|
Sports and STEM
TWC Promotes STEM With New Sloane Stephens PSA (Multichannel News)
Time Warner Cable has launched a new public service announcement as part of a STEM in Tennis campaign in association with the USTA Foundation. The PSA features rising American tennis star Sloane Stephens talking about the importance of math (particularly geometry) and science in Tennis. It will run on TWC systems nationwide starting today (Sept. 1). The PSA begins airing on the second day of the U.S. Open tennis tournament (TWC is a sponsor and "official" Wi-Fi provider). On the first day, Stephens lost in an upset to another American, CoCo Vandewegh. STEM in Tennis is a subset of TWC's Stem in Sports campaign, which is itself a part of Connect a Million Minds, the company's overall effort to promote STEM. 
Industry
The Bright Side: Bloomington students get hands-on STEM lesson [VIDEO] (HOI-19)
Science came to life for some 6th grade science students Monday morning. Students at Bloomington Junior High School got a little messy conducting three science experiments -- all teaching STEM principles. Bayer Crop Science employees taught the hands-on experiments as part of its "Making Science Make Sense" program. "There's a need right now for a STEM workforce, to build a STEM workforce up in this country. So we want kids at this age to see that science can be fun, it can be very interesting," said Casey Allen of Bayer CropSCience. The hope is that some of these students will gain an interest in STEM related activities and continue that in higher education.
With $50 Million Edison Nation Looks To Back A New Generation Of Inventors (TechCrunch)
Touting a direct pipeline to Amazons Launchpad program and sporting $50 million in commitments to help finance the businesses of young inventors, Edison Nation is preparing to embark on a nationwide tour to find the countrys next great tech invention. The Charlotte, N.C.-based company, whose business model is akin to the faltering Quirky, took in $50 million from a group of undisclosed backers to finance businesses that show up to its Amazon Inventions Tour, beginning in Atlanta on September 25.
3D Robotics Launches 3DU To Promote The Use Of Drones In Education (TechCrunch)
3D Robotics (3DR), the largest North American consumer drone manufacturer, today announced the launch of its 3DU educational program. 3DU aims to bring drones to more schools ranging from K-12 to postgraduate programs by making both hardware discounts and sponsorships available to these schools, as well as giving them classroom and curriculum support. The idea is to empower students to not just use the drones but also to develop their own apps for them using 3DRs DroneKit software development kit. In the past, drone research and education was limited to aerospace or engineering departments, 3DR CEO Chris Anderson said in a canned statement. Were seeing massive adoption of our drone platforms in education.
K-12 Education
Columbus State University, Phenix City Public Schools explore STEM partnership (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)
When the $1.7 million Dyer Family STEM Center opens next school year, Phenix City Public Schools superintendent Randy Wilkes wants the teaching quality to match the state-of-the-art facility. And with Columbus State University moving its College of Education and Health Professions from the main campus in midtown to the former Ledger-Enquirer property in downtown -- also in time for the fall 2016 semester -- teacher training will be closer to Phenix City. The result: a budding partnership that would include CSU providing professional development for Phenix City Public Schools to ensure what Wilkes calls "hands-on and minds-on" instruction and better engage students in [STEM].
New elementary school could mean economic advances, fewer cultural barriers, but dent in district budget (Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau School Board and proponents of a new charter school came together during a special meeting Tuesday night. For the second time this year before the board, they proposed creating the first elementary school in Alaska focused on [STEM]. Although educators and community members began building a layout for their ideal charter school almost two years ago, it was only made public and placed before the board during an Aug. 11 board meeting. Since that introduction, board members took time to build a list of questions surrounding cost and necessity before Mondays special session.
Higher Education
UT System and Mexico technology council to expand STEM research programs (The Daily Texan)
After nearly a year of negotiations, the UT System and Mexicos National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) reached an agreement to expand research programs at the UT-San Antonio campus. System Chancellor William McRaven and CONACYT Director Enrique Cabrero signed the agreement Aug. 25 to expand [STEM] research as well as academic programs for faculty and students. According to the UT System, some of the STEM programs to be developed under this agreement include applied math and modeling, medicine and health, biochemistry and agricultural sciences.
LA-STEM Research Scholars Program seeks new funding source (The Daily Reveille)
Founded in 2003, the LA-STEM Research Scholars Program helped students with interests in [STEM] find fellowships, internships and research opportunities. Though the programs grant funding has run out, the effects it had on the STEM community and its students remain strong. Isiah Warner, vice president of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, which oversees LA-STEM, said the program put LSU on equal footing with colleges such as Auburn University. The funding was provided by grants from the Board of Regents, the National Science Foundation and others. The program provided funding for students housing, Ogden Honors College admission and $1500 semesterly stipends.
New season of STEM Saturdays starts Sept. 12 (DeKalb Daily Chronicle)
This fall, the inventors and innovators of tomorrow will be heading to Northern Illinois University for a new season of STEM Saturdays, classes that give students hands-on experiences with [STEM]. The classes, which cover everything from robotics to virtual reality, are designed for students age 7 to adults. Each class takes place over two Saturdays, and each was designed by NIUs STEM Outreach department to help students learn important STEM concepts in a fun environment. The list of classes, complete with dates, location and registration information is available online. No matter the subject, the emphasis is on learning by doing, using trial and error to reach that eureka! moment.
Diversity in STEM
College Factual: 10 veteran-friendly aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools (Military Times)
Engineering is a lucrative and growing career field with many different options available. Veterans or active-duty military students who have interest or prior experience in aerospace or aviation should think about pursuing a major in aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Careers for experienced aerospace engineers in the field can pay more than $100,000. Aerospace and aeronautical engineers can find jobs working for the government or for private companies developing, designing, building and testing space and aircraft. Read the story of an Army officer in the University of Colorado Boulder doctorate program on her way to becoming the first female academy professor in physics and nuclear engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Hawaii
STEM Projects Receive (Maui Now)
A total of $20,000 in awards was presented to outstanding STEM projects in Hawaii at the MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner & Auction held at The Fairmont Kea Lani on Saturday, Aug. 29. The event attracted over 550 community stakeholders, raising $309,000 to support [STEM]. Ten years ago, STEM wasnt a household word, said Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, who shared the stage with his daughter, Mikayla, as hosts of the first-ever Family Feud Game, STEM Edition. Now we all talk of STEM and how important it is to the success of our state. MEDB has really done a great job of unifying all the disciplines for us.
Connecticut
Breaking NewsOld Press building to become 'culinary mecca' (The Bristol Press)
U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, held the first of four meetings Monday of a STEM advisory board she assembled to come up with strategies to promote STEM-related careers to students. I hear from manufacturers across central and northwest Connecticut about the challenges they face in finding skilled employees, and I hear from educators that we need more support in STEM fields, Esty said. Im excited to bring together this dynamic group of passionate leaders that will help me identify ways we can connect the dots better and help prepare our students for successful 21st Century careers. Our competitiveness as a nation depends on ensuring that employers can draw from a STEM-educated workforce. |
 |
Stay Connected       
 STEMconnector®
The EdTech Weekly Report: September 1, 2015
 In this week's EdTech Weekly Report, we have stories on CompTIA's research breakdown on EdTech, the shaky state of News Corp's $1B investment in EdTech with Amplify, LIFT and Thinking Media's new online STEM curriculum, Tinybop's new app that makes app programming easy for kids, TES Global new online marketplace, and much more!
New Smithsonian Web Series Helps Teachers Get in Back-to-School Spirit
 As teachers prepare to greet classrooms full of new faces in the coming weeks, many may turn to professional development opportunities to refresh and strengthen their skills for the year ahead. Recognizing the challenges of traditional professional development tools, which often require significant investments of both time and money, the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) launched Good Thinking!: The Science of Teaching Science in June a free, engaging and entertaining web series designed to support science educators. The series addresses the need for accessible professional development tools that help teachers break down barriers to understanding scientific principles and enhance their classroom skills. A first-of-its-kind series, Good Thinking! comprises short, animated videos that explore pedagogical ideas across a range of subject-matter topics such as natural selection, energy, and the water cycle as well as cognitive research findings on topics like student motivation, the myths of learning styles and left- and right-brained people. We sat down with Dr. Marjee Chmiel, Associate Director for Curriculum and Communications for Smithsonian Institution, for a Q&A about the Good Thinking! series.
Join the STEMconnector Team! We're Seeking a Business Development & Client Services Intern!
 Are you passionate about the future of our country and the future of our workforce? Do you want to join a team of dynamic professionals that share your passion? Do you want to be a part of a group that is helping improve the quality of our STEM workforce? Then apply to join the STEMconnector team! As the one-stop shop for all things STEM, we are committed to connecting entities working in the field of STEM and are looking for dynamic, motivated, and intellectually curious interns to join our team. We are currently looking for interns to join our team for Fall 2015 in the areas of: business development, client services, marketing, communications, and research.
ICYMI: STEM Town Hall- Leveraging Game-Based Learning to Increase STEM Engagement
 STEMconnector®, in collaboration with MIND Research Institute, hosted a STEM Town Hall on August 25th entitled "Leveraging Game-Based Learning to Increase STEM Engagement." For this event, we looked beyond the achievement gap and into the "experience gap" where too many students are lacking the rich mathematical experiences that lead to deeper mathematical understanding and greater joy in the learning process. |
