March 2019

Kristine Bullock
SE Hub Manager


STEM Family Free Night Last Friday of the month 5pm-8pm Iowa Children's Museum

Saturdays 2pm-4pm  Iowa City Public Library

Thursdays 4pm-5pm Keokuk Public Library 

Little Makers at Eastern Wednesdays 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Davenport Public Library

Tuesdays  4:30pm-5:30pm Davenport Pubic Library

Mar 26 7pm-8pm
Fairfield Public Library

Mar 28 10am-12pm
Kirkwood Linn Regional Center

Mar 29

Mar 30 8:30am-2pm
MacLean Hall
Iowa City

Mar 31 12:30pm-3pm Kirkwood Hotel
Cedar Rapids

Apr 5 3pm-10pm
Seamans Center
Iowa City

Apr 7 2pm-5pm
Robert A Lee Rec Center Iowa City

Apr 11 6pm-8pm
Anamosa Middle School

Apr 24 6pm-7pm
Online Access
Submit Your STEM Event HERE

The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a bipartisan collaboration of legislators, educators, businesses, students and families to increase STEM awareness and opportunities in Iowa.  To learn more about STEM programming going on in Southeast Iowa, visit us at http://se.iowastem.org.  
 
STEM Festival Fun Comes to Burlington and Hiawatha

February was a month jam-packed with STEM programming in Iowa, with two of the state's biggest annual STEM Festivals. On Saturday, February 23rd, Southeastern Community College welcomed families from across Southeast Iowa, offering them shelter from the rain and a variety of activities for the entire family. Aside from incredible booths from businesses and education institutions in the area, the Southeast Iowa STEM Festival also featured interactive shows from Absolute Science involving wacky live experiments. All ages could experience the animal fun brought by Niabi Zoo, including a meet-and-great with the animals. With over ___ exhibitors and over 1,500 attendees, Southeast Iowa STEM Fest was a great success!



Just three days later, the Kirkwood Linn Regional Center in Hiawatha hosted over 1,000 attendees for the Linn County STEM Festival. With over ___ interactive booths from local businesses and organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Collins Aerospace, Iowa Childrens Museum, NewBoCo, universities across Iowa and more, there was something to learn around every corner. FIRST LEGO League also held their regional competition in conjunction with the STEM Festival, giving the students a chance to reveal their impressive projects. Festival-goers were also treated to virtual reality demonstrations, as well as FTC Robotics teams at the high school level showing off their newly-built robot for competition. This fun-filled event proved to be an excellent way to spend a Tuesday evening.

The Southeast Iowa STEM Hub would like to thank all organizers, volunteers, exhibitors, and attendees that made these great events possible. To learn more about STEM events happening near you, visit our Facebook events page.
 
Computer Science is Elementary Application Closes Soon

The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council will award $50,000  six high-need schools, one from each of  its regions. For a school to be considered,  at least 40 percent of its students must be eligible for free and reduced price lunch. The six Computer Science is Elementary Schools, plus Loess Hills Computer Programming School, also will serve as a statewide resource for Iowa educators by sharing their curriculum and community engagement strategies.

TIMELINE
  • January 22, 2019: RFP opens
  • March 29, 2019: RFP closes
  • Summer 2019: Selected schools announced
  • Summer 2019: Initial planning meeting for selected schools
  • Summer 2019 - Summer 2020: Planning and/or implementation year
  • Summer 2020: Progress report
  • June 30, 2021: Final date for use of funding
Former Innovation Fund Awardee Scaling Across Iowa

In 2017, the University of Iowa College of Engineering (UIowa COE)  Femineer® Program received an Iowa STEM Innovation Fund grant to begin scaling-up their program which is meant to encourage girls to enter engineering.  The program originally started with Alburnett Community School District and has grown over the past two years.  

What is Femineers? 
The program provides 6-12th grade students with project-based learning, undergraduate engineering student mentors, and opportunities to visit the University of Iowa, while building a sustainable program and community for current and future STEM leaders. The program engages participants through highly creative, hands-on activities. By engaging with real-world applications, Femineers® acquire the technical knowledge and practical skills necessary to become confident and strong leaders in their future careers.

Adopt a School Program
The UIowa COE Femineer® Program is excited to announce that they will be offering their Femineer® Adopt-a-School Program again this year. The purpose of this initiative is to assist schools in starting up the Femineer® Creative Robotics Program. The funding to support the Femineer® Adopt-a-School Program was generously donated by corporate sponsors, ACT and Schneider Electric.

Femineer Creative Robotics Curriculum
This is a 30-hour program in which participants learn basic electronics, coding, and engineering design principles in a fun and engaging way through a STEAM approach.
In Creative Robotics, students learn about basic electronics, wiring, sensors and motors, as well as operation of the microcontrollers using two different programming languages. Students also learn to use various hand and electric tools in the construction of their final project.

Important Information
  • Teacher Training Dates:               July 10-12 OR July 15-17, 2019
  • Training Location:                          College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Grade Levels:                                  6 - 12    
  • Deadline to Apply:                        April 5, 2019 11:59 p.m.
  • Equipment/Supplies Provided to Adopted School:  The approximate value of the Femineer® Adopt-a-School equipment and supplies is $3,000.00
  • Cost of Training:                             $700 for one teacher to be covered by the school
  • Is there an Annual Participation Fee: No

 
Looking for STEM activities for Summer 2019? Visit our live link (regularly updated) for 
Summer 2019 Opportunities 
to learn about camps and festivals in your hometown!

 
Available Resources
A collection of resources for STEM educators, businesses, and community members
 
Virtual Reality Headsets
6 Virtual Reality 3D headsets are available for checkout.  Students can use the headsets to view STEM career videos, explore the world beyond the classroom and much more.  Educators will need to have access to Apple or Android device to use with the glasses (typically student's personal device).  If interested in checking out the glasses, click here.

Pint Size Science Kit Check-Out
New BeeBot mats have been received and are available for checkout! Four types of kits from the Science Center of Iowa that are designed for 3-5 year old students are currently available for checkout. If interested in checking out a kit or for more information on the kits that are available, click  here.

Renewable Energy Activity Kits
The Southeast STEM Hub is proud to partner with the ATEEC Interactive Learning Lab at Eastern Iowa Community College to offer renewable energy activity kits to educators throughout the southeast region.  Thanks to the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, ATEEC is able to offer a variety of kits that are sure to engage any student.   If interested in checking out a kit or for more information on the available kits, click  here

A World In Motion Activity Kit Check-Out
Three types of kits designed for primary or elementary students are currently available for checkout.  If interested in checking out a kit or for more information on the kits that are available, click  here.  

Materials may be checked out for 6 weeks. They can be picked up and returned at the Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa, 2301 Oakdale Boulevard, Coralville, IA 52241 .  Please replace any consumables you use. 
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Sincerely,
 
Kristine Bullock
SE Iowa STEM Manager 
kristine-bullock@uiowa.edu