New STEM BEST HD application open

New in 2021, the STEM HD (High Demand) program is designed to prepare students for the workforce in the high demand fields of computer science, health professions and advanced manufacturing opportunities.

The Iowa Legislature in 2021 authorized a special appropriation to the Iowa STEM Council to dramatically expand the STEM BEST Program (Business Engaging Students and Teachers) through a proposal process in the most in need and highest demand job sectors. The STEM BEST HD program is designed to prepare students for the workforce by providing awards of up to $40,000 to develop curriculum in job sectors of computer science/information technology, health professions, and advanced manufacturing.

This special RFP differs from the traditional STEM BEST in three significant ways:

  • the grant amount is considerably higher, providing up to $40,000.
  • The STEM BEST HD timeline is 19 months (February 2022 - August 2023)
  • STEM BEST HD has a lower cost-share requirement (2:1)

The application window opened October 18th and will close on January 3, 2022. Awards should be announced in early February 2022.

For more information click here.

STEM BEST HD INFORMATION

IOWA COMPUTER SCIENCE WEEK December 6 - 10, 2021

Computer science is the fastest growing of all the the skills needed in the workforce. The Iowa Department of Education has adopted the K-12 standards of the Computer Science Teachers Association and districts across Iowa are in the planning and limited implementation stages of this new curriculum during the current school year.

If you program has not made plans to share in Iowa Computer Science Week, reach out the SW STEM Hub and we will assist in thinking outside the box to come up with fun and educational opportunities for your students.

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STEM Provides ILA Conference Exhibit.


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The Iowa STEM Council exhibited at the Iowa Library Association Conference held October 6 - 8 at the Downtown Marriott in Des Moines. About 300 attendees enjoyed a pre-conference slate of sessions, a large Exhibitor show, and two full days of conference presentations.

The 2021 Theme "And Other Duties As Assigned" was a great statement to the partnership between the six STEM Hubs and the hundreds of Libraries around the state. As partners in Festivals, Scale-Up, and community activities, the Libraries have been willing implementers of the Iowa STEM Program.

Celebrate National STEM Day on November 8th

It isn't an old holiday but one that definitely that impacts of each of us as we solve the challenges of daily life, at the workplace and even in outer space. STEM is a vital part of the world we live in and the creator of solutions for challenges we do not even yet know.

Celebrate November 8th. Have a dry ice ice cream cone, check out a hybrid vehicle, send a text to a foreign country, or make something with a 3-D printer. Isn't STEM great!

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SW STEM REGION CHECK OUT PROGRAM
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