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Immigration Reform
Who's pushing for immigration reform in Silicon Valley (Mashable)
United States President Barack Obama is reportedly preparing a string of executive actions for as early as Nov. 20 that would significantly alter the nation's immigration system � without consulting Congress. The debate over whether and how the system should be changed has been fraught with partisan politics. But, a few years ago, political newcomers from Silicon Valley coalesced into a potentially powerful group trying to bridge the gap between Democrats and Republicans on this issue. One reason is obvious: immigration reform means more H1-B work visas, which means more highly-educated immigrants can come to the U.S. and work for American tech companies. 
Diversity in STEM
Mattel Apologizes for Making Barbie Look Incompetent in Barbie: I Can Be a Computer Engineer (TIME)
Mattel and Random House found themselves at the center of an online firestorm this week when the Internet lampooned a book called Barbie: I Can be a Computer Engineer. A more accurate title would be Barbie: I Can be a Computer Engineer.. If the Boys Do All the Work For Me. Although Amazon lists the book as being published in July 2013, VP of Barbie�s Global Brand Marketing Lori Pantel told TIME that it came was published in 2010 and that �since that time we have reworked our Barbie books.� While she�s capable of conceptualizing a game about a cute robot puppy (gender cliche, but we were ready to go with it � who doesn�t like robot puppies?), Barbie needs boys to actually do the computer programing for her.
New Verizon Video Shows The Joy That STEM Can Bring To Girls (The Mary Sue)
Earlier this year Verizon launched #InspireHerMind, a campaign that focuses on the importance of closing the gender gap in STEM. At the time, the company released a surprisingly emotional commercial about the dangers of prioritizing girls� appearance over their intellect; in this longer video, Verizon shows off its STEM programming and reveals what happens when young women are given a chance to fall in love with science and tech. (Spoiler alert: great things.)
Industry
JPMorgan pays HCC to expand welding program (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
JPMorgan Chase and Co. has given Hillsborough Community College a $250,000 grant to expand its welding program. HCC will add a weekend program to train 40 students to weld. JPMorgan's grant is part of a program to fill gaps in skilled workers. Welding is in high demand, with 5,000 new welders needed through 2019, earning median salaries of $39,000, according to a statement Friday. HCC President Ken Atwater, JPMorgan, Southeast Chairman and former Florida Sen. Mel Martinez and welding student Todd Singleton will speak at a Monday event that includes tours of the welding lab.
#SportsInSTEM Series: The San Francisco 49ers Have a Hub for STEM Education Inside Levi�s Stadium (Sport Technie)
The San Francisco 49ers� debut of Levi�s Stadium this season garnered attention unlike any other NFL venue in recent memory, sans the Dallas Cowboys� renamed AT&T Stadium. This technological marvel virtually christened as a cathedral. And rightfully so. At its core, their central computing data center connects a WiFi system comprised of 1,200 access points spread all over the stadium. This network�s foundation has the ability to transmit 40 gigabits of data per second. Such power single-handedly quadruples that of their peers in the league. There�s ample room for growth, too, through those 40 gigabits�levels that would be unprecedented.
STEM Competitions
FIRST LEGO League gets K-8 students motivated about STEM careers [VIDEO] (Tulsa World)
At Memorial High School�s Junior FIRST LEGO League competition Saturday morning, the Lego Ladies � a group of third-grade Girl Scouts � were hard at work to impress the judges in hopes of matching the success of their flood-proof bridge project last competition season, which earned them a trip to the White House Science Fair earlier this year. The team�s newest device: a LEGO contraption that helps people with visual impairments discern differences in measurements, such as between the metric and imperial systems. The idea, Holland Hall student Mira Vadiya said, came about when her Girl Scout troop visited the Little Lighthouse in Tulsa and learned about various disabilities.
Cleveland State University students win engineering award (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
U.S. manufacturing output rose modestly in October as motor vehicle production fell for a third straight month, suggesting some slowing in economic growth at the start of the fourth quarter. But growth remains relatively sturdy, with other data on Monday showing a rebound in factory activity in New York State this month. "While the solid outlook for the U.S. economy remains, there are, however, mounting downside risks to growth this quarter," said Harm Bandholz, chief U.S. economist at UniCredit Research in New York.
STEM Jobs
Want to hire a coding superstar? Call the agent. (The New Yorker)
10x was started by two music and entertainment managers, Michael Solomon and Rishon Blumberg, who for the past nineteen years have represented rock stars, including John Mayer and Vanessa Carlton. Recently, in the wake of the digital revolution and the music industry�s implosion, Solomon and Blumberg have begun serving as agents for technologists. 10x claims to represent digital �rock stars�; the company�s name comes from the idea, well established in the tech world, that the very best programmers are superstars, capable of achieving ten times the productivity of their merely competent colleagues.
U.S. manufacturing expands, but may be losing speed (Reuters)
Four years ago, Bryan Dickson and Matt Ockree were among the youngest engineers working on gas well pads in Western Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale fields. They're part of what the expanding oil and gas industry calls the big shift change. Drilling veterans in their 50s and 60s, who cut their teeth on an oil boom that ended before these two engineers were born, are nearing retirement. Many industries face the dilemma of replacing large groups of workers who are preparing to retire, especially in Western Pennsylvania where baby boomers outnumber 25- to 45-year-olds by about 130,000, according to the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Oil, gas industry tries to keep talent in pipeline (Pittsburgh Tribune)
Four years ago, Bryan Dickson and Matt Ockree were among the youngest engineers working on gas well pads in Western Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale fields. They're part of what the expanding oil and gas industry calls the big shift change. Drilling veterans in their 50s and 60s, who cut their teeth on an oil boom that ended before these two engineers were born, are nearing retirement. Many industries face the dilemma of replacing large groups of workers who are preparing to retire, especially in Western Pennsylvania where baby boomers outnumber 25- to 45-year-olds by about 130,000, according to the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Maker Movement
LittleBits Gives You AC Control With Its New Smart Home Kit (MAKE)
This summer, littleBits promised a world of DIY connected devices when unveiling its access-from-anywhere CloudBit module. Today, they move closer to that promise with the release of their Smart Home Kit, which includes among its 14 components an IR-controllable AC electrical socket. This AC accessory is the star of this kit. It interfaces with your littleBits circuit using a companion IR transmitter bit that can signal the socket to turn on or off. It has a range of about 10 meters, and works on five different channels, allowing you to have multiple IR components in the same room working independently.
Higher Education
Princeton celebrates faculty inventions at annual event (Princeton)
A method for discovering antibiotics, a device for studying developing lungs and a fuel-efficient engine design were three of the innovations displayed at Celebrate Princeton Invention. The annual event, held Thursday, Nov. 13, honors Princeton faculty, staff and students whose research has the potential to improve lives and benefit society. "The creativity and innovation of Princeton researchers is evident in the range of discoveries on display at this year's event," said Pablo Debenedetti, dean for research, the Class of 1950 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science, and a professor of chemical and biological engineering.
Texas
Dallas-area parents, school districts stressed by Texas� new math criteria (Dallas Morning News)
A new law requiring all high school students to take at least one digital course leaves the decision about what to offer up to school districts. The Arkansas Department of Education recommends that superintendents and principals give the same scrutiny to digital courses that they do any other course offered, said Debbie Jones, assistant commissioner of learning services for the department. Jones recommends that courses also involve some face-to-face interaction, even if that interaction is through a Web camera. Act 1280, passed in 2013, mandated public school districts and charter schools to offer at least one digital learning course this school year.
Tennessee
Report: Not enough teachers for STEM fields (The Tennessean)
While the same number of Tennessee students remain interested in [STEM], , there won't be enough teachers in those fields soon, according to a report from the ACT. The report shows Tennessee mirrors national trends when it comes to the low number of students interested in STEM fields looking to move on to teaching. Nationally, about 900,000 students who took the ACT expressed interest in STEM fields; 4,424 said they'd like to teach math, and 1,115 said they'd like to teach science. In Tennessee, only 35 of the 4,170 students who said they were interested in science said they'd like to have a career in science education, according to the report. |
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In Memoriam: Xiaochun Luo (1957-2014)
 It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr. Xiaochun Luo, Group Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Avon Products, Inc. passed away on November 12. Xiaochun was named to our �100 Women Leaders in STEM� list in 2012. Our sympathy, hearts and prayers go out to Xiaochun�s family, especially to her husband, Wei Dai, and her two sons, Byran and Brandon Dai. We all feel the loss of such a talented, beloved and respected colleague and friend. Anyone who knew Dr. Luo was keenly aware of her excitement for science and her innovative nature.
100 Diverse Corporate Leaders in STEM - Sharon Elliott of AREVA
 Sharon Elliott joined AREVA in July 2010 to lead the Human Resources function. "AREVA is a proud partner of the U.S. Department of Energy Minorities in Energy initiative, and our CEO of North America serves as one of the Ambassadors of the initiative, which is focused on facilitating greater participation from underrepresented minorities in all aspects of the energy sector. We continue to work to further diversify our workforce by partnering with university chapters of diverse engineering societies including the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers."
100 Diverse Corporate Leaders in STEM - Cynthia C. Earhart of Norfolk Southern Corporation
 Cynthia C. Earhart is executive vice president administration for Norfolk Southern Corporation. "Norfolk Southern manages diversity as a continuous process to recognize, cultivate, and use all the best talents of our employees to improve service and produce better business outcomes. When we combine the backgrounds and viewpoints of our team of 30,000 railroaders � military veterans, recent college graduates, women, and minorities � the possibilities for innovation are endless."
Santa Barbara Teacher Wins National Competition by Bringing Science to Life
 Santa Barbara teacher Molly Rothman has won the national �Teachers Bringing Science to Life� contest and will receive $1,000 and a STEM classroom makeover. The contest, sponsored by National 4-H Council and Lockheed Martin was created to provide resources and rewards for educators who encourage their students to explore the field of aerospace engineering. |
