At Premier, we are proud to highlight the voices of innovators who are shaping the future of education. Today’s guest post comes from Jason Osborne, Chief Business Officer of syGlass Inc., whose remarkable career has spanned aerospace, biotech, paleontology, and K–12 education. Jason’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity—and the importance of sparking that same sense of discovery in every student.
If there’s one constant in my life, it’s curiosity. It’s the force that has guided me through every stage of my career, from cracking open rocks as a boy in Pennsylvania to working on projects in aerospace, engineering, biotech, and K-12 education. That same curiosity continues to drive me today in my mission to give students the chance to experience the thrill of discovery for themselves.
A Career Built on Asking “What If?”
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to explore many corners of STEM. In aerospace, I contributed to projects connected to the Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station, and rocket engine propulsion designed to break barriers. In engineering, I invented biomedical devices that advanced research in neuroscience and opened new doors in how we study the brain. I also had the privilege of working alongside some of the greatest minds in science, including several Nobel laureates, pushing the limits of what we know about life itself. And in education, I served as Chief Innovation Officer for a large school district, where I worked to transform classrooms into places of discovery rather than routine.
Now, as Chief Business Officer of syGlass Inc., I get to bring all those threads together. At syGlass, we’re creating a bridge between world-class science and the students who will shape our future. We deliver immersive VR experiences that put real scientific data into the hands of learners, guided by content created by some of the very best in STEM fields. It’s not just about reading from a textbook, it’s about stepping directly into the process of science.
Roots of Discovery in Rural Pennsylvania
But my story didn’t begin with big titles or global collaborations. It started in a small, rural town in Pennsylvania. As a boy, I was endlessly fascinated by the natural world around me. My favorite pastime wasn’t baseball or video games, it was heading out with a hammer and chisel to crack open rocks, eager to see what might be hidden inside.
Most of the time, there was nothing. But every so often, I’d find a fossil, an imprint of life from millions of years ago. In those moments, I felt like an explorer uncovering secrets that had been locked away for eternity. That thrill of discovery, that pulse of what else is out there?, never left me.
Into the Depths: Risk and Reward
As I grew older, my curiosity only grew bolder. I began scuba diving in rivers where most people wouldn’t dare go. The water was the color of root beer, thick with silt, and visibility was near zero. Sharks circled. Alligators lurked. Every dive was a test of courage. But I knew that in places few others were willing to explore, discoveries still waited.
And I was right. Those dives led to some of the most meaningful moments of my life. I helped uncover two new genera and four new species of prehistoric creatures. Two of them now carry my name: Ediscetus osbornei, an Oligocene whale, and Calverteca osbornei, a Miocene marine parasitic isopod. Holding those fossils, realizing I was the first human ever to lay eyes on them, it was an indescribable feeling.
Recognition Beyond the Riverbanks
These adventures didn’t stay hidden in the scientific community. They caught the attention of media outlets like National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Scientific American, and Nature. My fossil hunts were broadcast on prime-time television and written about in international publications. Suddenly, the curiosity that had once driven a boy to crack open rocks was inspiring people around the world to look at science differently.
In 2013, my work in public engagement and science literacy reached the highest stage. I was honored by President Barack Obama and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as a Champion of Change. Standing in the White House, receiving recognition for bringing science to the public, was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. But in truth, the award wasn’t about me, it was about what curiosity can do when it’s shared.
Passing the Torch of Curiosity
That’s why my mission today is simple: to make sure every student has the chance to feel that same thrill of discovery. The excitement of asking a question and daring to pursue the answer. The wonder of finding something new, whether it’s hidden in a rock, written in a dataset, or waiting in a microscope slide.
Through syGlass, students don’t just learn about science, they do science. They can analyze real-world datasets, explore them with tools used by professional researchers, and even contribute to new discoveries. They don’t have to wait until graduate school or a career in the lab. Their journey can start now, in their classroom.
Why It Matters
Science is more than memorizing facts or preparing for tests. It’s about nurturing curiosity, encouraging persistence, and rewarding courage. It’s about giving young minds the same spark I felt the first time I saw a fossil in the split face of a stone.
Every student deserves that moment, that rush of discovery. Because who knows? The next Ediscetus osbornei may be waiting for them. And when they find it, the world will be forever changed.
To read this post on FSAA's official Naver blog, along with other stories, updates, and insights, click here. Naver Blog is South Korea’s largest blogging platform, and it serves as the main site for Fulton Science Academy Atherton (FSAA).
Author Biography
Jason Osborne is the Chief Business Officer of syGlass, a scientific and educational virtual reality company transforming how students and researchers engage with complex data. He also serves on the boards of the National Consortium of STEM Schools (NCSS) and Friends of Texas Public Schools, advancing innovation in STEM and supporting education.
Previously, Jason served as Chief Innovation Officer for a large Texas school district, where he launched groundbreaking STEM initiatives, and as a Host Researcher for National Geographic’s JASON Project. He has worked with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and currently consults for Harvard Medical School’s, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
As a paleontologist, Jason has discovered four new species, including two new genera, with his work featured in Nature, National Geographic, Scientific American, and the Discovery Channel. In 2013, the President of The United States and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy honored him as a Champion of Change.