In August 2025, Johnson & Johnson hosted over 50 high school students at its annual WiSTEM²D (Winning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design) camp at its world headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Now in its fourth year, the WiSTEM²D camp is a global initiative that has a footprint across North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region to spark young people’s interest in STEM subjects. For the last two years, the camp has been held at Johnson & Johnson’s world headquarters.
Complete with three days of STEM learning during workshops, speaker sessions, a Johnson & Johnson Museum tour and team project showcase, the camp welcomed 9th–12th graders from the local community and Johnson & Johnson families, with 91% representing schools in Middlesex, Bergen, Mercer, Monmouth and other NJ counties.
Speakers included Johnson & Johnson leaders whose career paths have blended technical and business experience. Attendees participated in collaborative activities including a group project that was presented to Johnson & Johnson leaders on the final day of camp. Students exercised their problem-solving skills and explored how to take a product from idea to market.
The team project and activities particularly resonated with rising senior Ava Yiu. “My favorite part was seeing how every team took a different route to solve the challenge,” said Yiu. “I thought our project was in the bag, but then I walked around and saw all these cool, innovative ideas. It was inspiring to see how everyone used their imagination and creativity.”
Students were tasked with identifying a disease and creating a medical device to address the condition. Whether it was nocturnal asthma, anemia or brain cancer, each student group developed an outline of the device and suggested a product cost. Following presentations on the final day, students and Johnson & Johnson staff voted on the most cost effective, creative and innovative devices.
During her closing remarks, WiSTEM²D camp executive sponsor and Johnson & Johnson Vice President of Transformation, Andrea Andrews-Isreal, applauded the students’ ideas and how they align with point-in-time care and specialized and customized medicine that is less invasive and provides better and longer quality of life.
“Every single group had a connection to the product—whether it was personal or whether it was something they saw somebody go through or experience in their lives,” said Andrews-Isreal. “And honestly, that’s why we’re here. That’s why I’m here. That’s why you see so many people at Johnson & Johnson do what we do to make a meaningful impact in our community.”
In alignment with Our Credo, the camp is part of the broader WiSTEM²D global initiative that aims to inspire and empower youth, university students and professionals on their STEM2D journeys through access, engagement and skill development. Initially launched in 2015, the initiative seeks to empower the STEM2D workforce to create a healthier world, people and communities.
Discover more about WiSTEM²D and why it matters.