This dissertation investigates the intersection of economics of innovation and human capital development to understand how to empower individuals and marginalized communities to be directed to innovation and STEM disciplines. The research focuses on three main chapters: Chapter 1 examines the effectiveness of an education program in teaching and…

Innovation is the central driver of economic growth. Many growth models underscore the importance of actively directing more individuals to innovation (Romer, 1990; Jones, 2022). This goal can be achieved by providing early exposure to innovation to children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds (Bell et al., 2019; Akcigit et al., 2020;…