Every action has value. Every individual makes a difference. Thousands of people across our region working in STEM education and STEM disciplines prove that every day.

     Sometimes, though, it's awfully nice to know you're not alone. Lucky for us, we have the emerging Southeastern Massachusetts STEM Network, an effort coordinated through the CONNECT Partnership, a consortium of the six public higher education institutions in the region.

     The network connects a cross section of regional STEM interests.  Through real time events (like the one in Attleboro on Nov 2, see below), online efforts, and outreach, the network has become a resource for connecting the dots on STEM efforts in the workforce, higher education, K-12, and the community.

     Together we're proving that old adage that the whole really can be greater than the sum of its parts. 

 The SE MA STEM Network's advisory board incorporates a blend of K-12, higher education, information community education, industry, and government, mirroring the dynamics of the larger STEM Network.

     We'd like you to meet your Advisory Board's two newest members, who are joining the group this month:

Nancy O'Connor, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth, represents higher education. She holds a BS in Biology from UMass/Dartmouth, an MS in Marine Studies from the University of Delaware, and a PhD in Biological Oceanograph/Ecology  from North Carolina State University. She received the Outstanding Woman Faculty Award from UMass/Dartmouth in 2008.

     "I have been interested for years in showing the excitement of doing science and the strength of the scientific process to students, teachers, and the public," she writes. 'The STEM network is an excellent vehicle for these activities."

Sheila Sullivan-Jardim, Director of the Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board (BAWIB), represents industry. BAWIB is a business-led, policy-setting board that oversees workforce development initiatives in a ten-community region. BAWIB, along with the Mayor of Brockton, charters CareerWorks, the city's One Stop Career Center, and YouthWorks, the youth career and educational resource center. It also works with community leaders to respond to current trends in the region.

Other members include:

Higher Education

·  Joyce Oster, Adjunct Faculty, Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Bristol Community College

·  Kathy Morgan, Associate Professor of Psychobiology, Wheaton College

K-12

·  Theresa O'Neill, STEM Director, Hanover Public Schools

·  Danette McGovern, Science Department Coordinator, Galvin Middle School (Canton)

Informal Education

·  Phyllis Russell, President, Junior Tech, Inc.

·  Jesse Derosiers, Lockheed-Martin and BEST Robotics

Industry

·  Joe Napoli, Strategic Account Director, Public Sector and Education, Monster.com

·  Greg Clarkin, Applications Specialist, MEDITECH

Government

·  Bradie Metheny, Coordinator, Education Outreach, National Institutes of Health, Office of Science Education

·  Keith Connors, STEM Pipeline Fund Program Manager

This month in New Bedford, three organizations unveiled a new, long-term collaboration around STEM education for grades 5-12.

New Bedford-based charter school, the Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS), joined forces with UMASS/Dartmouth and New Bedford's Ocean Explorium at New Bedford Seaport to roll out STEM-focused programming for the school's students.

The pilot, which began on September 6, creates an integrated marine science and physics course for all GLCPS high school freshman, and an AP Environmental Science elective for upperclassmen. The courses use the Ocean Explorium's science education center, and GLPCS students do collaborative work with researchers and scholars from both UMass and the Ocean Explorium.

"Since our school's inception, we have engaged in authentic collaborative efforts to promote challenging project-based learning experiences for our students.  It's thrilling to see this concept realized at an entirely new level," said GLCPS science teacher Steve Vaitses.  

For more information, visit the Ocean Explorium at http://www.oceanexplorium.org/

Journaling Your Students to STEM

Visual arts provides a path to STEM education, says Canton's Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center. Its teacher workshop on Nature Journaling provides a different lens for approaching science.   

· What? Teacher workshops, Nature Journaling   

· Cost? Varies, call 781-821-8853 or email

visual-arts@massaudubon.org for more information. 

Hands-on: Build a Computer!   

Informal STEM education program Junior Tech brings students in grades 6-8 a Build-A-Computer workshop at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School in Bourne on Saturday October 29. During the six hour program, kids dig inside a computer, work with the components, and create a working machine.

·  When? Saturday, October 29, 9 am-3pm 

·  Where? Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School, Bourne

·  Cost? $100, register at: http://www.juniortech.org/2011/09/build-a-computer/

Need a Life Sciences Intern? Know a Potential Intern?

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center says its Internship 

Challenge workforce development program is charging forward into its third year. The program connects students and recent graduates considering careers in life sciences to paid internships across the state. Applications are now available for both companies and college students and recent graduates. The Center reimburses companies (with 100 or less employees) for intern stipends of up to $15 per hour.

· What? Paid internships in the life sciences field 

· Where? Online at http://www.masslifesciences.com/grants/challenge.html 

· Cost? No cost to submit an application.