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Viewpoints
Thomas A. Kennedy (CEO, Raytheon): To build an army of STEM workers, look to veterans: guest opinion (AL.com)
While the U.S. job market has been gaining strength in recent months, there's one group of Americans who are still struggling to find work: veterans. As a veteran myself, it's disheartening to see so many former service members struggle in their transition to civilian life. Why veterans? For one, military service leaves many men and women particularly well-prepared for careers in [STEM]. In my own case, the five-plus years I spent in the Air Force instilled in me a level of discipline, technical know-how, and confidence that were indispensable to my career as an engineer.
Chad Orzel: Science Is Essentially Human; Or Why Better STEM Education Isn't A Threat (Forbes)
In the short bio that serves as a tagline here, I promise to write not only about physics, but science and academia as well. Fareed Zakaria has conveniently provided me with a hook to do just that, with a much-shared Washington Post piece headlined Why Americas obsession with STEM education is dangerous. As is very common with such things, he engages in a bit of rhetorical jiu-jitsu, giving examples of politicians disparaging the idea of majoring in arts or anthropology then decrying this dismissal of broad-based learning, as if suggesting students major in practical subjects was equivalent to saying they should never take even a single class in impractical subjects. In fact, whats being questioned by calls for more and better STEM education is not the idea of broad-based education, but a different kind of narrowness, in which most students who go on to work in business and public policy do everything they can to avoid science classes.
Nadia Morris (Lead Product Development Engineer, AT&T Foundry): Love to Learn? 3 Reasons Why You'll Succeed in STEM (ImpactX)
I've always been curious. As a child, I liked taking things apart just so I could put them back together. When I learned how the phone system and, later on, the Internet worked, I realized it was really just one big thing, waiting for me to tinker with it. After I graduated college, a friend said he could get me hired on at a local Internet Service Provider if I could learn Linux. That day, I went to a book store, bought a book, read it front to back, and spent the weekend installing and configuring my first Linux server. I learned how to write shell scripts and set up a web server, hosting my first private website. That got my foot in the door even though my academic background was in philosophy. 
Industry
Amazon Launches A Dedicated STEM Toy Shop (TechCrunch)
Amazon announced this morning the launch of a new store on its site thats dedicated to selling STEM toys and games. The shop will feature a variety of items for children of all ages, the retailer says, which are focused on encouraging kids to develop [STEM] skills. Some of the toys include those from Snap Circuits and LEGO. And some are aimed at the preschool set, like the Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus, for example, while others are for older kids, like the littleBits Electronics cloudBit Starter Kit, which teaches coding.
New Book on STEM Education Features Insights from Dassault Systèmes (3DS)
Dassault Systèmes has a long history of promoting STEM education, from offering education editions of our software to students, to helping empower women to pursue futures in STEM fields. Recently, our own Al Bunshaft wrote a chapter of a newly-available book titled Advancing a Jobs-Driven Economy which features insights from sixty-two educators, business executives, and nonprofit leaders on the crucial topics of STEM education and workforce development. A brief except from Als chapter is below, and we encourage anyone interested in STEM education to get a copy!
Axalta, Penn State and Jeff Gordon partner to highlight STEM, business education (Penn State)
Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings, and Penn State today jointly announced a partnership that will include an on-campus press event and special learning opportunities with Jeff Gordon and his team at Pocono Raceway. The program, designed to drive awareness and support for STEM and business education, will focus on students currently engaged in the study of engineering and business. The April 14 on-campus event will include a visit by Gordon, a student pep-rally and an unveiling of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS paint scheme that Gordon will drive at Pocono Raceway in the June 7 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race named the Axalta We Paint Winners 400.
Diversity in STEM
Cards Against Humanity starts scholarship for women in STEM (USA Today)
Cards Against Humanity might be "the card game for horrible people," but there is nothing horrible about the game's new "Science Pack." Proceeds from sales of the pack, which was released Monday morning, will go toward funding a Cards Against Humanity Science Ambassador Scholarship, a full-ride scholarship for women seeking undergraduate [STEM] degrees. "Everyone at Cards Against Humanity was fortunate enough to receive a great college education that helped us find a job that we're passionate about, and our goal with this scholarship is to make that opportunity available to others," said Cards Against Humanity community manager Jenn Bane in a statement.
An Action Plan For Getting More Women In Tech (TechCrunch)
How can more women be encouraged into technology careers? Its a question that is often put to delegates at tech conferences, but one which continues to be far harder to answer than it is to ask. The problem of gender imbalance in tech is systemic and societal in Western nations. This is not a question of ability or talent, given that countries such as China and India have far higher proportions of female engineers. This is about expectations and aspirations. The question has topical imperative given the gender discrimination spotlight thats been shone on Silicon Valley of late with high profile lawsuits touching various entities, including most recently VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, and tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter.
Higher Education
Northeastern University continues expansion, plans to open new Silicon Valley campus (GeekWire)
Northeastern University is opening a new branch campus in Silicon Valley, part of a plan by the Boston university to focus on what it calls industry-aligned STEM programs grounded in experiential learning. The move follows the universitys expansion to Seattle, which was announced in 2011. It also operates a regional campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. In Silicon Valley, Northeastern is partnering with San Jose-based Integrated Device Technology, which is providing the university with 8,000 square feet and room to more than triple that initial footprint.
Hawaii
Maui to Host 6th Annual STEM Conference (Maui Now)
The Maui Economic Development Boards Women in Technology program in partnership with the County of Maui sponsors the 6th Annual Hawaiʻi STEM Conference from April 17-18, 2015 at the Wailea Marriott Resort. The event will serve as host to 500+ students and educators from 30 intermediate and high schools across the state, who will get first-hand exposure to advanced technologies, new software training and real world challenges. Since its inception in 2009, the Hawaiʻi STEM Conference has annually attracted prominent national partners and sponsors from top tech companies including the likes of Google, National Geographic, Apple for Education, SketchUp, Opterra and ESRI.
Texas
Texas higher ed, science infrastructure bonds advance to House (Austin Business Journal)
A bill authorizing $3.1 billion worth of bonds for construction projects at more than 50 Texas public colleges and health research institutions has advanced out of committee and will go before the full Texas House of Representatives, reports the Austin American-Statesman. The bill would fund an $80 million renovation of the University of Texas at Austin chemistry building, another $80 million for a bioresearch facility at Texas A&M University in College Station, $63 million for an engineering building at Texas State University in San Marcos, south of Austin, $48.6 million for a new health education building at Texas State Round Rock.
STEM Innovation
Pitt trustees approve $37M in renovations; university to lease space at Energy Innovation Center (Pittsburgh Business Times)
 The Property and Facilities Committee of the University of Pittsburgh's Board of Trustees voted Thursday to approve $37 million for two renovation projects, as well as three building leases. One of the leases covers a 15-year term at the Energy Innovation Center to house three energy-related laboratories for the university's Swanson School of Engineering as well as incubator space for up to six innovation projects. The university's lease with EIC, located in the Hill District, begins Dec. 31, 2015, at an initial cost of $311,550. Other leases approved by the committee include a five-year renewal and three five-year renewal options for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute for its space at UPMC Shadyside and a five-year renewal for Pitts Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence for its facilities at the Parkvale Annex Building in Oakland. |
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 STEMconnector®
Poorly Designed Immigration Reform Will Negatively Impact American Innovation and Economic Growth
 The U.S. is on the brink of a new IT revolution that could produce $5 trillion in economic gains by enabling companies to drive innovation, jobs and income growth, and opportunity from a new wave of technologies requires updated immigration and visa policies, concludes a new report released today by the American Competitiveness Alliance (ACAlliance). The new paper "IT Services, Immigration, and American Economic Strength" by Professor Matthew J. Slaughter, incoming Dean of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouthidentifies the policy challenges facing the U.S. labor market as it expands its high-value knowledge and technology-based economy. It advances the requirements for a suite of recommended actions that Congress can take to address the shortage of specialized STEM workers at U.S. companies and further harness the IT sector as a driver of American innovation and growth.
The EdTech Weekly Report: March 31, 2015
 In this week's all-new EdTech Weekly Report, new research shows technology can reshape adult education, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) selects Schoology to power online and blended learning across the entire state, bipartisan lesislations aims to protect student data, wi-fi accessibility is being pushed on campuses, and much more!
New Partnership Enables Chicagoland Boy Scouts and Explorers to Send Research Projects to International Space Station
 Chicagoland Boy Scouts and Explorers will soon design and build research projects for a chance to have their experiment flown to the International Space Station. This incredible opportunity is the result of a newly formed partnership between the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), which manages the U.S. National Laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS); and local Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Exploring programs. CASIS and the BSA Pathways to Adventure Council will launch the Space Station National Design Challenge student research competition in Chicago this spring in an effort to spark interest and innovation in young men and women in [STEM].
Advancing a Jobs-Driven Economy Now Available for Purchase!
 The STEMconnector® Team released the book, Advancing a Jobs-Driven Economy, Higher Education and Business Partnerships Lead the Way last month by STEMconnector's STEM Higher Education Council (SHEC). The book focuses on the employer-driven partnerships demanded by 21st century STEM education and workforce development. 62 education, business, and non-profit thought leaders share proven models that support the necessary STEM education and workforce development revolution. The book is available in kindle (digital) or paperback on Amazon or can be bought directly from STEMconnector. |
