 USA Science & Engineering Festival Education Series |
|
Vol. 2, No. 2 - March 26, 2013
|
|
Incredible Teacher Development Opportunity!
| | 
One the Festival's key sponsors, Northrop Grumman Foundation, has collaborated with Conservation International to provide teachers with resources and learning opportunities in environmental science by launching the ECO Classroom program. We are thrilled to share this amazing opportunity with our network of educators!
This unique, nationwide teacher professional development program is designed to equip teachers so they can inspire students to pursue science and technical careers and become our next generation of environmental stewards and innovators. During July 2013, CI staff will take 16 middle and high school life sciences teachers (biology, ecology, environmental or earth systems science) to the TEAM field site at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica for an intensive, two-week field experience.
Click here for more details on how to apply. Deadline is March 31st so act quickly!
|
|
X-STEM Schools Site Online!
| | |
We are proud to feature our X-STEM Schools with fabulous X-STEM Ambassador Teams. Within the first month of the program being launched, we have received over 100 X-STEM Registrations! We now have X-STEM Schools certified in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia and listed on our X-STEM School Page.
X-STEM Schools receive many benefits for participating in the X-STEM program:
- X-STEM Ambassador Teams get free tickets to the X-STEM Symposium
- X-STEM Schools get listed on our Festival X-STEM School Page
- Festival partners have promotions offered exclusively to our X-STEM schools such as curriculum and materials
- Priority registration for Nifty Fifty Speakers
- Festival exhibit spaces offered to CERTIFIED Schools for only $150
- Additional benefits still being added
To participate in the X-STEM School program, a school must first fill out the
Registration Form.
Then, follow the success steps:
- Select a Student X-STEM Coordinator and 5 X-STEM Delegates to form the X-STEM Ambassador Team
- Hold a meeting and determine STEM mission statement for your team and take a picture
- Submit mission statement and picture through this form.
For more information about the program, click here or email laura@usasciencefestival.org.
|
|
Teachers- Seeking your Help to Create Interactive Teaching Tools!
| |  Elementary, Middle & High School Teachers- is there one scientific topic that your students find particularly difficult to learn? What subject matter do you find most challenging to teach? Have you tackled a really tough topic in a unique and interactive way? Students at Parsons School for Design are looking to create interactive and engaging teaching solutions to some of the classrooms biggest challenges in order to get kids excited about science and engineering and need YOUR expert input. Please fill out this quick questionnaire so that we can draw from the best minds to create FREE interactive and engaging teaching tools to share with science educators everywhere!
Click hereto answer a few short questions! Thank you very much! |
|
See How Your School can Participate in our Nifty Fifty Program!
| | |
The Nifty Fifty Speakers, the high-profile group of researchers and professionals in science and engineering who wowed students during the last year's Festival with their inspirational school visits and talks, are returning for the 2014 USA Science & Engineering Festival! Read on to see how your school can participate in this inspirational program!
Joining the impressive ranks in 2013/2014 are amazing speakers such as innovator in science education Tyler Dewitt, Neuroscientist and bionic arm developer Dr. Geoffrey Ling, plus many other rock star speakers!
We're tripling the number of participating Nifty Fifty speakers  to 150 so that more schools and classrooms can experience these fascinating renowned experts during the 2013-2014 school year! The "Nifty Fifty (times 3)", as these noted science and engineering professionals are called, will soon be preparing to fan out across the Washington, DC area to speak about their work and careers at various middle and high schools.And, if you are a school in the greater Washington D.C. area with interest in having a Nifty Fifty speaker come to your school, please fill out this brief interest form so that we can notify you when we begin accepting applications for the program. Priority Nifty Fifty registration will be given to X-STEM Certified Schools. (see above for details)
Featuring some of the most inspiring role models in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM), the Nifty Fifty is a signature program of the USA Science and Engineering Festival. We are dedicated to presenting students hands-on information on some of the most exciting fields and careers in STEM, including: green technology, robotics, human health and medicine, astronomy and space exploration, nanotechnology, computer science, and science related to business startups, law, public policy, and more!
Here is just a "sneak peek" of Nifty Fifty Speakers that we have selected so far:
Tyler DeWitt - This high school teacher and Ph.D. student in Microbiology at MIT is fast becoming known as a innovator in science education as he implements exciting new approaches to classroom instruction and curricula that foster critical thinking and problem solving.
Sylvester James Gates, Ph.D. - Learn how the desire to pursue physics began at eight years old for this renowned scientist, leading him later to groundbreaking research in such cutting-edge areas as superstring theory, supersymmetry and supergravity.
Margaret Hamburg, M.D. - As the top official of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this physician and neuroscience researcher is responsible for making and enforcing policies that protect the public health of us all -- from the food we eat to the medicines we use. Discover the challenges she faces in this high-profile position.
Diandra Leslie-Pelecky,Ph.D.- Buckle up as this noted physicist (who penned the book The Physics of NASCAR) takes you on full-throttle journey through the science of race car driving and other aspects of speed!
Geoffrey Ling, M.D., Ph.D. - Discover how this renowned specialist in brain and spinal cord injury is leading a national effort to develop the first fully-functioning bionic arm and other highly functional prosthetic limbs for returning wounded soldiers and others through his work at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Visit this link for more information on the Nifty Fifty Program and the biographies of this impressive list of speakers.
|
|
Festival Opportunities for Educators and Students!
| |
TEDMED and USA Science & Engineering Festival Partner for a FREE Event!
The Festival has created a partnership with TEDMED that brings all the all talks from the Kennedy Center directly to you over the internet at no cost. TEDMED engages the same core values of TED: innovation, imagination, inspiration but focused on health, medicine and science. TEDMED Chairman Jay Walker states: "TEDMED is an inspiring event where world-class doers and thinkers share their vision on innovation in health and medicine. People like E.O. Wilson, Katie Couric, Dean Kamen, Sanjay Gupta, Billie Jean King, and the directors of the FDA and CDC."
Past presenters have included USA Science & Engineering Nifty Fifty and X-STEM speakers Dr. J. Craig Venter and NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins.
Students and faculty of schools, universities and medical institutes can take advantage of this opportunity to experience these incredible talks and create their own TEDMED day! You can choose to create a one-day event, watch the talks on computers, and more. You can complement TEDMED's program with your own speaker presentations tailored to your school, university, areas of expertise or organization. Record and send in your speaker's presentation for a chance to have him or her appear live at the 2014 TEDMED conference!
TEDMED gives you maximum flexibility. Experience the sessions live or on demand until April 21st, at an auditorium or on individual laptops, all at no cost.
Don't delay! For more information about the program including how to sign up click here.
Win Prizes for your Classroom!
The USA Science & Engineering Festival is looking for a fun and exciting Mascot to represent the Festival! How would you like to design the new face of the USA Science & Engineering Festival? The Festival Mascot has the potential to be seen by millions of people! Create a project with your students and win a $500 gift card for your classroom! Click here for details.
|
Connect with other Educators and Join our Next Volunteer Meeting!
|
We know teachers have a passion for making a difference and connecting with their students and that's why we need more teachers to volunteer at the Festival! We are looking for fun, vibrant and excited volunteers- just like you- to join our Volunteer Outreach Team! Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity for students and teachers alike. Volunteering behind the scenes of the nation's largest celebration of science and engineering is a sure way to get student's excited about STEM! Spread the word!
NEXT MEETING:
April 14, 2013 2-4PM
1601 K Street NW, Washington, DC (K&L Gates)
New Volunteers REGISTER HERE
|
|
FACEBOOK & Twitter - "Like" and Tweet US
| |
 
EDUCATORS --- Please take a few minutes to "LIKE" us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/USA-Science-Engineering-Festival/133949023335104
and Follow us on Twitter
@USAScienceFest
|
Volunteer in K-12 STEM Class
| |
An Opportunity to help K-12 STEM Teachers
The American Association for the Advancement of Science needs scientists, engineers and physicians to assist K-12 science teachers in the metropolitan Washington DC area during the 2013-14 school year. The hours are flexible, and volunteers attend a one-day training session, before being assigned to schools. For information on the program, please see the website www.seniorscientist.org. The site includes video clips of teachers and volunteers describing their work together, and a video clip of a Voice of America interview of a volunteer in his elementary school classroom. If you have time to share your knowledge with students and teachers, please send a note to bcalinge@aaas.org with your home address, or call 202-326-6629.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
