August 2021
Monthly News
IN THIS ISSUE

Nominations Open for Iowa STEM Teacher Award

STEM Council Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Inspiring STEM Learners at the Iowa State Fair

Midwest STEM Leaders Huddle in Des Moines

September 16, 2021 - 2:15 p.m.
South Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

September 20, 2021 - 1:00 p.m.
Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

September 24, 2021 - 12:00 p.m.
North Central Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting

October 13, 2021 - 12:00 p.m.
Northeast Regional STEM Advisory Board Meeting
Nominations Open for STEM Teacher Award
The 2021 Iowa STEM Teacher Awardees were honored at STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair.
The STEM Council is partnering with Kemin Industries for the eighth year of the Iowa STEM Teacher Award. Nominations opened August 22, 2021, and will be accepted through Sunday, October 10, 2021.

The Iowa STEM Teacher Award recognizes one full-time, licensed PreK-12 teacher from each of the six Iowa STEM regions for their passion in motivating their students to develop a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in and out of the classroom. The six teachers selected will each receive an award of $1,500 for their classrooms, with an additional $1,500 for personal use. 

“Iowa’s future engineers, technologists, actuaries, chemists and algebra teachers are today’s students in the classrooms and care of educators who hold their lives and our future economy in their hands” said Jeff Weld, executive director of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to outstanding STEM teachers who inspire our young to pursue these high-demand careers.”

Any individual can nominate a teacher by visiting iowastem.org/teacheraward-application and completing the nomination form. Following the nomination, teachers will fill out an application that will be reviewed by a panel of judges. An award recipient from each of the six STEM regions will be announced in January 2022.

“Kemin Industries is honored to sponsor the eighth annual Iowa STEM Teacher Award,” said Dr. Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Kemin Industries. “Iowa educators make a difference, both for their students and for our future. We see the results of their tremendous efforts each day at Kemin and look forward to showing our appreciation for their passion.” 
STEM Council Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Foundation Analytical Laboratory, Director of Technical Services/Owner and STEM Council Co-Chair Diane Young shares future outlook for the STEM Council at the 10th anniversary reception.
For ten years, the STEM Council has been focused on increasing interest and achievement in STEM studies and careers, as well as providing opportunities that inspire Iowa’s young people to become innovative, enterprising contributors to our future workforce and the quality of life in our communities.

In addition to the students and educators impacted by the STEM Council, many Iowans have been involved behind the scenes. Hundreds of Iowans have served on the STEM Council and Regional Boards over the years, with countless more having served on committees, working groups and task forces of the Council. 

With a decade of reaching Iowans through STEM education opportunities, the STEM Council has much to celebrate. A reception was hosted for stakeholders and individuals who have been involved in the STEM Council’s ten years of impact. 

A brief program featured STEM Council Executive Director Jeff Weld who shared overarching principles and goals of the STEM Council. STEM Advisory Council members Pat Barnes, John Deere Citizenship and Foundation Group Senior Global Program Officer, Education & Equity; Kacia Cain, Winterset High School College Genetics and Microbiology/College Anatomy & Physiology Teacher/DMACC adjunct professor; and Rob Denson, Des Moines Area Community College President, provided insights of the early hopes and dreams of the STEM Council that set the stage for reaching nearly one million Iowans to date through STEM programs and events. 

Foundation Analytical Laboratory Director of Technical Services/Owner and STEM Council Co-Chair Diane Young shared her perspective on the future of innovation and opportunity through the STEM Council and her vision of reaching more Iowans with STEM education.

While there has been much progress, there is still work to be done. For more information about the STEM Council and how to get involved, visit www.IowaSTEM.org.
Inspiring STEM Learners at the Iowa State Fair
Fairgoers were able to once again take part in STEM activities during STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair on August 22.
After a year away, STEM Day at the Fair was back on the Iowa State Fair Grand Concourse this year with 15 exhibiting partners, five stage acts and STEM career cutouts to inspire the next generation of thinkers and innovators.

Fairgoers could engage in a number STEM activities provided by exhibiting partners of the STEM Council, such as aquaponics systems from Ioponics, robot-controlled basketball from FIRST, coding activities from WorkSMART Connector and recycling plastic into usable products from STEM BEST Program Titan Plastics at Lewis Central Schools.

Northwest Regional Advisory Board Member and Librarian at Cherokee Public Library Tyler Hahn served at the MC for engaging experiments and performances held on the STEM stage throughout the day. Stage acts featured the Iowa State University Insect Zoo, Blank Park Zoo, FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team, a NASA solar system tour and the Science Center of Iowa.

A special program was held on the STEM stage including remarks from Governor and STEM Council Co-Chair Kim Reynolds, Foundation Analytical Laboratory Director of Technical Services/Owner and STEM Council Co-Chair Diane Young, STEM Council Executive Director Jeff Weld and Kemin President and CEO Dr. Chris Nelson. The 2021 STEM Teacher Award recipients were also honored for making a difference in the lives of students and igniting a passion for STEM beyond the classroom. 

STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair was made possible by more than 200 dedicated volunteers and this year’s sponsors including Alliant Energy, Associated General Contractors of Iowa, Collins Aerospace and ITC Midwest.

Relive the excitement of STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair through photos on our Facebook page.
Midwest STEM Leaders Huddle
in Des Moines
Sixteen STEM leaders from across the Midwest were convened in Iowa earlier this month to share best practices and learn from each other.
The eighth annual convening of Midwest STEM leaders occurred on August 21 in Des Moines. The series, launched in 2013 at the request of executives at Pioneer (now Corteva), Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace), and John Deere embraces their reality that STEM talent pipelines for many employers do not stop at state borders. The goal is therefore to spread best practices region-wide. 

The date was chosen in order to present an opportunity for other states and regions to take part in the 10th Anniversary Reception for Iowa’s STEM Council and to witness STEM at the Iowa State Fair on August 22. 

A scaled-back attendee roster compared to years past given individual health and safety comfort levels, eleven states and regions were represented nonetheless, including Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado (honorary Midwesterner), of course Iowa and corporate partner John Deere. All expenses were covered by event sponsor ITC Midwest

An innovative solution to a challenge faced by all was presented by each organization for ready replication as needed by others. A penetrant evaluation model in Missouri, a means for connecting diverse stakeholders in Chicago, an online resource for collective impact in Omaha, systemic change strategic planning in St. Louis, closing racial and gender gaps in Kansas City, asset mapping in North Dakota, computer science elevation in Michigan, podcasts in Utah (virtual attendee), John Deere’s support of the UN Sustainability Goals and Iowa’s STEM at State Fair were some of the innovations shared.

The collaborative spirit of these interstate gatherings for opening up playbooks for the benefit of youth and families across middle America exemplifies what STEM is all about: erasing boundaries for boundless futures.
Contact the Iowa STEM Operations Center by phone at (319) 273-2959
or by email at info@IowaSTEM.org.