June 2009
NEWS FROM THE STEM EQUITY PIPELINE PROJECT
NAPE Education Foundation Issues RFA for Three New State Teams
The NAPE Education Foundation is seeking three additional states to participate
in the STEM Equity Pipeline Project starting October 1, 2009. The Project will be
work with 13 states over 5 years to increase the capacity of individuals in the
state who conduct STEM professional development to integrate research-based best
practices on increasing the participation of women and girls in STEM into their
existing training work. Application deadline is July 15, 2009.
Learn More and Access Application
Mimi Lufkin to Present on the STEM Equity Pipeline
On July 9, Mimi will present four workshop sessions during the 23rd Annual High
Schools That Work (HSTW) Staff Development Conference, "Heads-On, Hands-On Learning:
Key to Student Motivation and Achievement" in Atlanta, GA. Three workshops will
present strategies for counselors, teachers, and administrators to increase the
diversity of the STEM pipeline. The final workshop will focus on data-driven decisionmaking
and a school improvement process to increase the STEM pipeline.
More information
on the HSTW Conference
What's Happening in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin was one of the first five states to participate in the STEM Equity Pipeline
Project, and state leaders are beginning to understand the power of partnerships,
the value of visioning, and the common sense in dividing into work groups that are
aligned with the economic development regions of the state.
Wisconsin's co-coordinators for the STEM Equity Pipeline Project, Barbara Bitters
of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and Karen Showers of the Wisconsin
Technical College System, summarized the state's activities in a June Newsletter.
Highlights from the newsletter are as follows:
- Wisconsin has worked with different stakeholders in labor, education, and workforce
development to develop a consistent and workable definition of "STEM."
- Wisconsin is in the process of creating a STEM Equity Fact Sheet that team members
can use in continuing extension work.
- Wisconsin has begun a pilot project in the Lakeshore Technical College District
that includes secondary education partners, Plymouth, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan School
Districts.
- Several of the STEM Equity Pipeline Project team members worked with another group
to create the Wisconsin STEM Portal - for all things, STEM.
Read the complete newsletter
on the STEM Equity Pipeline website, under State Team Activities.
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON
Secretary Duncan Announces $2.4 Million in Grants to help Girls in Math, Science
on Anniversary of Title IX
On the 37th anniversary of Title IX, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined
White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and an all-star line-up of women athletes
and scientists for a roundtable discussion on the landmark legislation, and he announced
the award of $2.4 million in grants to 13 groups to support projects that will help
high school girls gain higher proficiency in math and science.
More Information
ARTICLES
Mobile Labs Increase Students' Access to Science Education
(David Unze, USA Today)
Labs on wheels are bringing hands-on science tools to schools that don't have enough
equipment. "We're very excited about having this resource," said Greg Vandal, a
Minnesota superintendent. "We all struggle with having state-of-the-art equipment
and resources in an area [of study] that moves so quickly."
Read More
Engineering Career? Many Kids Say No
(American Machinist)
A Harris Interactive survey conducted on behalf of the American Society for Quality
indicated that 85 percent of youth, ages 8 to 17, say they are not interested in
a future engineering career for a variety of reasons. The top three reasons were:
Kids don't know much about engineering - 44 percent. Kids prefer a more exciting
career than engineering - 30 percent. They don't feel confident enough in their
math or science skills - 21 percent - to be good at it. Yet, the largest number
of kids ranked math (22 percent) and science (17 percent) as their favorite subjects.
Read More
UVA Study Finds Gender Bias Remains on Sexes, Science
(By Rachana Dixit, Media General News Service)
Both men and women hold to the stereotype that males are more easily linked with
science than females, a new study says. The work's authors say the stereotype may
contribute to continuing underachievement and under-participation among girls and
women in science, furthering the idea that science is a male career.
Read More
Engineering Schools Boost Efforts to Attract Females
(Claude Solnik, Long Island Business News)
Engineering schools are re-engineering their programs to attract more women and
retain students who have been switching to other disciplines. They are making the
effort after seeing the number of people obtaining engineering degrees remain basically
flat and the number of women slip slightly.
Read More
Girls Worse at Math? No Way, New Analysis Shows
(By Maggie Fox, Boston.com)
Girls can do just as well at math as boys-even at the genius level-if they are given
the same opportunities and encouragement, researchers recently reported. Their study,
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, contradicts studies
showing girls can do as well as boys on average in math -- but cannot excel in the
way males can.
Read More
RESOURCES
SAVE THE DATE
Orlando, FL
July 10-13, 2009
"Center Stage: Effective Strategies for Recruitment and Talent Development"
Oakland, CA
August 3-5, 2009