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Festival Host  ............................ K&L Gatesium 
Nobelium 
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USA Science & Engineering Festival Volunteers Needed!!
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 The Book Fair is looking for Key Volunteers to help out with our 36 Featured Authors. Key roles will be: Book Fair Announcer, Stage Coordinator, Audience Manager, Author Escort, Signing Stage Coordinator, Magic School Bus Coordinator, Author Evening Audience Manager, and Book Fair Promotions.
Complete this application if you would like to be a Key Book Fair Volunteer.
For more information about Book Fair Volunteer opportunities, contact Laura.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES & FEBRUARY MEETING 2/12
Youth and adult volunteers are invited to our next Volunteer Outreach Team meeting on:
February 12, 2012 - 2:00PM-4:00PM
K&L Gates, 1601 K Street NW, Washington, DC
Volunteers will learn about the Festival, get a Festival T-shirt, and will spread the word to schools and community organizations. Please click here for more information.
All Expo & Book Fair Volunteer Position Applications will online in the next two weeks. If you have an individual or group which would like to volunteer, send an email to bluebonnetpath@gmail.com and we'll send you the application when available.
THANK YOU!!
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And in Other Important Festival News...
Be sure to become of fan of ours on facebook!
Click here to "like" us on facebook to stay up to date with all news Festival and to connect with others in the Festival community!
Preregister for the Expo to win a cool prize!
Let us know that you are planning to attend the Expo, and you will automatically be signed up for a chance to meet Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the Mythbusters OR Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory; an iPad 2; lots of Cool Video Games; lots of Science and Engineering Books; or 1 of 50 T-shirts! You don't have to preregister to attend the Festival Expo, but you will have a chance to win a cool prize while letting us know a little about who will be attending.
Click Here to preregister now!
8 Weeks left to enter the Kavli "Save the World Through Science and Engineering Video Contest" Open to students in Grades 6-12. Deadline is March 21, 2012! 
Students make a short video (:30-:90) that shows how scientific discoveries and inventions can improve our lives and help change our world, either right now or in the future. Then enter on Schooltube and compete for cash prizes! First prize is $2000 and a travel stipend to Washington, DC to the USA Science and Engineering Festival: April 28-29, Second prize is $750, Third prize is $500, and People's Choice is $250. Winners will be honored in a special awards ceremony hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy! Click here for more information.
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Just Announced: iSTEM Teacher Professional Development Workshops during Sneak Peek Friday
 What is STEM really all about? Are you interested in integrating engineering into math and science lessons? Are you an elementary or middle school teacher? Enjoy lunching and networking with your peers?
If so, this FREE Workshop is definitely for you. Learn about Engineering is Elementary: Ocean Engineering, Model Eliciting Activities, and more from the Museum of Science, Boston, Purdue University, and others.
 In addition to these fun interactive, hands-on workshops, you can enjoy a FREE lunch with your peers AND the first 100 registrants have an opportunity to earn a $100 bonus. How's that for a free lunch? To register, click here. |
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Science + English + History+ Math = FUN!!
Featured Authors at Book Fair
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Science Teachers - Share the Fun with the Librarians, English, Math & History Teachers!
The first Science, Technology, Education & Mathematics Book Fair is not an ordinary Book Fair! The Book Fair merges excellent written works from best-selling authors with the actual hands-on science of the Festival. Here is a sampling of how you can share the Book Fair with your fellow teachers:
History - Blood Work (History of Transfusions),
 Breakthrough (History of the Discovery of Insulin, Deadly (History of Typhoid Mary)
Math - Lost in Lexicon (Mathematical problems help solve mystery), Perfectly Perilous Math (Math and history for a fun combination), World in Balance (How measurement has affected our world)
English - All of our books are wonderful works of literature. Come to the Book Fair and meet medical thriller author & screenwriter Robin Cook and Homer Hickam, author of autobiography that inspired movie October Sky.
Learn about the Book Fair Featured Authors and their books here.
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Featured Sponsor and Festival Host Lockheed Martin
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Lockheed Martin is returning to the 2012 USA Science & Engineering Festival as the presenting host and a major exhibitor. The global security company will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012, marking a century since its pioneering founders - Glenn L. Martin and Malcolm and Allan Loughead - launched their aircraft manufacturing businesses. Lockheed Martin's exhibits will explore the corporation's legacy of innovation and the evolution of advanced technology and exploration.
"Our Corporation has a proud heritage of technical excellence and service to the Nation. As part of our centennial celebration, we will recognize the innovative spirit of our founders by fostering the next generation of engineers and scientists," says Dr. Ray O Johnson, Lockheed Martin Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "Through the Festival, we will showcase the importance of science, technology,engineering, and math education for a secure future."
Lockheed Martin employee volunteers are an integral part of the Festival effort. As they did for the inaugural Festival in 2010, they will devote their time this year to showcase the Corporation's exhibits and share their personal stories of what inspired them to become engineers, technologists, and scientists.
"Engaging our youth in the exciting technologies of today and the endless possibilities of tomorrow is critical to building a future workforce that can meet the grand challenges of the 21st century. Through our involvement in the Festival, we celebrate the central role of engineering and science in our economy and society," says Jeff Wilcox, Lockheed Martin Corporate Vice President for Engineering.
 For its participation in the 2012 Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Lockheed Martin is pleased to have all of its exhibits in a single location, which will allow attendees to be guided through an interactive experience with cutting-edge technologies and set the groundwork for inspiring future innovators.
Below is a sampling of the interactive hands-on presentations from Lockheed Martin that will be at the 2012 Expo. These and others in 2012 are designed to inspire the future engineers and technologists who may someday develop solutions that make a profound difference in our world.
Exploring Beyond - The Future of Human Space Flight 
Blazing a bold new journey of human space exploration and discovery, the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle will expand the reache s of space exploration. Come experience the future of space flight!
Fly the Future Fighter - Flight Simulator
Roll, dive, bank, and zoom your way through the air at 30,000 feet. Our F-35 Simulator puts you in the pilot's seat as you pilot your fighter plane through Air to Air, Air To Ground, Landing and Takeoff operations.
Robot Raceway
Move through four stations - introduction and identification, design and programming, simulation and modifications, and racing - as you learn about robotics and programming. On the final station, students get to test their robot designs on a real racing track.
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Meet Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory -- A Real-Life Scientist!
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You may remember her as the title character from NBC's Blossom, or recognize her as brainy Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS TV's hit comedy The Big Bang Theory.
 Mayim Bialik has not only made a name for herself in the entertainment business, she is also a trained neuroscientist and has put this career to good use in the role she portrays in the Big Bang Theory. Don't miss the chance to meet this talented actress-scientist when she appears next April as part of the finale Expo's Performances series at the Festival!Mayim earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles. She's also written a book about parenting based on the science of hormones involved in parent-child bonding, to be released by Simon & Schuster in 2012.
Her Ph.D. research in neuroscience at UCLA focused on obsessive compulsive disorder among people with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare condition in which the hypothalamus malfunctions. (The hypothalamus secretes the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin.)
In addition, Mayim, married and the mother of two, designed a neuroscience curriculum for homeschooled middle-schoolers. ""I think neuroscience is obviously very esoteric," she says, "but I think there are aspects of it that absolutely be brought down to the level of an interested 11-, 12-, 13-year-old easily." 
Hear Mayim speak about her research and how she combines science with her on-screen character in The Big Bang Theory!
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Book Fair Family Science Stage Featured Authors: Saturday, April 28th, 2012
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The Book Fair has an exciting line-up of Featured Authors to appear on the Family Science Stage (K-5) on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the Finale Expo, including 3 new Featured Authors! They include:
has been shot, set on fire, tossed from buildings, and thrown off mountains. Much of his work looks dangerous, but in The Secret Science Behind Movie Stunts & Special Effects, he explains how he uses basic science to make his stunts as safe as they are exciting. Loaded with fascinating facts, safety tips, informative diagrams, and amazing photographs of actual movie stunts and effects, this book makes science as thrilling as a Hollywood action movie.
After earning his PhD at Carnegie Mellon University in 1971, physicist
Fred Bortz set off on an interesting and varied 25-year career in teaching and research, including three years in nuclear
reactor core design.
Meltdown! The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future
(a Junior Library Guild selection) asks does the rise of wind and solar power mean we can avoid nuclear power? Or does global warming mean we need it more than ever? These are vital questions for citizens of the future. With Meltdown!, they can begin to explore the answers.
 Celeste Baine, frustrated by the lack of good engineering career advice, set out to make sure students had the resources they need to make informed decisions about their school and degree choices. Baine said, "Is There an Engineer Inside You? was the book that I wish I'd had when making the decision to go to engineering school." Just released in an updated and completely revised 3rd Edition, it now covers 32 different types of engineering, how to succeed in engineering school, women and minorities in engineering, engineering careers that make you say "wow!", salary information and much more.
Previously Announced Authors on the Teen Non-Fiction Stage
Carl Zimmer- Science Ink
Sean Connolly - Perfectly Perilous Math
Theodore Gray- The Elements Vault
Joy Hakim - Story of Science
View all of our exciting Featured Authors by clicking here!
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Impacting the Future of Science
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Yámana Science and Technology is once again hosting its signature Science 'UnSummit' as part of the USA Science and Engineering Festival. The United States is in a time of fast-moving changes in society and in the world...and yet is falling behind on all innovation indicators . Anecdotal evidence indicates stakeholders and institutions are searching for a fundamental change in their approach to innovation and the systems of science. Yámana Science and Technology is inviting pioneers to bridge this divide by participating in our landmark event, the Science 'UnSummit' 2012, being held at the Artisphere in Arlington VA. This year's event, a two-day sleeves-up meeting of the minds, is entitled 'Innovation - A Global Conversation.'
This event will utilize the tools of Open Space to explore the landscape of innovation - what is needed to nurture this hallmark of success, and what obstacles currently impede its expansion.
 The conference starts with brief panel presentations to cross-fertilize the ideas and work of individuals and organizations currently engaged in innovation and change. The Open Space forum to be held immediately following the panel presentations, will be catalyzed by the ideas presented and is specifically formulated to foment novel ideas in a space of open communication. Open Space is ideal when there are widely divergent points of view, high complexity, high levels of passion, and great urgency.
The Science 'UnSummit' 2010, held during the premiere USA Science and Engineering Festival, focused on the topic 'Shifting the Effort/Reward Ratio in Science.' This year the focus is Innovation. We invite individuals and groups who share a passion - and a commitment for building a new future for science - at this critical juncture. Legacy builders, experts and policy makers will join front-line scientists to explore new approaches for the future. Please contact Yamana Science and Technology or register by clicking here.
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Google Science Fair Recognizes Science in Action in 2012
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Posted by Patrick Carpenter Category:
Scientific American and Google announce the 2012 Google Science Fair! In order to celebrate and champion even more young scientists from around the world, they are expanding the awards honors in 2012. The $50,000 Scientific American Science in Action award, powered by the Google Science Fair, will recognize a project that addresses a social, environmental or health issue to make a practical difference in the lives of a group or community. The Google Science Fair is open to young scientists aged 13 to 18 and entries are due March 30, 2012.
"Kids are born scientists," said Scientific American editor in chief Mariette DiChristina. "They ask great questions and we should foster their efforts to learn the answers firsthand. One such opportunity is the Google Science Fair. Scientific American are thrilled to be a partner for a second year and are delighted to launch the Scientific American Science in Action Award, as part of the Google Science Fair."
More information found by clicking here on the Scientific American website or follow this google link. The websites also feature an inspiring video of a Science in Action-style project, to eliminate fluctations in electricity supply, by one of last year's finalists, Harine Ravichandran:
 | | Google Science Fair 2012: How can I bring stable power to remote villages? |
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You Can Do the Rubik's Cube Contest - Team Registration Closes on March 9, 2012!
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DC, MD and VA K-12 teams will be competing for the fastest time to collectively solve 25 Rubik's Cubes. Teams may compete in one of three divisions: K-5th grade ,6th-8th grade and 9th-12th grade. Team sign-ups have begun! All registered teams will compete in a semi-final contest and the top six finalists from each division will then compete for the championship at the USA Science & Engineering Festival during the Expo weekend 4/28/2012.
Click here for more information.
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New Sponsors of the Festival
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M.Y. Voice
M.Y. Voice: Written by and for Maryland middle school students, delivered directly to them through Maryland's public schools. M.Y. Voice is edited by Maryland Life, a publication that celebrates life and living across all of Maryland. The Festival is absolutely thrilled to have M.Y. Life as a Palladium Media Partner!
Workman Publishing Company is the creator of award-winning calendars, cookbooks, parenting/pregnancy guides, and fun, educational children's titles, as well as gardening, humor, self-help, and business books. The Festival is thankful to have Workman Publishing as a Palladium Level Sponsor for this year's Festival.
The Festival thanks all of our Sponsors this year!
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 Thank You to our Palladium Sponsors
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Academy of Model Aeronautics
Aldebaran-Robotics
American Mathematical Society
Biogen Idec
Children's National Medical Center
Draper Laboratory
Dassault Systčmes Solidworks Corp.
Destination DC
FEI Company
Genentech
M.Y. Voice National Girls Collaborative Project
SpaceX
University of Massachusetts Lowell
U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics in Schools
Workman Publishing
Thank You to our Titanium Sponsors
Aerospace Corporation
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)
American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society for Microbiology
Atlas Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider
Big Kid Science
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute
Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Crop Science Society of America
Data.Gov
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
DeVry University
The Engineering Place, North Carolina State University
EurekAlert!
George Mason University
Georgetown University
George Washington University
George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
Georgia Institute of Technology
Idaho State University
James Madison University
Johns Hopkins University
KidWind
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Michigan Tech Mind Trekkers
National Museum of Health and Medicine
North Carolina State University
NumbersAlive!
Polytech Institute of NYU
Rochester Institute of Technology
San Diego State University
SMU Caruth Institute for Engineering Education
Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)
Soil Science Society of America
The Mars Society
The Pennsylvania State University
Thirty Meter Telescope
Tumblehome Learning, Inc
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
United States Naval Academy
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Rochester
Vanderbilt University
VCU School of Engineering
Wellesley College
West Virginia University
Wind Energy Foundation
In-Kind Sponsors:
American Elements
Wolfram
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Visit us online at
http://www.usasciencefestival.org/
Science Spark is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization responsible for creating the USA Science & Engineering Festival and several regional Festivals including the San Diego Science & Engineering Festival, Bay Area Science & Engineering Festival, Boston Science & Engineering Festival, Los Angeles Science & Engineering Festival, Chicago Science & Engineering Festival, Houston Science & Engineering Festival, Miami Science & Engineering Festival and the Philadelphia Science & Engineering Festival.
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