|
Government
Calling All Makers: Announcing the First-Ever White House 3D-Printed Ornament Challenge (White House OSTP)
Here at the White House, planning for the 2014 holiday season is already in full swing! The house is buzzing with activity as preparations for the most festive time of the year are underway. And this year, for the first time ever, we�re inviting makers and innovators around the country to participate in the White House 3D-Printed Ornament Challenge! The Challenge, in partnership with the Smithsonian, invites makers, artists, designers, engineers, and anyone interested in 3D modeling and 3D printing to design a winter holiday-inspired ornament. Starting today and running until November 10, 2014, people can head over to Instructables to submit their design and for more details about the Challenge.
STEM Data Explorer Shows Areas for Improvement (U.S. News & World Report)
The National Science Board � the governing body of the National Science Foundation � on Wednesday released a new tool based on its "Science and Engineering Indicators" report that presents the data in a user-friendly way for parents, educators and policymakers. The tool enables them to take a big-picture look at areas related to education and jobs in science, technology, engineering and math fields. �The STEM fields are critical to the nation�s economic future,� Kelvin Droegemeier, vice chairman of the National Science Board, said in a statement. �Our ability to innovate and compete depends on how well we do in science and technology. The National Science Board developed this one-stop answer center to provide a reliable resource on STEM education and careers.� 
Industry
Texas A&M Engineering Education Complex receives major donation from Phillips 66 (Texas A&M)
Texas A&M University�s Dwight Look College of Engineering has accepted a $1 million contribution from Phillips 66, a growing energy manufacturing and logistics company. The donation to the Texas A&M Foundation will support the university�s new Engineering Education Complex (EEC). �Phillips 66 is committed to investing in education,� said Greg C. Garland, chairman and CEO of Phillips 66, and a Texas A&M chemical engineering graduate. �We need leaders from schools such as Texas A&M who will challenge the status quo and create solutions to meet rising energy needs in the decades ahead.�
Non-Profits
Code.Org�s Hadi Partovi Talks Crowdfunding & Education With Indiegogo (Crowdfund Insider)
Earlier this month, non-profit organization Code.org launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise $5,000,000 for its new program called, An Hour of Code for Every Student. This will give 100 million students throughout the world an opportunity to have one hour per day of computer science. While the organization�s campaign is still underway, Code.org�s co-founder and CEO Hadi Partovi had a chance to sit down with the crowdfunding platform to chat about the project�s progress. During his interview, Partovi discussed how he was first introducted to the tech world.
Long Beach nonprofit Dramatic Results wins $2 million federal grant for arts and science education (Long Beach Press-Telegram))
A $2 million grant awarded to Long Beach nonprofit Dramatic Results will help support arts and science education in local schools. Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, announced Wednesday at Barton Elementary School that the U.S. Department of Education has given the Education Model Development and Dissemination grant to the nonprofit to implement its program at four Long Beach Unified schools. The 22-year-old organization uses art as a vehicle to generate students� curiosity in [STEM]. As a result of the grant the nonprofit received, 1,680 fourth graders will receive an enhanced arts, technology and academic program.
Higher Education
Guy Harvey makes large donation to Nova Southeastern Oceanographic Center (South Florida Business Journal)
Nova Southeastern University will rename its Oceanographic Center for Guy Harvey after the marine wildlife artist made a large donation to the center. The Davie university did not disclose the amount of the donation made by Harvey and his Davie-based Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. "His gift will help the next generation of marine biologists, researchers and oceanographers continue the important work that our Oceanographic Center is doing," George L. Hanbury II, president and CEO of NSU, said in a statement.
Mangum, Thompson target $5 million gift for FAMU students (Tallahassee Democrat)
It didn�t take long for Florida A&M President Elmira Mangum to come up with a detailed plan for the largest private gift in the university�s history. Mangum, joined by Microsoft chairman John W. Thompson and his wife, Sandi, unveiled details on Thursday of what Mangum is calling the President�s Academic Progress and Readiness Fund. It will utilize the $5 million the Thompsons pledged to FAMU earlier this month, and was announced at Mangum�s formal installation on Oct. 3. There are two elements to the fund, one that rewards interdisciplinary creativity and entrepreneurship and one that lays the foundation for grants and scholarships that will enable high-performing students to earn their degrees with minimal debt.
Professional Societies
One Week left to apply for Society for Wetland Scientists Undergrad Mentoring Program (Scientific American)
Undergraduate College Students interested in Environmental Science Careers should apply this mentoring program to attend the annual science conference of Society of Wetland Scientists. The Society for Wetland Scientists Undergrad Mentoring Program is a fellowship to attend a professional science conference which will cover the expenses to attend a scientific conference, but will also connect students with mentors and networks of other scientists across the nation. The goal is to provide a quick ramp to a scholarly career in wetland science and associated environmental, ecological, and conservation research careers for students from traditionally under-represented groups.
Louisiana
UNO expected to get $1.8 million for engineering, computer science and accounting programs (Times-Picayune)
The University of New Orleans expects to receive $1.8 million in state money for improving programs in engineering, computer science and accounting. The funds are part of the $40 million Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy (WISE) Fund proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and passed by the state legislature earlier this year. Public colleges and universities in Louisiana have been competing for shares of the funds, which are earmarked according to degrees and certificates that schools provide in high-demand fields. Last week, for example, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette said it expects to receive $2 million to develop its academic and research programs in computing, engineering and nursing.
Utah
SLC's YouthCity Program Gets $500K Grant for STEM Education (KUER)
Students and teachers in Salt Lake City�s YouthCity program announced Thursday a half a million dollar boost to their program with a new grant for [STEM]. YouthCity has centers throughout the city that provide out-of-school activities for young people. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says the programs are offered free to middle and high school students in the city. �So this really is an opportunity for students that otherwise would not be getting an opportunity through their regular education,� says Mayor Becker. Damian Choi is the director of YouthCity�s northwest program. He says it�s important to provide students with these types of interactive learning experiences.
Pennsylvania
RE2 awarded $400K, to create 100 engineering and manufacturing jobs (Pittsburgh Business Times)
Carnegie Mellon University spinoff Robotics Engineering Excellence Inc. -- also known as RE2 -- has been awarded a $400,000 Discovered in PA -- Developed in PA grant to help the company move from design to manufacturing. The grant will be used to launch the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Design for Manufacturing initiative and allow RE2, which develops robotic manipulator arms, to create 100 engineering and manufacturing jobs, Gov. Tom Corbett announced Tuesday. This shift will help RE2 to compete for large defense-based contracts, they said.
Kansas
Pitsco-Greenbush partnership expands offerings (Pitsco Education)
The Southeast Kansas Education Center in Greenbush, Kansas, provides a wealth of educational opportunities for students, teachers, and parents around the state of Kansas. Through a variety of consortiums, Greenbush offers a wide range of services and programs, including Parents as Teachers, vision services, on-site science labs, and interactive distance learning. Two Greenbush departments in particular � the Abernathy Science Center and the Interactive Distance Learning Center � are specifically designed to boost classroom learning. Lisa Blair, who as Director of Student Instruction heads up both departments, says they are �a resource for classroom teachers.�
STEM Food & Ag
Hoover STEM Academy impresses laureate (Des Moines Register)
.jpg) Renowned agronomist and World Food Prize Laureate Gurdev Khush was impressed. He toured the STEM Academy facilities at Hoover High School last week, nodding and smiling at what they offered. Khush was in Des Moines Oct. 22 for the annual World Food Prize festivities, along with fellow laureates honored for their efforts to end world hunger. Khush was named a laureate in 1996. When he dropped in on first-year teacher Tiffany Roby�s class at Hoover, Khush seemed surprised to learn her students are in the process of submitting formal research proposals and that some of them have been rejected. It sounded pretty collegiate. He asked whether any Hoover students are involved with the World Food Prize Foundation�s Borlaug-Ruan Youth Institute. Later he met senior Corbin Faidley, who, under the guidance of teacher Mike Blair, has prepared a paper on food security in Niger to present as part of the program. |
 |
Stay Connected
      
 STEMconnector�
Million Women Mentors Bi-Weekly Newsletter: October 30, 2014
sm.jpg) Check out this all new Million Women Mentors Newsletter, featuring important announcements on our December 4th MWM TownHall with Tennessee Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, January's National Mentoring Summit in DC, and lots of Women in STEM News!
Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public Announce 2014 Broadcom MASTERS National Science Fair Winners
 Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) today announced the top winners of the 2014 Broadcom MASTERS� national STEM competition for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Broadcom Foundation and SSP also announced winners in the categories of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Rising Stars. "Congratulations to Holly, Sahar and the entire Broadcom MASTERS class of 2014, whose STEM skills and collaborative team spirit represent the critical array of diversified talent needed to innovate solutions for the world's grand challenges in technology, communications, healthcare, transportation, energy and environmental sustainability," said Paula Golden, President and Executive Director, Broadcom Foundation and Director, Community Affairs, Broadcom Corporation. The $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize is a gift of Dr. Henry Samueli, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation, and his wife, Susan Samueli. In addition to the grand prize, Dr. Samueli also presented the $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation, an honor made possible by Samueli's generous donation of his 2012 Marconi Society Prize award.
100 Diverse Corporate Leaders in STEM - Anne Cooney of Siemens
 Anne Cooney has been the Chief Operating Officer for the global Division of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics since April of 2011. She heads the Operational Services Group, which comprises Supply Chain Management; Product Support and Service; the R&D Project Management Office; Quality Management; Environmental, Health and Safety; and Medical, Clinical, and Statistical Affairs. "One of the ways to encourage students of all underrepresented minorities in STEM fields is to introduce them to and provide interaction with role models from those same underrepresented groups, so that they can envision themselves succeeding in a similar field without concerns about how they will fit in. However, it is just as important that we encourage all leaders to coach and sponsor students who are among underrepresented minorities in STEM and offer encouragement and support for taking the risk to be �unique�."
16th Global Edition of the Women in Leadership (WIL) Economic Forum
 16th Global Edition from 19-20 November to Focus on Gender Parity, Women's Empowerment, Diversity and Inclusion Dubai-UAE: The forum is held under the patronage of Ministry of Economy in the UAE and it will be officiated by the Minister, HE Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori. STEMconnector� is an association partner of the event. |
