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The PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project e-newsletter seeks to support efforts in gender and diversity-related issues surrounding STEM fields.
In this issue:
Updates
Regional News and Events
Worth Knowing: PA STEM Professionals
WorthSharing: PA STEM Initiative
Save the Date
Resources |
Updates |
Western PA STEM Folks - Join Us!
The PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project invites you to our Fall Collaboration Forum on
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State College Forum
May 2011 |
October 26, 2012 in Hermitage, PA. You will connect with others interested in encouraging, supporting, and inspiring girls (and boys) in STEM. You will meet new colleagues, learn about collaboration, explore STEM resources and activities, identify potential and put plans in motion. Cost for the Fall Collaboration Forum is $15. Light morning refreshments and lunch will be provided. Space is limited; please register now! Thanks to FASE (Female Alliance for STEM Excellence) and the e-Center at LindenPointe for supporting this event!
Two PA Affiliates for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing
The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing recognizes young women in high school for their computing-related achievements and interests, and for the first time, PA has two affiliate awards: the western and central PA/WVA affiliate and the Philadelphia Area affliliate. Since 2007, NCWIT has recognized more than 1300 young woman and honored more than 50 teachers. Award recipients have been invited to the White House, received scholarships to top universities, and accepted internships at top tech companies such as Microsoft and Google.
By generating visibility for technical young women, this award encourages continued interest in computing, increases awareness of the gender gap in IT and computing, and emphasizes at a personal level the importance of women's participation in computing.
Girls can apply (with one application) for the national award and for the affiliate award in their region. Winners will receive prizes and be recognized at events in the spring. Please help by identifying girls and encouraging them to apply. Please tell those you may know and please forward information to your local high school and to organizations where high school girls may be. Application deadline is October 31st.
Role Models Matter
Wahoo! PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project has been selected to participate this year in the Role Models Matter Scale Up grant funded by the National Science Foundation(NSF). Through this grant, Techbridge will partner with three organizations -- Girl Scout Councils, Society of Women Engineers, and the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) -- to deepen the impact of role model training and provide customized resources, training, support and follow-up. We plan to bring Techbridge to PA to provide role model training and train the trainer sessions. Mini Grants will be available to promote collaborationbetween girl-serving groups and role models. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting new venture.
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Regional News and Events |
Expanding Your Horizons: A STEM Conference
Robert Morris University is hosting Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) in the Sewall Center on October 27 from 9 AM - 3 PM. EYH is a nationally recognized conference for girls in grades 7 - 11 who are interested in exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. Girls grouped in grades 7 -9 and grades 10 - 11 will attend hands-on workshops developed and taught by Robert Morris University faculty, industry professionals and students from STEM majors. Registration is open through October 15th.
SciGirls Summit
WQED, with support from Lanxess and The Ellis School, is engaging 6th grade girls and helping them to start SciGirls clubs in their schools. This year-long initiative will help girls to develop leadership skills and will give them opportunities to participate in hands-on activities and online science projects. Applications will be accepted from 6th grade girls in the Pittsburgh region through October 15.
First Energy Awards STEM Grants (PRNewswire via STEMdaily)
FirstEnergy announced this week that 18 teachers representing 15 Pennsylvania schools and clubs have been awarded education grants in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The grants, of up to $500 each, will be used for a variety of hands-on projects, workshops and teacher development programs throughout the school year. "FirstEnergy is proud to provide these grants to our winning teachers to promote [STEM] for our students," said Dee Lowery, vice president of Corporate Affairs and Community Involvement and president of the FirstEnergy Foundation.
Penn Hosts First Ivy Plus STEM Symposium (Penn News via STEMdaily) Penn recently hosted the first Ivy Plus Symposium and workshops for diverse scholars, a national conference designed to encourage exceptional undergraduate students to pursue advanced training in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields. The 2012 Ivy Plus STEM Symposium for Diverse Scholars welcomed nearly 100 underrepresented undergraduates with outstanding academic records from schools across the United States to Penn's campus. U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia delivered welcoming remarks on Friday evening at the opening reception and dinner. |
Worth Knowing - PA STEM Professional |
100 Women Leaders in STEM
STEMConnector's inaugural edition of 100 Women Leaders in STEM features at least two women from PA. Mimi Lufkin, the CEO of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) and Rebecca Lucore, Executive Director, BayerUSAFoundation and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Bayer Corporation have been recognized along with 98 other notable women for their leadership and commitment to an inclusive STEM culture.
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Rebecca Lucore,
PA Leader in STEM |
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Mimi Lufkin,
PA Leader in STEM |
Click on their photos to read their online profiles from 100 Women Leaders in STEM . Learn not only of their achievements, but also of their experiences and insights.
Thank you Mimi and Rebecca for your leadership in PA and beyond.
And, thanks to STEMConnector for the photos and profiles!
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Worth Sharing - PA STEM Initiative |
PA Girls STEM Academies
Focused on providing awareness of emerging STEM careers and opportunities, the STEM Academies were organized around research-based strategies outlined in Why So Few? and data from IWITTS Director, Donna Milgram; the academies presented the 39 middle school girls with successful women as role models, near-peer mentors, and hands-on activities that were challenging, educational, and fun. Over the course of three Saturdays, the girls (and 19 of their parents!) had the opportunity to participate in sessions led by highly successful college or university women.
- Dr. Leena Pattarkine, professor at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, demonstrated the concept of non-Newtonian fluids by by demonstrating how to make liquid body armor for the military, then allowing the students and parents to make their own.
- Dr. Lisa Kovalchick and Dr. Tony Rodi, faculty at California University of Pennsylvania, and Ms. Judy Hawthorn of the West Shore School District, provided attendees with opportunities to learn about robotic technology using Lego robots and laptops; to make Ethernet cables and learn how light travels across the internet; and to make musical instruments by applying math applications.
- Director Wendy Martin, of Science in Motion, at Elizabethtown College had attendees extracting DNA from foods to determine nutrient content and investigating the various properties of chocolate. To reinforce food safety and packaging, attendees took a tour of Hershey Story and Chocolate Museum where they learned about the properties of chocolate and had an opportunity to make their own chocolate bar.
The Academies were funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Career and Technical Education (PDECTE) and directed by Dr. Carol Adukaitis, of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). |
Save the Date |
National Conference on Summer Learning
October 22 - 24, 2012 Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA
www.summerlearning.org/conference
PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project Collaboration Conference
October 26, 2012 at the eCenter at LindenPointe, Hermitage, PA
www.ngcproject.org/pa-stem-gcp-fall-2012-collaboration-forum
5th Annual Early Childhood Education Summit
October 22 - 24, 2012 at the Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA
www.earlychildhoodsummit.org
Recruitment and Selection for a Diverse Faculty
November 6, 2012 from 10 AM - 3 PM at Dixon University Center, Harrisburg, PA
www.leefblog.com/stemuppa/?page_id=225
Conference on Integrated Learning: The School-to-Career Connection
November 7 - 9, 2012 at the Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA
www.careertechpa.org/IntegratedLearningConference.aspx
PSTA Convention: Changing Minds!
November 28 - 30, 2012 at the Hershey Lodge and Conference Center, Hershey, PA
www.pascience.org/
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Resources |
eCYBERMISSION: A STEM Competition for Grades 6 - 9 Students
Over the past 10 years the eCYBERMISSION challenge, sponsored by through the Army Educational Outreach Porgram, has increased student literacy in STEM subjects. Register a team(s) of your students to compete in the eCYBERMISSION program. This competition is designed to build real-world application skills in Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and to meet Common Core Standards.
Teams of 3-4 students must identify a problem in their community and then research, hypothesize, experiment and draw conclusions to help solve it. Teams then submit their projects to compete for state, regional, and national awards, including up to $8000 in savings bonds. Resources and support are available from the eCYBERMISSION team. Register by October 15th to receive a free STEM research kit.
Saturday Science
CSATS: Center for Science and the Schools is hosting a 2012-13 Saturday Science Workshop Series designed to help educators to increase their content knowledge and get ideas and activities for the classroom. Elementary and middle school teachers learn science content from Penn State researchers and faculty through K-8 classroom friendly activities.
NGCP Program Directory
Make sure that your STEM Program is listed in the NGCP Program Directory and please make sure that it is updated. Listings in the directory should be STEM-based and available to girls; the programs can be co-ed as long as girls can participate. By listing your co-educational STEM program, you are making great opportunities available to girls! Sounds like most STEM programs and events will qualify. The directory is an excellent resource for students, parents, educators, and role models as they gain an emerging awareness of STEM. Make sure your program is listed! Registration and access to the directory are free.
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