Meet Jay Flores, a Global STEM Ambassador impacting millions of students each month. He's a Make48 ambassador and one of the faces seen in the Make48-DeBruce Foundation Innovation Experience for the classroom.
As the founder of Invent The Change and the host of "It's Not Magic, It's Science!," Jay has created one of the most innovative brands focused on equitable access to entertaining STEM experiences. He has also hosted Make48 and is a star on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior. His most recent 2024 Ninja run landed him in the semifinals! To top it off, Jay is a Mystery Guide on Discovery Education’s Mystery Science, the most widely used K-5 science resource in the United States.
This year has been a whirlwind of professional and personal achievements for Jay. Through entertaining and educational science experiments, Jay is inspiring students in classrooms and communities nationwide, and at home with his own son Gio.
Why does Jay do what he does? “I want to change the world by inspiring young minds to keep doing cool things with STEM!” And we love that passion!
What happened in 2024 to Jay? See the highlights from his STEM tour!
Appeared on "Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?" Hosted by Travis Kelce, Jay appeared on the episode alongside other celebrities like Chad Ochocinco, Nikki Glaser, Ron Funches, Natasha Leggero and Lilly Singh.
“I had the incredible opportunity to team up with some amazing celebrities on Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? hosted by none other than Travis Kelce! It was a fun and challenging experience, and I’m thrilled to have brought my STEM skills to a new stage. Huge thanks to the others for their support and laughter throughout the episode!”
Check it out yourself and stream the first episode on Prime Video! Jay continues showing the world how powerful STEM can be—no matter the platform.
Celebrated 4 years of Invent The Change! Jay reached a major key milestone, reaching 15+ million students through Mystery Science videos and inspiring 5,000+ K-12 students with "It's Not Magic, It's Science!" live events and kits. “January 2024 marked a truly special milestone: four years since I founded Invent The Change! These years have been an incredible journey of innovation, inspiration, and impact.”
Key Partnerships Celebrating Diversity: “I partnered with incredible organizations, sponsors, and educators to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.” Jay has been able to share inclusivity STEM stories on platforms such as American Ninja Warrior, Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? and Make48.
Reached 1 million views on another science video! His mini-lesson "Can any animal outrun a cheetah?" hit a milestone on YouTube. “In a world where curiosity drives innovation, videos like this inspire young learners to ask big questions and see the world differently. It's not just about facts or fast animals—it’s about igniting wonder, fostering a love for learning, and showing how fun science can be!” It was Jay’s 4th science video to reach the 1M+ milestone on YouTube.
Received an Early Career Achievement Award: Jay was recognized by the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering! He was honored by the tribute. “Through my journey—from technical sales at Rockwell Automation to becoming the company’s first Global STEM Ambassador—my mission has always been to make STEM accessible, fun, and exciting. Receiving this award is a reminder of how far I’ve come, but also of the countless young minds I hope to inspire to invent the change they want to see in the world.”
His Mystery Science mini-lessons reached over 15 million views on YouTube! These fun, bite-sized STEM lessons are designed to spark curiosity, ignite learning, and make science accessible for ALL students. “Whether you’re a teacher, mentor, or STEM advocate, I’d love everyone to use these videos —especially for reaching underrepresented and bilingual communities. Together, we can inspire the next generation of innovators!”
Served as the Master of Ceremony at the SHPE National Convention: “It was an absolute honor to serve as the MC at the closing ceremonies celebrating SHPE’s (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) 50th anniversary! This event will celebrate SHPE’s 50 years of impact and set the tone for the next 50! I can’t wait to be back to celebrate year 100 when I’m 85.”
It’s only January, but Jay’s 2025 is off to a great start. He’s hit the ground this spring with goals to reach new heights.
Performing "It's Not Magic, It's Science!" at SXSW EDU 2025 in Austin, Texas. On March 4th, Jay will bring magic, music and STEM education to entertain learners of all ages! “I’m so happy to announce that I’ll be in Austin for an "It's Not Magic, It's Science!" This one-of-a-kind performance at SXSW EDU 2025 will blend the excitement of magic with the power of STEM education. Each "trick" is an engaging science experiment crafted to 1) showcase the magic of STEM, 2) promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, and 3) equip audiences with accessible, low-cost ways to spark curiosity.
Goals for 2025: This year Jay’s goal is to reach 10,000 students with "It’s Not Magic, It’s Science!” live performances. “This journey wouldn’t be possible without the support of our amazing community of collaborators, educators, and STEM enthusiasts. The next chapter is about expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and fostering innovation on an even larger scale.”
Jay Flores continues to be a leading voice in STEM education, inspiring and engaging students worldwide through his innovative and entertaining approach. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for him in the future.
You can check out the videos and other STEM resources on his website https://www.jayfloresinspires.com and social channels Instagram; YouTube Channel; and LinkedIn.
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