AT&T, a leader in delivering innovative products and services, has joined the USA Science and Engineering Festival as a major sponsor.  Its participation greatly enhances our mission to expose students and others to new technologies and careers of tomorrow that strengthen communities and stimulate economic growth.

In addition to being a technological innovator, AT&T is also known as a good corporate citizen, being recognized nationally for its commitment to sustainable efforts involving the environment, education and community volunteerism programs that improve the quality of life.

Learn more about AT&T innovation and its efforts in sustainability next month at the Festival's Expo at the National Mall where the AT&T "Eco Booth" is sure to "wow" you.  The booth features the latest iPhone, smart phones, solar power charging stations, information on how to prepare for careers in communications, as well as information on AT&T educational outreach efforts and video interviews with AT&T scientists. 

"Serving as a Sponsor in the USA Science and Engineering Festival is such an important opportunity for AT&T to connect with people across the country to let them know what we do," says Jennifer Kuhn, executive director of Public Affairs for AT&T.

AT&T Labs (once a portion of Bell Labs) employs more than 1300 scientists and engineers, and in its distinguished history, produced eight Nobel Prize winners!.  For example, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a former Bell Labs scientist, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997 with two other colleagues (from different institutions) for their development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light.

Active in outreach endeavors in communities across America, "AT&T is very interested in reaching out to kids -engaging them in hands-on experiences in technology, helping them to see that there is a whole new world out there and the importance of math and science," says Jennifer. 

Toward this end, AT&T, through a sustainable program in education known as AT&T Aspire, is working to improve high school retention rates among students in the nation's underserved communities, thereby helping to prepare the next generation of U.S. workers. Aspire (a $100 million multi-year program) provides mentoring and the opportunity for underserved students to "shadow" a variety of AT&T executives -- ranging from positions in External Affairs to laboratories -- which gives students insight into career opportunities, how science and technology are used, and the necessity of education (especially math and science)  in today's high-tech world.  

Says Jennifer: "We want all these kids to stay in school so we can hire them to create the next new technology that will change the way we communicate."

As testament to AT&T's commitment to these and other sustainable efforts, AT&T was recently added to the reputable 2010 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America, one of the world's most recognizable indexes that tracks the sustainability performance of top North American companies based on corporate, economic, environmental and community impact.

"At the Festival's Expo, we invite  everyone to stop by the AT&T exhibit to not only learn more about how the changing field telecommunications and AT&T's role," says Jennifer, "but also  to get your cell phones, digital cameras and other electronic devices charged for free at one of our 28 solar panels that we will have available while you have fun with us."

We thank AT&T and our other valued Sponsors as they join us in our goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers!

We would also invite you to learn more about AT&T's broader sustainability efforts by visiting www.att.com/sustainability or checking out our most recent Citizenship and Sustainability Report, which is available at www.att.com/csr.

The World's Largest Classroom: 900,000 Students and Growing

Innovative Education for the T in STEM

Cisco is sponsoring the USA Science & Engineering Festival because of its commitment to transforming education for today's students and tomorrow's leaders.

Visitors at the festival can experience technology that will help transform education by visiting the Cisco NOW Van (Network on Wheels), located in the mobile exhibitor area at Pennsylvania Avenue and 14^th Street. Enjoy an interactive experience with the latest video phones, web cams, and mobile wireless networks that technology students will use in school and on the job.

Visitors can also learn about innovative education opportunities that align with the 'T' is STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Cisco provides ICT (information and communication technology) curriculum through its corporate social responsibility initiative called Cisco Networking Academy, a public-private partnership with more than 900,000 active students, and over 3.5 million alumni. Courses are available at schools of all levels throughout the U.S. and around the world. These convey ICT knowledge and skills while developing the problem solving and critical thinking abilities students need to become career and college ready.

Networking Academy courses combine instructor-led networking theory with e-learning, hands-on labs, job function simulations, online assessments, and preparation for certification exams. Courses also develop project management, collaboration and entrepreneurship. Students can compete in virtually every field of study or industry that relies on ICT for success.

Cisco partners with governments and schools to establish paths that can transform the learning experience and equip students with the life and technical skills needed to succeed in the 21st century workforce.

Take learning beyond the traditional classroom, and connect students with an engaging, relevant world of technology that can inspire lifelong learning. Discover how to partner with Networking Academy to enhance or establish a technology curriculum. Visit us at the festival or on our website at www.cisco.com/go/netacad/us. 

It's Official: Both Houses of Congress Pass Resolutions Supporting Festival!

The inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival received the official stamp of approval from both Houses of Congress recently when the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate each passed resolutions honoring and supporting the goals of the nationwide event.
In doing so, the House of Representatives approved H. Res 1660, and the Senate unanimously agreed to its version of this resolution by passing S. Res 656.

We are extremely happy about these developments since Congressional recognition of the importance of science and engineering to future American competitiveness can help us affect real change.  The recent action by Congress reflects the efforts of a bi-partisan group of legislators who worked together in recent weeks to spotlight the Festival's goal of developing a new generation of American talent so that our nation does not outsource innovation.

The Festival wishes to sincerely thank members of Congress, including Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA), who graciously led the effort to pass H. Res 1660 after witnessing the success of last year's San Diego Science Festival -- the event which inspired the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival. Also instrumental in the passage of H. Res 1660 were House Science & Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), Representative Pete Olson (R-TX) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Other members of the over 100 member Honorary Congressional Host Committee can be found here.

Said Rep. Bilbray of the Festival: "This is a unique opportunity for thousands of Americans to learn more about science and engineering from exhibits, participation, demonstrations, performances and discussions."  
In the Senate, the resolution backing the Festival received strong support from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) who co-sponsored S. Res 656. Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) were also avid supporters.

To hear more about H. Res 1660 as it was discussed in late September in the House of Representatives, check out this C-Span video.

Albert Einstein and some 21st century students

From the appearances of Albert Einstein and the Cat in the Hat (he's becoming a scientist) to an interactive demonstration about the power of green chemistry,  the USA Science & Engineering Festival Press Preview was a big success.

Held at the Marian Koshland Science Museum, Zach Powers, the ScienceRapper, who has been rapping about subjects like a structural biology and the human genome since fifth grade, warmed up the room by testing out the special rap he is writing for his performance at the Festival. For a sample of how Powers makes science cool check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCRJ4r0RDC4&feature=related

Post ScienceRapper attendees heard talks and congratulations from some of the Washington areas leaders and proponents of improving science education. They included Jim Dinegar, President & CEO, of the Greater Washington (DC) Board of Trade, and a number of Ph.Ds including Francis Q. Eberle, Ph.D., Executive Director, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Wallace D. Loh, J.D., President-Designate, University of Maryland College Park, Charles M. Vest, President, National Academy of Engineering and Steven Koonin, Undersecretary for Science in the U.S. Department of Energy.

Keynot

John P. Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

e speaker John P. Holdren, Ph.D., Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, discussed his support for the Festival. He mentioned how dedicated the White House is to improving STEM education and referenced several of the President's including Change the Equation, a network of more than 100 corporate leaders who have signed up to innovate and invest in STEM teaching and learning.


About 60 students from Martin Luther King Elementary School in DC, School Without Walls and The Nysmith School for the Gifted Inc. participated in a dozen interactive exhibits to get a taste of what the USA Science & Engineering Festival would be like. Among the exhibits students participated in:

A Virtual Reality Mirror of a Real City. Lockheed Martin previewed its Mirror World virtual reality system and showed students the difference between virtual reality and the video games kids are familiar with.  Fourth and fifth graders clustered around three laptop computers which allowed them to go on missions through city streets and walk, run and jump on blocks and buildings from a virtual city, created with GPS Precision so they mirrored real life.

Extracting DNA to Make Goo Resembling Strawberry Snot. The National Human Genome Research Institute worked with students to extract DNA from strawberries using a dish soap, table salt, rubbing alcohol, a coffee filter and a plastic bag. The red DNA the students found was drippy and the texture of what comes out of their noses. Students went home with details about the experiment so they could conduct it with family and friends.

What's Green and Good and What's Poisonous? EPA's father of green chemistry, Paul Anastas, Ph.D., clad in a white lab coat, led a roundtable of students who learned how light sensitive film changed color depending on the chemicals it was exposed. Each student got to take their film home and share what they learned with everyone they know.  

Making Physics Fun by Checking Out Really Cool Devices.
The University of Maryland had a lot of everyday stuff students could hear, see and touch including one that made their thoughts could control objects. They also got to see standing waves in a Slinky, hear pipe tones, a singing aluminum rod, and listen to sound waves creating wave patterns in gas flames. Can sound waves really break glass? Come to the USA Science & Engineering Festival and Find Out!


Jumping Around to Learn How Our Bodies Work.  AAAS put students through aerobic paces to learn about their hearts, brains, skeleton and skin and what keeps them working. They jumped, ran in place, danced and a lot more as they learned about nutrition and other biological processes that help to "keep our motor running."

To see some footage from the Press Conference go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjV_qs1-LA

Iowa's 'Moms Night Out' Adds Momentum to Festival's Nationwide Satellite Events

As satellite events for the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival grow in number across the country, the Iowa Math and Science Education Partnership  (IMSEP) greatly added to the momentum of this effort recently when it announced that it will be hosting a unique satellite gathering - just for moms - at 20 sites across Iowa simultaneously on October 18.

Aptly dubbed Moms Night Out for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), the event was conceived by IMSEP and the Iowa State University Engineering College to inspire primary caretakers, particularly moms, to take a more "hands on" approach to their children's math and science education.

Says Jeff Weld, Director of IMSEP: "Research evidence continues to mount that point to moms (and dads) as key to the attitudes and decisions of youth when it comes to STEM careers. This satellite event in conjunction with the USA Science & Engineering Festival puts moms and dads right in the middle of the mix."

Moms Night Out gatherings will be held simultaneously October 18, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm. at 20 locations across Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Ames, Cedar Falls, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo.

These free events - to be held at libraries, schools, museums and other community sites -- are open to the public and will feature motivating hands on experiences with local teachers and researchers to show parents how math and science can be made fun and less daunting for their children. It will also include items for parents to take home and use with their children.

The Iowa gatherings are particularly unique because they center on an important group the Festival is also trying to reach - parents.

The Moms Night Out events are part of a wide network of other exciting Festival satellite events that will be taking place during October in more than 25 states across the country -from California, Washington, New Mexico and Colorado to Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Maryland Delaware and Vermont.

For a complete listing of the participating satellite states and their events, click here

Nifty Fifty Speaker Christopher Linthwaite of Life Technologies at the Vivien T Thomas Medical Arts Academy program hosted by the University of Maryland BioPark











Nobel Laureate Dr. William Phillips of NIST at Bladensburg High School

        

  

   

    

               

                        



                

SpringBoard, a Program of the Juneau Economic Development Council
The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science
The USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone
Air Force Research Laboratory
DeVry University, DC Metro
The Aerospace Corporation
Periodic Quest Inc.
ExxonMobil