One way I would like share information is by engaging more with social media.  You will notice more tweets, blogs and Facebook posts from me. One thing we want to highlight is STEM that is happening in the classrooms, clubs, libraries, and after school programs.....any place STEM happens in the North Central STEM Region!

But, we need your help!   

The North Central STEM Hub is introducing: 

Feature STEM Story:   

Block Heads FTC Team Advances to State Championship  

The Block Heads FTC Team from Garner received the Connect Award, Winning Alliance Captain Team and advanced to the Iowa FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Championship, at a recent competition in Cedar Falls.  FIRST Tech Challenge is designed for those who want to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams of students are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams.   

According to Lynne Campbell, "There is so much that needs to be shared about this story! This is a great example of how the collaboration between STEM stakeholders -- Extension and Outreach (non-formal educators), business, and parents --or grandparents in this story-- to build a community-based approach to support STEM learning opportunities for  youth!  

This STEM Story starts with Andrew Dornbier, a 4-H member who enjoyed his experience in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and wanted to continue working with robotics......so he set out to start a new FTC Club.  Andrew shared his vision for this quest with several potential STEM stakeholders including  Stellar Industries, Inc. to solicit support that included financial support, space to meet, and technical help in terms of an engineer as a mentor. Andrew found a partner in Stellar Industries, Inc., a company in Garner, Iowa, to provide the team with financial support and an engineer mentor.  The Hancock County Extension Council was willing to help support this effort and decided to start a First Tech Challenge 4-H Club.  The Block Heads also received a grant through Rockwell Collins FIRST grants. Andrew's grandmother offered her basement for the group to meet.   

Carol Opp, School Enrichment Coordinator Hancock County Extension and TEAM 7220 Mentor, said, "The Block Heads are a group of young people that have formed great friendships through this experience. They are working to let others know more about FTC, and they also encourage other young people to get involved in STEM related opportunities.     

But, without an email from Craig Martinson, a long time FTC volunteer, school board member, SE STEM Advisory Board member, and technician at Rockwell Collins, the story might not have been told. Mr. Martinson was so impressed with this rookie team, especially their willingness to overcome roadblocks and work independently to design their robot, that he contacted the North Central Region STEM Manager to share their STEM STORY.  "I am so delighted that Mr. Martinson shared the Block Head's story with me, because it is an important story to tell for so many reasons. First, Andrew was persistent in finding partners to support his goal of starting an FTC Club. He demonstrated that students can advocate on their own behalf in order to reach their goals. Second, this story demonstrates how innovative partnerships are vital to support STEM learning opportunities for our youth.  And, third, this story demonstrates the importance of family involvement in supporting STEM learning opportunities."   

What a great STEM story to tell!   

Real World Externship for Teachers 

Meet NC STEM Hub Advisory Board Member:  

Adah Leshem

Adah received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at King's College, London University and then went on to get a master's degree in Applied Biology at Cambridge University.  Her Ph. D. dissertation was on the embryonic development of turtle eggs in changing environmental conditions and she conducted her field-work on the Nile Soft-Shelled Turtle in central Israel.  She began her teaching career at Iowa State University in the Department of Zoology and received numerous teaching awards.   She is the recipient of Iowa State University's Strong-Minded Woman Award, the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer Outstanding STEM Mentorship Award and the Iowa Science Teachers' Friend of Science Award.  Adah serves on the North Central Governor's STEM Advisory Council.  

The main objectives Adah focuses on are how to engage the community at large in engineering and science. This involves working closely with school districts in Iowa, providing science teachers with enriching professional development programs at Iowa State University; bringing opportunities to K-12 students that will help them become more interested in and connected to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields; and finally helping engineering and science graduate students become successful communicators of their research programs. These objectives will hopefully support the growth of (1) a more scientifically literate society and (2) a workforce academically prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Why are you willing to serve as a Board Member for the NC STEM Hub?

The reason I applied to serve on the NC STEM Hub is to provide a link between university engineering and science faculty, the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals and the SATEM K12 community in central Iowa.