While teaching in Chicago Public Schools, we noticed that many of our students already entered the classroom with preconceived ideas about science and maths. Many students thought it was just about rote memorisation for a test or that you already had to be a ‘science person’ in order to be successful. It was hard to get students to engage. We wanted to find a way to push the boundaries of STEM to let students experience how maths and science are rooted in creativity. We started The Laboratory Chicago as a way to experiment with STEM lessons and help educators connect STEM to all types of learners.