RALEIGH - It's time for the Museum of Natural Science's SciTech Expo, but things are a little different this year. The expo will bring in researchers from industries powered by science, engineering, technology, and mathematics or STEM careers. Kari Wouk, senior manager of educational collaboration at the museum, says the hope is to spark an interest in these needed careers.

"In North Carolina, we are a hub for these careers and a lot of these industries don't have enough skilled workers or employees," Wouk says. "They're bringing them in from other places because in North Carolina, we're not meeting the need."

And Wouk says the expo is trying to start that passion in science in the first place.

"The younger kids may not be going up and saying 'I'm going to go into microbiology,' but some of the older kids may think that," Wouk says. "But we just want them to be engaged in science and realize that this is really neat."

There will also be unique opportunities, like access to the Genomics and Microbiology Research Lab which is normally off-limits to visitors.

"One of the scientists that's working in there will take visitors through the doors and you'll get to look at the equipment and check out the experiments and see all the things they're working on," she says. "It's not an opportunity that's usually available to people."

The Triangle SciTech Expo is April 11, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in both of the museum's buildings. For more information, go to naturalsciences.org.