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Higher Education
USC, UCLA, Caltech get joint grant to fuel tech start-ups in L.A. (LA Times)
With funding from the National Science Foundation, three of the top universities in Southern California are teaming up to supply instruction, events and research aimed at helping technology start-ups flourish in the region. Though investments and successes have been growing in the Los Angeles technology community, the trio of USC, UCLA and Caltech see a chance to accelerate and better advertise what�s happening around them. The three-year, $3.5-million grant announced Tuesday comes from the independent federal agency's Innovation Corps, or I-Corps, initiative. Five I-Corps �nodes� have already been established since 2011, in the San Francisco Bay Area; New York City; Washington, D.C.; Georgia; and Michigan. USC and the University of Texas in Austin are anchoring the newest nodes.
St. Mary�s awarded $2.6 million STEM grant (San Antonio Business Journal)
St. Mary�s University in San Antonio has been awarded a $2.6 million federal grant to further growth of its [STEM] programs. The Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education comes through the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program. St. Mary�s is one of three institutions in San Antonio and nine in Texas to receive funding. �We are grateful for this grant as we continue to respond to the growing demand for STEM education,� says University President Thomas Mengler. �It will help with necessary equipment and renovations, while also enhancing our Catholic liberal arts emphasis of educating the whole person. We are excited about the possibilities.�
La Roche receives NSF grant to fund scholarships (Pittsburgh Business Times)
La Roche College announced its chemistry, math and physics departments have received a $607,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to provide scholarships for academically talented but financially challenged students. Through the NSF's Scholarships for [STEM] Program, the grant will provide a total of 14 scholarships to five chemistry majors and two mathematics majors in the incoming fall 2015 and fall 2016 freshman classes. Students will receive up to $10,000 annually for four years based on financial need. 
Industry
National Grid to give $66K to STEM (Olean Times Herald)
For the next three years, a collection of Olean-area organizations and initiatives driven to boost kids� experiences in STEM will benefit from a sizeable National Grid grant. The electric company has announced $66,000 to be spread over time among S.T.E.M. opportunities like the Tech Unleashed teen summer camp; the Summer STEM/Manufacturing Experience for Teachers, organized through the local Dream It. Do It. chapter (DIDI-WNY); and numerous others. �The Cattaraugus County region is fortunate to have a significant number of excellent STEM programs in place,� said Al Wager, National Grid�s regional manager for communities and customer management..
STEM Jobs
Jobs Of The Future: Where They Are, How To Get Them (Fast Company)
Two years ago, I asked a college-bound 18-year-old what kind of job she�d like to have after earning her degree. �I don�t know,� she told me, adding, �I don�t think it�s been invented yet.� Turns out, she was probably right. Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects health care and construction jobs to grow as baby boomers age in greater numbers and the economic rebound gives people the confidence to build new homes, the jobs of the future aren�t so easily defined. According to a recent study by online job matching service TheLadders, the fastest growing jobs are in user experience design, iOS and Android development, and business intelligence--some of which didn�t exist before 2007.
Exciting STEM careers and opportunities aplenty in the Navy (Seaside Courier)
The careers available to students pursuing degrees in [STEM] present students with plenty of exciting and challenging opportunities. What you might not realize is how many of those opportunities exist in the Navy. The Navy is looking for intelligent students with critical thinking skills who are interested in careers that involve working on the world�s most-advance weapons systems, developing the next generation of medical technology, or a number of other fields of STEM study. For these reasons, talented, committed individuals with a STEM education will be needed to maintain the U.S. as a world technology leader.
Diversity in STEM
Calling all Chicago girls! Why STEM matters to you (Chicago Parent)
Although women now represent more than half of the labor force in the United States, they are still underrepresented in [STEM]. That�s why local experts and professionals are continuing work to get girls involved and enlightened about STEM at a young age. According to Theresa E. Mintle, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, STEM fields are among the fastest growing occupations in the country, with many reports suggesting there will be close to 500,000 new jobs in STEM by 2020. STEM jobs also tend to pay higher entry salaries. Michelle Larson, president and CEO of Adler Planetarium, experienced first-hand the encouragement to study in the STEM fields.
Washington
Washington STEM will put nearly $4 million in investments into innovative programs (Redmond Reporter)
Washington STEM announced nearly $4 million in investments in innovative, regionally based programs aimed at improving teaching and learning of [STEM] across Washington state. The statewide nonprofit's investments have two main focuses: Continuing the growth of regional STEM Networks across the state; Expanding its cutting-edge professional development initiative to help teachers with implementation of the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. "These investments will bring STEM professionals, educators and communities together to improve STEM education and prepare our students for the STEM careers that drive Washington state's economy," said Patrick D�Amelio, Washington STEM CEO.
New York
LI public colleges to receive $1 million for job training (Long Island Newsday)
Long Island's public colleges will share more than $1 million to train students for jobs in engineering, information technology, cybersecurity and other high-demand fields, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday. The local grants are part of nearly $7 million awarded competitively through SUNY's High Needs Program, which seeks to prepare students for the jobs of the future. Thirty-seven campuses in the SUNY system are splitting the money. On Long Island, the largest amount -- more than $754,000 -- was awarded to Stony Brook University. Of that, $180,000 will support a new certificate program in self-management of chronic disease and new online courses in engineering.
Burgard H.S. granted $3.2M for advanced manufacturing studies (Buffalo Business First)
Empire State Development has approved Research Foundation for the State University of New York for a grant of up to $3.2 million to create the Advanced Manufacturing Program at Burgard High School in Buffalo. The grant was part of $20.4 million in grant money used to fund projects that generate economic opportunity throughout New York. The SUNY Research Foundation is an educational corporation that administers externally-funded contracts and grants for and on behalf of SUNY. All total, 30 projects will receive funding. The funding will be used to create an advanced manufacturing program at Burgard High School on behalf of Alfred State College.
Colorado
STEM push called vital to state�s economic future (Chalkbeat)
Lack of a �statewide vision� and strategy for STEM education �is impeding Colorado�s ability to develop a strong local talent pipeline needed for an innovation economy,� according to a new Colorado STEM Education Roadmap. The paper was issued Wednesday by the Colorado Education Initiative (CEI) and is intended to build support for STEM education and improve such instruction in the state�s schools. �Colorado is expected to see above national average growth in STEM occupations over the next decade as well as a rapid increase in the demand for STEM talent across non-STEM professions.
STEM Food & Ag
Monsanto donates a $1 million plant cell library to UMass Amherst for research (Boston Business Journal)
.jpg) Monsanto Co. (NYSE:MON) has donated a plant cell library and equipment, valued at more than $1 million, to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which the university will use for research. The plant cell library, which includes tissues and cells from 3,500 plant species, is maintained under controlled conditions in the lab and the plant cells are primarily stored in Petri dishes, said a spokesman for Monsanto. The potential research applications of the plant products include pharmaceuticals, oils, resins, tannins, natural rubber, gums, waxes, dyes, flavors, fragrances and agriculture, UMass Amherst said. |
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ASU Higher Education Maker Summit taking place October 23-25th at the The ASU Chandler Innovation Center
 On behalf of Arizona State University (ASU), President Michael M. Crow invites you to the ASU Higher Education Maker Summit. Join leaders from renowned institutions of higher education, acclaimed innovators and pioneers in the maker movement for this two-day discussion on the future of making in higher education. The event features a combination of breakout sessions, skill-building workshops and networking events, as well as multiple keynote speakers that include makers such as Dale Dougherty, founder and CEO of Maker Media, Inc.; Mark Hatch, co-founder and CEO of TechShop; and many others.
ASSET STEM Education Launches STEM Scholarship Program in Celebration of 20th Anniversary
 ASSET STEM Education today announced the launch of a new STEM Scholarship Program in honor of the organization�s 20th anniversary. ASSET, a STEM education improvement nonprofit, provides educators in all learning environments with effective professional development and hands-on classroom materials. The STEM Scholarship Program was recently awarded a $50,000 matching grant from The Hillman Foundation. The overall goal for the program for the 2014-15 school year is $200,000. Initial sponsors include Bayer, Dollar Bank Foundation and Westinghouse. Budget constraints have forced a growing number of schools and organizations to eliminate or reduce their STEM education programs. In an effort to continue providing high-quality STEM education opportunities for all students, especially those in underfunded schools, ASSET has established the Scholarship Program. �At ASSET, our focus is on directly impacting teachers and students,� said Dr. Cynthia Pulkowski, Executive Director. �Establishing the STEM Scholarship Program is the perfect way to celebrate our 20th anniversary because the program is representative of our mission � advancing teaching and learning to engage, inspire and empower all students.� Any Pre-K-12 school district or education organization may apply for a scholarship. The first-round application deadline is September 15, 2014.
U.S. Army�s eCYBERMISSION Kicks Off 13th Year of Competition
 The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, on behalf of the Army Educational Outreach Program, today announced the kickoff of the 13th annual eCYBERMISSION program, a free online learning competition designed to cultivate student interest in STEM y encouraging students in grades six through nine to develop solutions to real-world challenges in their local communities. Students can win on a state, regional, and national level, with national winning teams receiving up to $9,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds, valued at maturity. Registration is open until December 17, 2014. Through the program, which is administered by the National Science Teachers Association, teams of three to four students plus an adult team advisor are asked to identify an issue in their community related to one of seven mission challenges. |
