October 2014

Fall is here and exciting STEM opportunities are everywhere!

Our TxGCP eNewsletter arrives monthly in your inbox to learn about science, technology, engineering and math resources, educational opportunities and more around Texas and beyond!

Conferences, Events, Camps & More

Aim High STEM Conference for Girls

On November 1st, girls are invited to imagine their future career, meet role models and explore the fun side of science, technology, engineering and math (S.T.E.M.) through this event. The Aim High conference is created especially for girls in the 4th through 8th grades with unique hands-on workshops, exhibits and college and career panels. Workshops are led by professional women who are excited about sharing their careers with participants. Get involved! Serve as a guest speaker, on the planning team, host a career fair booth, host STEM activities, provide goody bag materials, recruit great girls, become an event sponsor, or sponsor a girl to attend! For more information contact Latinitas.

Registration for ExploraVision is Now Open!

Registration is now open for the ExploraVision program, the world's largest K-12 student science competition. The deadline for all projects is January 30, 2015. ExploraVision was created to help motivate young students to excel in science and technology. Working in teams of two to four to design innovative technologies that could exist in 20 years. Find out more about ExploraVision!

UT Environmental Science Institute's Hot Science - Cool Talk

This month's Hot Science - Cool Talks on Monday, October 6th from 5:45 - 8:15 p.m. is still FREE, open to the community, and fun for all ages like it always is, but it will be at the Eco conference downtown at the Austin Convention Center. Kevin Kloesel will be speaking about "Extreme Weather" and the National Weather Service will be bringing a tornado machine! In addition, there'll be a Van de Graaff generator to make lightning with, and an activity where folks can erupt snow to make an avalanche! Come to or watch the webcast of the October talk!

Texas Medical Association Outstanding Teacher Award

The Texas Medical Association Outstanding Science Teacher Award recognizes teachers who exhibit a personal commitment and enthusiasm for teaching any area of science. Three Texas science teachers will receive $5,000 each. Their schools will receive $2,000 awards. Three additional science departments will receive $1,000 each as second-place winners. Nominations for this award will be accepted through October 25, 2014. Find additional information.

NSF Community College Innovation Challenge

Who: Teams of community college students, a faculty mentor and a community or industry partner.
What: Teams proposing innovative STEM-based solutions for real-world problems they identify within one of the following themes: Big Data, Infrastructure Security, Sustainability (including water, food, energy, environment), Broadening Participation in STEM, Improving STEM Education. Find out more information and enter today!

Articles, Reports, Resources

Break Down Math Concepts with the PBS Math Club
PBS Math Club is the best math study group ever, with Grace, Hannah, Jazmin, Jacob, Grace and Madison breaking things down. PBS uses mashups and parodies to cover 7th-grade math. Mean Girls can help you learn adding negative numbers. Check out the videos!

How to Stay in Touch With Your Child's Teacher
Have you debated whether to send an email or a text to a teacher to explain that your child didn't understand the math homework or that his goldfish died over the weekend or that your child gets really nervous if called on in the first few weeks of school? Is this more than teachers need to know? It's not. Read more!

7 Cornerstones of Making with Kids
Toronto-based MakerKids is one of the world's only makerspaces specifically designed for kids, and many people have asked us to share our recipe. We think of it as a brunch - there are many ways to make it delicious. Take the pieces of our recipe that work for you and make it your own. We're also available to help with this - we envision a future where there are MakerKids chapters all over the world. Read more!

Get an Engineer in the Classroom!

September is almost over and school is back in session! As students are going through another school year, Central Texas Discover Engineering is already looking forward to providing new experiences to the youth of Central Texas. So weather you're a teacher seeking an engineer or an engineer who would be willing to donate time in the classroom or other school events, there are so many opportunities to impact the lives and get children on a strong start toward a career in tech fields. Find out more information!

K-12 STEM Outreach Forums, Role Models Matter & SciGirls Workshops

Educators across Texas are invited to attend free professional development opportunities and discover how to engage young women through research-based, high quality activities and resources!

To request or schedule a workshop or forum in your area, please contact stem@txgcp.org.

Check out the TxGCP website for details about forums, Role Models Matter and SciGirls.

About TxGCP

The Texas Girls Collaborative Project (TxGCP) connects organizations and individuals across Texas committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The TxGCP is excited to provide opportunities across Texas for collaboration, networking, sharing of best practices, and leveraging of resources through in-person forums, email listservs and mini-grants.

Led by the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) at The University of Texas at Austin along with a dynamic Leadership Team and Champions Board, the TxGCP brings together advocates and leaders from non-profits, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, companies and organizations across the state of Texas.

Follow TxGCP!

About NGCP

The vision of the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) is to bring together organizations throughout the US and Puerto Rico that are committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Follow NGCP!

The TxGCP eNewsletter is distributed approximately once a month. Visit the TxGCP web site for additional updates on upcoming events, resources and mini-grant information.

Share Your Events and News

Submit information or events to be included in future TxGCP eNewsletters. Remember TxGCP eNewsletters are typically sent at the beginning of each month. Send news and information to STEM@TxGCP.org.

FabFems - STEM Role Models

FabFem of the month:

Sheila Wilkins
Sheila persevered through challenges in school and found her true love in geosciences. She works as a Petroleum Geoscience Technician with GulfSlope Energy Inc. She loves to run, scrapbook, and visit family! Find out more about Sheila!

Join the FabFems directory today!

STEM Program Highlight:
Capitol BEST Robotics

Capitol Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) is a non-profit volunteer organization, that organizes an annual Fall engineering contest for local middle school and high school students. They prepare students for technology through a program that simulates a real product development, giving students the opportunity to conceive, design, build, and test a robot!

Email us at stem@txgcp.org to get added as an event coordinator...and then start entering your events!

Google Groups

These groups are all about sharing resources, information, events, volunteers, needs, and more with others reaching out to K12 students aiming to excite them about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

For those not in one of these areas who still want to receive information going out to all groups, join the Texas K-12 STEM Outreach group.

Contact Tricia Berry for any specific regional requests or questions.

NGCP Program Directory

TxGCP is frequently asked for STEM program connections. Don't miss out on getting connected with possible collaborators and funders!

Gain access to mini-grants and have the first shot at opportunities such as the Water Works camp curriculum, role model training and other curriculum and resource dissemination across Texas! Sign up your program, organization and/or event in the National Girls Collaborative Project Program Directory. Join over 200 listings from across Texas and find collaborators and other STEM educators in your area.