KICK OFF! The School Year Begins...

The New School Year Kick-Off Begins!

It's projected to be a great year for STEM education in Delaware! There is a growing interest by our business partners to be more engaged with STEM teachers and community partners. The business interest involves more students graduating with STEM skills for the future Delaware STEM workforce that will have real-world impact.

On Sept. 10, DFSME, Delaware Dept. of Education and 12 Delaware businesses offered teachers a unique professional development opportunity to learn about the companies and gain STEM equity takeaways for their classrooms. Companies opened their doors for educators to witness cutting-edge technologies and innovative practices in diverse STEM fields.

Math educators are able to participate in the Delaware Math Equity Annual Conference on Nov. 2, to be held in-person this year in Dover, DE. Additionally, more excitement this Fall takes place at the 10th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards on Nov. 7. Learn more about these events in this issue!

“Our business community is making concerted efforts toward

the growth of our Delaware STEM workforce, embracing greater

hands-on collaboration with our educators.”

— Daniel Harris, Store Manager, Walmart and Board of Directors Member, DFSME

We hope you enjoy this Edition!

Educators & Businesses Collaborate on STEM Equity and Careers

Teachers Got an Inside Look at Delaware Companies

Educators participated in business presentations and tours for an in-depth look at Delaware STEM companies and the STEM career positions they offer.

Delaware educators got an unparalleled Professional Development opportunity during their first in-service day of the school year. Twelve businesses statewide offered exclusive access and tours enabling teachers to get a close look at current STEM industry technology and innovation trends they could take back to their classrooms.

“This professional development experience was by far the most

engaging and enlightening PD I have

attended in the last 20 years of teaching science and math.”

Organized and co-hosted by DFSME and Delaware Dept. of Education, educators were able to visit two facilities of their choice from top-tier companies that included Agilent, Bloom Energy, Chemours, Chesapeake Utilities, ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute, Croda, Kraft Heinz, Moonprint Solutions, New Ecology, Delaware Sea Grant UD Lewes Campus, SPI Pharma and Walmart.

“We were able to visit companies that we would not have access to,

being the general public. The Kraft Heinz tour was mind-blowing.

These companies are in our State and I never knew what their capabilities were.”

STEM Equity In Action Day Contest!

“What Will You Share with Your Students

from STEM Equity in Action Day?”

All entries are due by September 30, 2024.

If you attended STEM Equity in Action Day, we want to hear from you!

Write your response in 250 words or less...

• Describe which business(es) you visited and what you learned during your experience.

• What real-world STEM Equity industry trends and insights will you apply to your classroom?

• What will you share with your students to inspire and help build our future Delaware workforce?

The winning entries will be rewarded with a Visa gift card!

$200 First Place • $100 Second Place • $50 Third Place

In addition, the top three place winners will get their

submissions published in DFSME October 2024 eNewsletter issue!

Email your submission to rmvasta@aol.com using the subject line “STEM Day Contest”.

The DSU Agilent Partnership aims to create STEM Opportunities for underrepresented communities.

Photo courtesy of DSU Day.

DSU Celebrates Agilent Partnership for STEM Students

Delaware State University hosted a celebration Sept. 12, highlighting the third year of a partnership that’s provided $3 million in scholarships that cover tuition, room and board for 40 DSU Agilent Scholars. The program provides STEM opportunities to underrepresented communities.

In 2022, DSU, a Historically Black College or University, began its collaboration with Agilent Technologies, a global consumer electronics company focused on science. The purpose of the partnership is to give underrepresented students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) the support and opportunities required for academic and career success. It helps these students build social capital through mentorship programs, internships, career counseling and networking.

Agilent has also committed $5.5 million in lab instrumentation and equipment to DSU’s College of Agriculture, Science and Technology.

To read the full article at Town Square Live, click here.

The Foundations for Outreach and Recruitment of Great Engineers and Scientists program brought participants to the UD campus for hands-on STEM activities and experiments while they learned about the real-world applications of science and engineering. Photo courtesy of John Jungck.

Forging STEM’s Next Generation:

UD’s Center for Hybrid, Active and Responsive Materials

Not only has the demand for jobs that require STEM expertise grown in recent years, there’s also been an increased awareness of the importance of that workforce being diverse so that the world of tomorrow is more just and equitable. But recent data suggests that many underrepresented minorities still only represent a small portion of the entire U.S. STEM workforce.

To provide underrepresented students with a unique opportunity to learn first-hand what being a scientist and engineer is all about, the University of Delaware’s Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (CHARM) hosted its inaugural summer outreach program. Known as Foundations for Outreach and Recruitment of Great Engineers & Scientists (FORGES), the seven-week summer program provides students from underrepresented populations with exposure to a variety of STEM fields and career paths. The program also welcomed high school science teachers to participate, enabling them to take unique teaching strategies back to the classroom.

At the center of innovation, education and diversity, CHARM, is not only a hub of materials science research, it is also a research center that’s committed to training the next generation of innovators with its focus on diversity and educational programming…>>READ MORE

DE Math Equity Annual Conference - In-person!

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 • 8:30am - 2pm • Dover, DE

For Math Educators, Coaches, Specialists, Administrators, Future Math Educators, Parents, and Members of the Community

Featuring sessions related to the following equity-centered themes:

STRAND ONE Promoting Equitable Teaching in the Mathematics Classroom

STRAND TWO Empowering Leaders: Supporting Access & Deeper Learning for All

STRAND THREE Addressing Systemic Equity Challenges in PK-12 and Higher Education Mathematics

Additional details regarding the program and PDMS registration will follow prior to the event.

Three UD professors will lead seminars for K-12 teachers through the Delaware Teachers Institute.

L to R: Yafei Ren, Carla Guerrón Montero and Matt Kinservik. Photo courtesy Zoe Pawliczek.

DTI Faculty-Led Seminars Announced

Three Faculty Members to Work with K-12 Teachers in NCC Schools

The Delaware Teachers Institute (DTI) has selected three UD faculty members as seminar leaders for the 2024-25 academic year.

The seminars provide enriching experiences that inspire and empower K-12 teachers at the six DTI partner school districts in New Castle County, equipping them with fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to enhance their classroom teaching. The seminars were selected from a record-breaking 19 proposals from 24 UD faculty this year.

Carla Guerrón Montero, Professor of Anthropology, will lead a seminar on food, nourishment and identity. Yafei Ren, Asst. Professor of Physics, will explore the captivating patterns found in nature such as geometric patterns, symmetries and topological characteristics that exist even within a grain of sand. Matt Kinservik, Professor of English, will address the critical issues of information bias, distraction and disinformation that affect both students and society.

DTI is recruiting K-12 teachers from the following school districts: Colonial, Red Clay Consolidated, New Castle County Vocational-Technical, Christina, and newly added Brandywine.

Teachers can apply for the seminars by October 4. For application information, click here.

To read the full UDaily article by Jon Cox, click here.

Coast Day - Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 • 10am-3pm • Lewes, DE

Beach enthusiasts, seafood lovers, and anyone curious about the wonders of the sea can visit the Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, DE on Coast Day to learn about the state’s rich marine resources.

Coast Day will highlight how UD scientists, staff, and students are improving understanding of ocean environments and serving coastal communities. Coast Day attendees can interact with researchers, tour ships, try hands-on activities, and attend presentations on a range of topics.

For more information about Coast Day events and activities, click here.

2024 Coast Day • Essay Contest • 5th Grade Students

Essays must be postmarked or emailed by 5pm Oct 11

The theme of this year’s contest is Ecosystems for Everyone. Students are asked to describe their favorite Delaware ecosystem or habitat, what types of animals and plants live there, why the ecosystem or habitat is important, and what people can do to protect them.

We anticipate assisting approximately 5-7 schools, with each school receiving up to $5,000 in outdoor classroom supplies (some supply restrictions apply). We look to provide supplies to schools in all three Delaware counties. Delaware Sea Grant will purchase the supplies and have them delivered to the awarded schools.

Mail Essay submissions to:

David Christopher, Delaware Sea Grant, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958 or email to dmchrist@udel.edu. Essays may also be dropped off on Coast Day at the DE Sea Grant tent.

Student essays must be postmarked or emailed by 5pm Friday, October 11.

To download the 2024 Coast Day Essay Contest packet, click here.

For more information, email David Christopher at dmchrist@udel.edu.

Share this information with other teachers, parents and students!

The Air We Share Environmental Awareness Art Contest!

Delaware elementary students in grades 3-5 are eligible to submit entries for The Air We Share Environmental Awareness Art Contest sponsored by the DFSME Careers, Resources, Education, And Technology for Environmental Solutions (CREATES) task team.

Design artwork to demonstrate how our actions can make a positive impact on our community’s air quality. Things to consider are transportation, the natural environment, energy use, or other things that can improve air quality.

Individual students may submit a single entry.
Multiple students may submit a single entry.
Teachers may submit multiple works for entire class, or a team as a single submission.

Prizes for the individual entry winners in each grade are Amazon Gift Cards:

$100 First Place • $50 Second Place • $25 Third Place

For informational flyer, click here.

Send submissions via Google Form at https://bit.ly/3Ck07hV by 5pm November 22.

For questions, email Joe Iannone at joseph.iannone@bloomenergy.com.

Sponsored by

Funding for Teachers

STEM Research Grants support middle and high school teachers engaging their students in authentic science research.

Teachers can apply for up to $5,000 to purchase specialized equipment, or for $1,000 in pre-selected STEM kits, including Arduino starter kits, soil test kits, and PocketLab sensors. Priority consideration is given to schools who support low income students or those underrepresented in STEM fields. Full-time educators employed in the United States can sign up here to be notified when the application opens.

Funding for Schools & Students

Did you know that the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) awards $3.1 million to students AND their schools each year?

It's just one of many reasons to apply to the oldest student STEM competition in the nation. With multiple award levels, high school seniors don't have to snag our $250,000 top scholarship to win big. Plus, each school of a student selected to the top 300 wins $2,000 per scholar – that's funding for more science research in schools across the country. Read more about our awards and spread the word with the 12th grade scientists and educators in your network today!

The Congressional App Challenge is Open!

Deadline to Register & Complete the App is Oct 24, 2024

Calling all middle and high school teachers! If your students are into coding, computer science, technology, and love creating their own apps, encourage them to enter the Congressional App Challenge! Each year, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester’s office participates in the Congressional App Challenge to help encourage middle and high school age students to get involved in the STEM field. Participation in the Challenge has grown exponentially and has reached underserved, diverse, and rural student populations.

Students can use any programming language and any platform such as PC, web, tablet, robot, mobile, etc. There are no limits on application, theme or topic. The competition is open to all Delaware middle & high school students in teams of up to four.

The winning teams are invited to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to demonstrate their apps to their Representatives at a celebration called #HOUSEOFCODE.

For more details and to register, click here.

The deadline to register and complete the app is October 24, 2024.

September Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM Honoree

Dr. Jenni Buckley is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware. She has expertise in design, biomechanics, solid mechanics, engineering education, and diversity and equity issues in the sciences, medicine, and higher education. She is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of The Perry Initiative, a program that inspires young women to pursue careers in Orthopaedic Surgery and Engineering.

Million Women Mentors is the premier network dedicated to encouraging girls and women around the world to pursue, persist and succeed in STEM careers. The Delaware STEM Council and DFSME are partners in the event along with MWM-DE and the Office of the Governor, State of Delaware.

The 10th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards

Fall Excitement Awaits!

The Delaware STEM Educator Awards recognize a teacher or team of teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels of both traditional public and private schools and community programming who demonstrate STEM innovation and excellence through teaching, academic collaboration, and student engagement.

Nominated applicants for this award include science (all fields), mathematics (all fields), computer science, engineering, and CTE educators.

Up to $7,500 unrestricted cash awards will be given to

first-place winning teachers or teams of teachers.

For more information about the DE STEM Educator Awards, click here.

For questions, contact Daniel Suchenski, Executive Director, Delaware STEM Council at:

Contact Delaware STEM - Delaware STEM Council.

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Earn Awards at the Delaware State Fair!

Over 500 Delaware FFA Association members from across the state came together to showcase their hard work and determination at this year’s Delaware State Fair! High school members had the opportunity to compete in one of 15 Career and Leadership Development Events (CDEs), while middle schoolers were able to compete in 13 different events. Students also exhibited livestock and were awarded for their efforts at the annual Delaware FFA Fair Awards Breakfast.

To check out the complete results list, click here.

For more information about the Delaware FFA Association, visit www.delawareffa.org or email Bart Gill, Delaware FFA Advisor, at bart.gill@doe.k12.de.us.

HBCU Events 2024 • Through September 29

HBCU Week Gospel Brunch • The Queen Wilmington • Sun 9/22 • 1pm-4pm

HBCU Week 5K • Rockford Park • Mon 9/23 • Check in 4pm – Race 5pm

HBCU Week Happy Hour • Deco Wilmington • Wed 9/25 • 4pm-7pm

HBCU R&B Concert • The Queen • Wed 9/25 • 7pm-11pm

College Fair • Chase Fieldhouse • Fri 9/27 • 9am-2pm

Block Party • DECO • Sat 9/28 • 1pm-6pm

Battle of the Bands • Frawley Stadium • Sun 9/29 • 12:30pm-6pm

For more info and to register for events, click here.

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September 26 • 9am

Inspiring Women in STEM Conference 2024

Hosted by Delaware Bio

The 11th annual Inspiring Women in STEM conference delivers

powerful professional development and leadership programs to encourage and

support women working in science, technology, engineering, math, and related fields.

Deerfield Golf Club. To register, click here.

……………………………………………………………

Now through October 24

Congressional App Challenge is Open!

Start your projects now! Create an “app” for desktop, web, tablet, mobile, or other devices.

The competition is open to all DE middle & high school student in teams of up to four.