absolutely buzzing. And you took a tough ask – a very scripted panel – and moved it right along. It was exactly right, and we are very grateful for your skill. What’s more, I want to thank you for your hard work and preparation leading up to the panel. You didn’t miss a deadline, and you took feedback into stride in a way that informed the overall presentation in the best way."

- WGBH

"He has a way of intellectualizing pop culture topics and STEM that our audience wouldn't typically be interested in or privy to."

- Executive Producer, WVON 1690 Chicago

"Justin Shaifer is a gifted public speaker. He has an uncanny ability to analyze, understand, and relate to his audience. In summary of his public speaking talent, I will simply say that I believe Mr. Shaifer, the future Dr. Shaifer, is a Game Changer!"

- Co-Founder - NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers)

"Justin was a big hit. His remarks really resonated with the audience and I’m sure he gained many new fans. He was extremely cooperative and easy to work with."

- Corporation for Public Broadcasting