STEM Ed Update 5/13/2016

Please enjoy this week's STEM Ed update.

Top Article:

The Lack of Women in Tech is More Than a Pipeline Problem

Tech Crunch

I have a radical proposition: women who w

ant to study, work in, and lead businesses in science and technology have much to add and should be proactively empowered to do so.

At first glance, it's easy to characterize the lack of women in technology and entrepreneurship as a pipeline problem.

The statistics are tellingly bleak - Girls Who Code reports that about 74 percent of young girls express interest in STEM fields and computer science. And yet, by the time they make decisions about what to study and where to start their careers, something happens

Read more here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.

STEM Jobs Top the List for Best Post-Grad Entry Level Employment

ChicagoInno

Most students know that studying STEM subje

cts is a smart career move. But a recent WalletHub survey shows that pay off begins immediately after graduation.

The finance site recently ranked the top entry-level jobs for college graduates, and 8 of the top 10 jobs are in engineering, tech, or computer science. Entry level engineering took the top spot, with systems engineer, health/safety engineer, and software engineer among the highest ranked entry level jobs. The ranking is based on 11 metrics, including immediate opportunity, median starting salary, and projected job growth by 2024.

Read more here.

Help Students Read & Think Like Scientists

MiddleWeb

Peter Hill's eighth grade students at King Middle School in Portland, Maine, are getting to do the work of real scientists. In Hill's classroom, however, that doesn't always mean putting on lab coats and goggles.

Peter knows that the authentic work of scientists is "10% experimenting, 40% writing, and 50% reading," and he wants his students to have a middle school version of that reality in his classroom. On the heels of an experiment conducted in class the previous week, Hill has planned a two-day lesson focused on a complex scientific text and designed to deepen his students' understanding of how moving wires over magnets affects electricity.

Read more here.

Around the Community

Summer STEM Camp Available for Middle School Students in Clearfield Co.

Central Intermediate Unit No. 10 is organizing its second-ever Summer STEM Camp, "Ready, Set, STEM" for middle school students in Clearfield County. Students entering grades 5-8 for the 2016-17 school year from Clearfield County schools are invited to participate. CIU Nol. 10 and Lock Haven University Clearfield Campus are partnering to facilitate a summer camp experience that will provide middle school students with engaging and motivating STEM activities.

Read more here.

Pitt Dedicates $1M to Fund Innovation

The University of Pittsburgh is slating $1 million over the next two years to fund faculty and students working to commercialize their research projects. "The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is flourishing at Pitt. We are excited to provide additional resources to our faculty and student innovators, helping them translate their innovations into products and services that positively impact society," said Chancellor Patrick Gallagher, in a prepared statement. Funds will help students and faculty develop prototypes, identify market needs and find commercial partners. Pitt Ventures, which helps Innovation Institute researchers commercialize their developments, will receive $400,000, targeted at participants in the Pitt Ventures Gear Commercialization Program.

Read more here.

New York City Council Calls for Climate Change Education

The New York City Council adopted Resolution 0375 on April 20, 2016, calling on the New York state department of education to include lessons on climate change in the curriculum of the state's public K-12 schools - and NCSE was cited. The resolution begins, "Whereas, According to the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), 'it is important for the science of climate change to be taught, both in formal and informal educational environments, in order for future citizens to be able to make scientifically informed decisions about the consequences of climate change.'"

Read more here.

Join the Coalition!

We at the STEM Education Coalition hope you have enjoyed this week's edition of the STEM Ed Newsletter.

Any organization may join the Coalition, and there is no cost to become an Affiliate Member. Affiliate members are listed on our website, receive periodic communications on policy matters, and will be signed up for the weekly newsletter.

Your organization can also apply to join the Coalition's Policy Council, where they play an active role in setting the public policy agenda for the Coalition and are invited to participate in frequent interactions with policymakers.

If you would like to join the Coalition at any level, please read our message to prospective members or email us at [email protected].

We appreciate your continued support and involvement.

Our Coalition's Co-Chairs

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