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Climate Change
'This Is All Wrong,' Greta Thunberg Tells World Leaders At U.N. Climate Session (NPR)
 Greta Thunberg has a message for world leaders at the United Nations this week: "We'll be watching you." Speaking at the Climate Action Summit in New York, Thunberg added, "This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school, on the other side of the ocean." But instead, Thunberg, 16, is trying to convince politicians to take climate change seriously, and to do something to stop a global warming trend that will affect the world's children more than it affects anyone who's currently in power. 
Higher Education
Davenport University gets $4M for cybersecurity students (AP)
Davenport University has received a $4 million grant to train and educate future cybersecurity experts. The recently announced five-year grant for the private university, which has its main campus in Grand Rapids, is from NSF as part of the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program. The funding will help provide 28 students with scholarships that cover their full tuition, any education-related fees and living costs. In return, graduates are guaranteed a full-time cybersecurity role at a government entity. Participants mentor high school students.
Marquette U. to expand computer science access for local K-12 district (edscoop)
Researchers at Marquette University, a private institution in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will work to promote computer science education among public school teachers after receiving a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the university announced Monday. The research effort, led by Marquette computer science professor Dennis Brylow, will expand computer science curriculum in Milwaukee Public Schools with the goal of improving access to computer science education in the region.
NSF grants Valley CSU campuses $2.5M to improve STEM education (CSU Bakersfield)
Cal State Bakersfield, Fresno State and Stanislaus State received a combined $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to form a regional team of science and math experts to think outside the box when it comes to STEM. They will participate in intense creative-thinking “Ideas Labs” with nationally recognized math and science mentors to design a more interactive curriculum for lower-division chemistry and mathematics classes, according to a press release. The team will apply the practices to their coursework and center it around research on real-world problems in the San Joaquin Valley, beginning with air pollution.
Diversity in STEM
Is the insurance industry finally becoming more diverse? (Insurance Business Magazine)
It's a bold statement to admit that your own organisation was "only paying lip service" to diversity and inclusion and not making real changes until a couple of years ago. But that's what CEO of Miller Insurance, Greg Collins, has done. Collins isn't ashamed to admit that Miller could have done better in the past, but that the organisation is more than making up for it now, implementing real policies and stepping up.
Racial Equity and Workforce Development (Inside HigherEd)
Only 15% of Latino adults have earned at least an associate degree, compared to 27% of black adults who were born in the U.S. and 45% of U.S.-born white adults, according to the National Skills Coalition. Amid that backdrop, the nonprofit group last week published a "road map for racial equity" in workforce development. The report features nine policy solutions, including to adopt racial equity goals in postsecondary education and workforce development plans; to allow incarcerated people to access Pell Grants for college programs; to invest more in apprenticeships
K-12 Education
A Focus On Early STEM Education For Future Career Growth (Forbes)
According to the federal report, Charting a Course for Success: America's Strategy for STEM Education, the U.S. Department of Education is furthering efforts to increase STEM-related learning across the education space. The report states that the federal government remains committed to partnering with stakeholders at all levels while also focusing on providing more opportunities for underrepresented student populations. As a result, both schools and informal learning programs with a STEM focus are gaining traction throughout the country. Federal investment is supporting a wide variety of STEM education activities across all age groups and learning environments.
Monterey Bay Aquarium's new Bechtel Family Center offers deep dive into learning (Silicon Valley Business Journal)_
 An ambitious project is breathing new life into the Monterey Bay Aquarium and fueling new opportunities for young people to pursue science-related careers. The 25,500-square-foot, four-story Bechtel Family Center for Ocean Education and Leadership is the most significant expansion to the facility in more than 20 years. The new, $42 million, environmentally sustainable center on Cannery Row houses the aquarium's free education programs, allowing hands-on experiences for all visiting school groups and doubling the number of teens and teachers it can serve.
New $1 million grant creates computer courses for Baton Rouge middle, high schoolers (The Advocate)
Middle and high school students in Baton Rouge public schools will soon have new computer science and computational courses, thanks to a $1 million federal grant to LSU and the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. The new courses will be rolled out over the next five years. The initiative will draw not just on computer science, but will bring in other disciplines, including physics and sociology. The project is titled “BRBYTES: Baton Rouge: Bringing Youth Technology, Education and Success.” NSF awarded the grant on Sept. 12.
STEM Media
One Small Hop On The Magic School Bus, One Giant Leap For STEM Education (NPR 1A)
 When 'The Magic School Bus' premiered on PBS in September 1994, Mrs. Frizzle — the fire-haired teacher with a penchant for matching her wardrobe to her lesson plans - was a game-changer. With her frequent field trips to destinations like the digestive system and other planets, Mrs. Frizzle inspired generations of kids to love science. In addition to helping fund The Magic School Bus, the National Science Foundation has been a big supporter of PBS' STEM-related media for children, dating back to the days of '3-2-1 Contact,' 'Bill Nye the Science Guy,' and 'Reading Rainbow.' |
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Stay Connected       
Tomorrow (9/25) @ 12PM ET- Join STEMconnector What's Working Webinar with Micron, Black & Veatch and Arlington Independent School District
 STEMconnector's What's Working initiative draws on the strength members and highlights our cross-sector network of passionate leaders who are dedicated to building a diverse and sustainable STEM workforce. Through sharing the initiatives, collaborations, and general best practices happening across our network through the What's Working Booklet and the What's Working Webinar series, we hope to learn from each other and continue to grow and scale our progress. The next Webinar is happening on Wednesday, September 25 from 12 - 1pm EST. In this webinar you will hear from three of our members Micron, Black & Veatch and Arlington Independent School District about their successful programs and initiatives in STEM talent development.
TCS goIT Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary with New Micro Bit, GIS Technology Pathways and Digital Innovation Lab
 TCS announced the expansion of its flagship STEM and Computer Science (CS) education program, goIT, with the addition of new technology pathways in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Micro Bit, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and a first-of-its-kind Digital Innovation Lab. Through goIT, students learn design thinking, digital technologies and the agile methodology to develop and prototype solutions that improve their own communities or support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. With a proven curriculum since its inception in 2009 at TCS Seven Hills Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, goIT has empowered more than 25,000 students in 77 North American cities.
Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference Coming to the Midwest
 The Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference is coming to Madison, Wisconsin, this November! Register by September 15 for a 10% discount on this interdisciplinary event, "Our Changing Global Environment, Scientists and Engineers Designing Solutions for the Future." The Conference will be held November 14-17, 2019 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Join @STEMconnector on @AfterSchool4All's #QualitySTEM Twitter Chat on 10/2!
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