We Make STEM Simple.
Our story
Nafees Innovations was founded with one clear mission: make science real, exciting, and accessible for everyone. Built by Nafees Norris, a bioprocessing professional and educator, the organization was created to bridge the gap between what students learn in school and the hands-on skills used in real labs and biotech careers.
What started as a vision to make complex STEM concepts simple has grown into a dynamic learning experience for toddlers, students, teens, and adults through workshops, school partnerships, private programs, and STEM birthday labs. At Nafees Innovations, we believe confidence is built by doing, not just watching, so every experience is designed to be interactive, high-energy, and meaningful. Our story is about opening doors, building future innovators, and proving that science can be both professional and fun for every community we serve.
“Your Character Will Take You Places Your Talent Cannot”
-Nafees Norris
It’s one thing to teach the skill set—but at Nafees Innovations, we’re building leaders, not just learners. Our bioprocessing program prepares youth to not only step into the field with real industry-level confidence, but to lead in STEM
What kind of Science Experience do we Provide?
At Nafees Innovations, we provide more than fun STEM activities. We deliver real, hands-on learning experiences that expose students to both manufacturing and research & development. Our students do not just follow instructions. They learn how to think critically, solve problems, test ideas, and make informed decisions they can apply to future projects, school pathways, and career opportunities. Every workshop is intentionally designed to build confidence and workforce readiness through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with no part of STEM left out.
For our adult participants, our workshops are not simple “make-and-take” events. They are Make, TEST, and Take experiences. Adults create products such as disinfectants, laundry detergent, bath bombs, candles, and more using real scientific principles, then TEST performance and functionality before taking products home. This adds value, credibility, and real-world application to every session, because participants leave not only with a product, but with proof that it works and an understanding of the science behind it.
We believe exposure should start early. If athletes, Olympians, and entertainers can begin developing their skills at a young age, then young learners should also be able to start building scientific skills early. STEM confidence, innovation, and leadership do not begin in adulthood. They begin with opportunity. Nafees Innovations creates that opportunity by making science practical, exciting, and accessible from the very beginning.
Meet the Founder
Nafees Norris is a biopharmaceutical process engineer and bioprocessing professional with real industry experience as a cell culture scientist in biopharma. He is the first African-American to earn a Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutical Process Engineering (to his knowledge), and he founded Nafees Innovations to make high-level science accessible, exciting, and real for the next generation. Through bioprocessing-based labs, Nafees doesn’t just teach technical skills—he develops future leaders who are prepared to walk into STEM spaces ready to contribute, communicate, and lead.
“Nafees Innovations gave my child one of the best STEM experiences we’ve ever had. The workshop was fun, hands-on, and incredibly well organized, and the team made every student feel confident and included. We left inspired, excited, and already looking forward to the next session.”
—Current Nafees Innovations Member