Iowa State University is one of six Iowa STEM hubs selected by the Governor's STEM Advisory Council. Each STEM network hub works with business, education institutions, non-profit groups and others in their region in a way that best fits local needs, interests and resources. The hubs provide more equitable statewide access to outstanding Iowa STEM education programs.

"Iowa's STEM initiative is contributing to a number of promising upticks - more high school students are exhibiting proficiency in math and science, student interest in careers that use skills in STEM is up, the number of Iowa teachers with a teaching-endorsement in a STEM-related area is up - but there is serious work to do on a number of challenging and vital measures," said Jeff Weld, executive director of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council. "As manager of STEM education functions of the regional STEM hub network located at Iowa State University, Gibbins will be contributing to increased student achievement and a stronger Iowa workforce."

The state of Iowa appropriated funding for regional STEM hubs across the state. The funding is supported by a budget as set annually and reviewed by the Governor's STEM Advisory Council and the Regional Advisory Council.

Do you know a STEM teacher that goes above and beyond?

Nominations are open for the STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching sponsored by Kemin Industries. This award will celebrate educators whose leadership and dedication to STEM in Iowa increases students' interest and awareness in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. One teacher from each of Iowa's six STEM regions will receive a $1,500 award along with an additional $1,500 to be used in their classroom.

Deadline for submissions is December 12, and winners will be announced March 2015. You do NOT need to be a Scale-Up recipient to participate--excellence is everywhere!

Nominate a STEM teacher today at: stemaward.fluidreview.com

  

The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council has released a nationwide invitation for the best of STEM programs to compete for scaling across Iowa in 2015-16. Winners will demonstrate through their proposals, clear evidence of success in increasing student interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as inspiring children of diverse backgrounds and abilities by driving connections with business and industry. Chosen programs will be presented to educators throughout the state, who will apply to bring them into their classrooms and clubs.

 

In this fourth year for Scale-Up programming in Iowa, the STEM Council has been invited to partner with the national STEM organization, Change the Equation, that works to build a national registry of exemplary STEM programs, known as the STEMworks Database. Applicants now have the opportunity to compete simultaneously for STEMworks listing and Iowa Scale-Up. They will be judged against Change the Equation's rigorous Design Principles for effectiveness as well as additional state-specific criteria to assess their readiness to expand in Iowa. The programs identified through this year's proposal process will add to the variety of options provided through Scale-Up in Iowa.

 

The most competitive proposals, which may come from a variety of sources including academic institutions, nonprofit organizations or the private sector, will be those that are clearly evidence-based, well-planned, targeting areas of Iowa need and readily scalable across the state.

 

Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 pm on December 12, 2014. For more information, please contact Jeff Weld, executive director of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council at info@iowastem.gov. 

  

  

"Code Iowa" is a state partnership with Code.org's "Hour of Code," which provides an opportunity for every K-8 student to try Computer Science for one hour during Computer Science Education Week from December 8 to December 14, 2014.