Detroit-based Ecotek Lab puts future of science in kids' hands

About two decades ago, Keith Young set out to create a workforce development cycle in Detroit that starts future employees pretty young — in the second grade. 

The research and innovation organization Young created, called Ecotek Lab, started in 2005 and its motto — "science at work" — speaks for itself. The program has since helped children develop scientific and critical thinking skills that have prepared them for leadership positions and to create their own companies. Ecotek Lab itself has launched 15 startup companies with some of its students taking on the leadership roles, one being a ninth grader.

Young sees himself as a community advocate with venture capital as his main strategy because he has not only invested his own dollars into Black and brown students in metro Detroit and brought in investment partners, but he is also preparing students for success in the long run. 

“The thing that I’m probably most proud of is that I've been able to develop a component of our community that is a pillar — it’s not just a program,” Young said. “It really is a pillar for young folks that come in and go out.”

“I created an environment where we feel comfortable with our contributions,” he said. To elaborate, the lab allows students to present their authentic selves and their innovations without needing validation. 

The lab, which is located at TechTown Detroit, has expanded beyond its Detroit city limits, placing science labs in cities like Inkster, Orlando and Baltimore. A community group in Houston wants a lab. Young wants to see support for building more of these labs in Detroit to continue expanding the workforce in different parts of the city. 

“Detroit is not without talent — it’s without developed talent,” Young said. “And you do need to do that in a place where mistakes are allowed. Developing talent is a little different than just educating folks.” 

Reaching 4,000 kids annually

There are typically about eight to 10 students working in the lab at once and they all work on different projects. But the organization annually reaches over 4,000 kids both virtually and in-person in just Michigan.

Each lab features an incubator (for growing cells), a chemical fume hood and a data storing microscope, along with other traditional lab components, such as beakers. And at home, participating students have their own 3D printers. 

“What we have in here is basically the same stuff that they have in these other labs,” Young said. “It’s no different. They have a chemical fume hood, clean air hood, an emergency wash, microscopes and general supplies. But it’s what you do with it that is going to make the difference.” 

Looking back, Young started the organization for his children, who are still involved in the operations today. He was inspired to launch it after his previous work led him to Hong Kong, where he realized that Detroiters also needed the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills that were being used there. 

Over the years, Young has seen a huge return on investment. In addition to the startup companies and helping students to learn scientific skills, he also has seen each participating student earn an average of $150,000 in college scholarships. Many students also receive research grants.

Young has received many accolades, such as recently winning TechTown Detroit’s Toast of the Town 2022 Salute Award. He has also formed partnerships with the global organization called the Society of Plastic Engineers, the Michigan State University Forestry program, Michigan Tech University and the University of Michigan.

Bringing the lab to Inkster school’s students

The American International Academy District is a charter school system based in Inkster. When Inkster’s public school system shut down in 2013, the academy moved its 70 students from Dearborn to Inkster in 2014. Today, the charter school district has three locations with about 620 students from preschool to 12th grade. 

Thomas White, superintendent and CEO of the American International Academy District, and Jeff Wilder, principal of the sixth- through 12th-grade campus on Rosewood Street, both grew up in Inkster and wanted to bring the school there to give back to the community.

The middle and high school students, in particular, are exposed to an innovative and technology curriculum by having what would typically be after-school programming taking place during the day. Students can dive into their interests like robotics, music, esports, dance, art, performance, screenprinting and even hair school. 

This is where Ecotek Lab comes in. Young built a lab in the school in 2021. 

“The Ecotek class and robotics and all of those things have also proven to be instrumental in bringing kids back to school,” Wilder said. “Because those classes are consistently full attendance.”

Wilder said students like the classes that are more hands-on as they try to reengage them following the pandemic. 

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“We have seen that our students that are in our STEAM, robotics and Ecotek are higher performing students,” White said. “We don't have the data to support to say if those classes are bringing the capacity up or our higher students just want to be in those classes.”

However, they do know that the exposure to these courses has made a difference both culturally and academically. 

The students were full of inspiration and determination as they worked on their projects March 8. Some of their projects include designing car lights, testing thermal energy turbines, 3D printing, building drones, creating steering wheel sensors and constructing buoys that collect plastic in the ocean.

Ninth grader Adan Garcia, 14, spent his time in class creating a 3D printed table tennis set. He used polylactic acid (PLA) filament, which is a biodegradable 3D printing material. He has also made frisbees, baseballs and footballs.

“I feel like this is a possible future that I could eventually grow up and end up doing,” Garcia said. 

Adonis Williams, 13, and Austin Taylor, 12, have been working together since late December to build two drones. They are testing to see how much weight the drones can handle, and then once the correct weight is reached, they will attach a device to the drone that will test air quality. So far, one of their drones can hold 20 grams. 

Young follows a model of education to economics, which helps students learn how they can turn their knowledge into jobs and money. By putting this lab in Inkster, he hopes it will help the city overall.

“My goal is to have AIA — which is the only complete educational service provider in Inkster from elementary through high school — to serve as a lighthouse for families in that community to go back, get the education and rebuild their community,” Young said.