RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY

PDT Staff Writer

By the year 2014, there are expected to be more than 2 million jobs created in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related fields. The Ohio Third Frontier program wants to help college students prepare themselves for these jobs, by assisting Ohio businesses to offer an internship program.

According to its website, Ohio Third Frontier was created in 2002 to create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs. The purpose of the program is to “create an innovation ecosystem that supports the efficient and seamless transition of great ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.”

Through the internship program, students can find STEM internship opportunities in the state of Ohio, and Ohio Third Frontier will assist the employer by reimbursing them 50 percent of the intern’s wages up to $3,000 each year. The program is also available to students from Ohio who are studying out-of-state but maintain an Ohio residence.

So far Ohio Third Frontier has placed more than 4,000 Ohio students with internships with more than 800 high-tech employers.

“It basically focuses and physical sciences, biological sciences, agricultural sciences, engineering, computing, and math. What they want to do is try to keep kids in Ohio with some of these degrees to make us more competitive. We don’t want to lose our best and our brightest to other states,” said Dan Mault, internship project manager for southeast Ohio.

Mault said they are looking for local STEM-related businesses who would be willing to participate. He hopes there will be opportunities at the Piketon nuclear plant.

Students or businesses wanting more information about the Ohio Third Frontier STEM internship program can visit them online at thirdfrontierintern.ohio.gov, or call Mault at the Scioto County Community Action Organization, at 740-351-1192.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.