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Government
Smiths bill aims to boost science and math education (San Antonio Express-News)
Getting legislation signed into law is no small feat in this gridlocked Congress, but Rep. Lamar Smith succeeded in winning the presidents signature on an education bill aimed at improving American students' abysmal rankings in math and science. Smith, R-San Antonio, announced this morning that President Obama has signed his legislation directing National Science Foundation grants to advance learning in [STEM]. It amends the Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship program to enable more teachers seeking graduate degrees to compete for assistance and adds computer science as a subject for awards. 
Diversity in STEM
Arne Duncan Talks Revolutionizing Education with Technology, Boosting Latinos in STEM at HESTEC (Latin Post)
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan talked about the importance of closing the diversity gap in technology careers by closing the technology gap in South Texas on Tuesday, as part of the annual Hispanic Engineering, Science, and Technology (HESTEC) week for area middle and high school students. The outgoing Secretary of Education spoke as part of a panel discussing the importance of getting young Latinos to think about technology not just as products, but as the result of imagination and expertise -- something that [STEM] can prepare them for.
Gretchen Walker and Jan Hickman: Helping girls see selves in STEM careers (San Jose Mercury News)
In Silicon Valley, where inclusion and diversity are highly valued, it can be downright surreal to hear the figures surrounding gender equity at technology companies -- places that are otherwise committed to leveling the playing field. Addressing the tech gender gap must be at the top of Silicon Valley's agenda, but it will require a multitude of solutions involving both women and men. A new partnership between the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula and The Tech Museum of Innovation aims to be one of them. Together, we're developing a series of Girls Days @ The Tech -- the first is Saturday -- to help expand the possibilities for young women.
Thousands of mothers and daughters learn about STEM careers though Latina Day (The Monitor)
Before Milagros Belmares graduated high school, all she knew was that she wanted to do something involving math and solving problems, but she didnt know where to start. That was until she attended her first Latina Day and heard about the world of engineering. About 1,200 female high school students from throughout the Rio Grande Valley and their mothers gathered at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday for a day full of informational and hands-on workshops aimed at guiding students toward careers in STEM fields.
K-12 Education
Biloxi schools nab $1 million STEM, military grant (AP)
The Biloxi School District has received a $1 million grant to enhance math and science education and provide more support for military families. School officials say the 5-year grant from the Department of Defense Education Activity is called Operation IMPACT, or Improving Mathematical Practices and Access to Counseling and Technology. Biloxi was the only district in the state to receive the award this year. The grant will target several key areas that combine a STEM focus with helping military students.
STEM Scouts to put kids in science careers (Marshfield News Herald)
Local students will soon be working alongside scientists and other professionals through a new Boy Scouts of America program, STEM Scouts. The Samoset Council is one of 12 councils across the nation chosen to launch STEM Scouts in Marshfield, Stevens Point, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids. The program open to boys and girls offers students hands-on experience to explore [STEM] by working in business labs and mobile laboratories to learn and conduct experiments alongside scientists, teachers and other local STEM professionals.
Higher Education
STEM Student Retention At Oswego Rises Thanks To NSF Grant, Campus Teamwork (Oswego County Today)
A five-year National Science Foundation grant to increase SUNY Oswego retention of freshmen and sophomores in science, technology, engineering and math programs through Early Summer Scholars and other support services has succeeded beyond expectations in its first three years, fueling an expansion. Jaclyn Lovell, now a SUNY Oswego sophomore biochemistry major, said the colleges NSF STEP (STEM Talent Expansion Program) grant provided her an early boost, the opportunity to do field research following her freshman year.
Flatiron School Launches Full Online Curriculum With Learn Verified (TechCrunch)
Flatiron School, an accelerated educational program for web and mobile development, is switching up its model with the launch of Learn Verified. Traditionally, the Flatiron School has taught courses in real classrooms, with 99 percent of adult graduates finding a full-time job in development with an average salary of $70,000. But beyond that, Flatiron has also expanded its curriculum to schools by licensing out the program itself, as well as signing on with schools to teach after-school classes, etc. through its own training staff.
Maker Movement
Littlebits Releases A Wonderful Gizmo And Gadgets Kit (TechCrunch)
LittleBits are fantastic, but Ive never been able to recommend them for kids. Most of the companys kits are just not intuitive for novices, nor do they contain everything needed to make gadgets that will keep kids interested. Well, the NYC-based gadget just released a kit that addresses this issue and it should be perfect for budding makers. At least 12 gadgets can be made from the Gizmo And Gadgets Kit including bubble machines, pinball games and an RC car (video below). Theres even instructions to build a spy box that holds a secret compartment secured with wireless littleBits and a servo that opens the hidden door and every kid loves spy gear.
Science for Young Makers Class Part II (Geek Dad)
In Part I of this series, I shared some images and thoughts about a set of projects I was providing to students at my sons school for an after-school class called Science for Young Makers. For this current batch of 28 students, I selected a set of projects that came from a book called Nick and Teslas Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove. The book is written by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith, and is the fourth book in a series that follows twins Nick and Tesla as they encounter various mysteries and build gadgets to help them in their investigations. The stories are fun, and the projects are perfect for younger makers.
International
SFI report shows over half of public feel uninformed about STEM (Silicon Republic)
At the launch of Science Foundation Irelands (SFI) Science Week, the organisation released findings from its new public research study, which shows that 51pc of those surveyed felt uninformed about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The SFI report, SFI Science in Ireland Barometer, produced some predictable statistics, including the fact that 85pc of those surveyed believe STEM will increase work opportunities for the next generation. Meanwhile, actual engagement with STEM research appears to have increased, with 25pc having attempted to find information on science in the past year.
STEM Food & Ag
These Solar-Powered Machines Help Farmers Dry Their Food Instead Of Letting It Rot (Fast Co.Exist)
 A lot of food grown in developing countries never makes it to the people's bellies. Because of a lack of refrigeration, it rots during transport or when farmers fail to sell it immediately at markets. Every year, 1.3 billion tons of food (with a value of more than $1 trillion) is wasted in this way, according to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization. Drying food is a good alternative to cooling (perhaps you've heard of beef jerky). And with the FoodWa system, developed by a startup in Italy, you don't even need electricity to do that. Its dryer runs completely on solar energy, which is captured both in the form of heat and by solar panels. "One of the main problems in developing countries is they destroy food during transportation from the fields to the market," says Paolo Franceschetti, the 33-year-old director of the company. |
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Cognizant Opens 2016 Grant Application Period For Making the Future Afterschool and Summer Programs
 Cognizant has opened up the 2016 grant application period for Making the Future Afterschool and Summer programs. Child-serving U.S. non-profit organizations wishing to run after-school, in-school, and summer Maker programs can apply from October 1 through November 15, 2015. Programs must support the programs mission, which is to inspire young learners in the STEM disciplines by providing fun, hands-on learning opportunities.
Des Moines Area Community College To Host 1,000+ Students For STEM Career Accelerator Day Activities 2015
_logo.jpg) Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) plans to host 1,000+ students in Ankeny, Iowa as part of the global campaign, STEM Career Accelerator Day 2015 (#STEMCAD2015). On October 19, DMACC will host 1,000 students from local schools with more than 10 activities planned to engage students throughout the day. Forty interactive booths will be employed where faculty, partners, non-profit organizations, and educators will feature STEM activities with different challenges to make learning exciting. Students will receive information about specific post-secondary education pathways in STEM, including academic programs, college planning resources, financial aid, and informal-community based programs.
Chevron and NAE Team Up to Bring the Engineering Design Process to PreK-12 Classrooms
 Almost all of the 30 fastest-growing jobs over the next decade will require STEM skills, with engineering jobs expected to grow 12 percent between 2014 and 2024. With the demand for a workforce skilled in science and engineering only increasing, creating the next generation of engineers is critical to the U.S. economy.
Anita Krishnamurthi (VP of STEM Policy, Afterschool Alliance): Full STEM Ahead! New America After 3PM special report on STEM released
 Last week, we released our first ever special report on afterschool STEM learning based on our 2014 America After 3PM survey data. Full STEM Ahead: Afterschool Programs Step Up as Key Partners in STEM Education is the first comprehensive look at parental perceptions of STEM programming offered by afterschool providers and examines demand, access and satisfaction both nationally and by state. learning based on our 2014 America After 3PM survey data. Full STEM Ahead: Afterschool Programs Step Up as Key Partners in STEM Education is the first comprehensive look at parental perceptions of STEM programming offered by afterschool providers and examines demand, access and satisfaction both nationally and by state. |
