March 2008
STEM Equity Pipeline News
STEM Equity Pipeline Leadership Institute
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Double Tree Hotel Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA
For more information, please visit www.napequity.org/nape_steminstitute.htm.
The STEM Equity Pipeline Leadership Institute will follow the joint joint NAPE/Women Work conference scheduled for April 6-9,
2008, at the same location.
ARTICLES
An eight-week Virginia program culminating in an underwater robotics competition
aims to spark high-school students' interest in math, science and engineering. The
participating Prince William County students will attempt to create the speediest,
most nimble underwater robot, thanks to $36,000 raised from private corporations.
Differences between the ways male and female science students relate to mentors
could have a significant impact on efforts to attract more women to certain fields,
according to a new study focused on chemistry and published in the journal Sex Roles.
T.H.E. Journal (March 2008, Nagel) reports, "In an effort to spark interest in science
among elementary and middle school students -- particularly girls -- Sally Ride
Science is holding a festival March 29 at Santa Clara University (SCU)" in California.
The festival will include hands-on demonstrations, workshops, "and socialization
opportunities" for both students and teachers.
(Sean Cavanagh, Education Week, March 13, 2008)
The influence of a federal report calling for a more orderly approach to teaching
mathematics in the early grades will hinge largely on whether its message is accepted
by the nation's diverse and often fiercely divided math community, members of the
panel that crafted it acknowledge. Released this week, the report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel recommends
that schools present elementary and middle school math in a better-defined manner,
in contrast to the jumble of strategies now used in states and school districts.
(Larry Abramson, NPR)
The number of students enrolled in computer science programs is at its lowest in
at least a decade. "Comp Sci" was one of the hottest majors during the dot-com boom
of the late '90s, but the numbers dropped after the bust of 2001. Now, despite a
strong market for IT professionals and a resurgence in Web millionaires, college
students just aren't interested in studying computing. Larry Abramson talks to some
students and professors to find out why.
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster awarded 13 Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics (STEM) grants to school districts throughout Wisconsin. The competitive
grants, ranging in amounts from $4,220 to $4,900, were implemented to help school
districts develop innovative instructional programs in the STEM categories and increase
student academic achievement in these fields.
Turning students into apprentice scientists has long been a goal of K-12 science
educators. But it’s been many years since real scientists used the paper logs, alcohol
thermometers, balances, stopwatches, meter sticks, and other gear that remain staples
of many high school science labs. And that’s where “probeware” comes in. Though
the term may not be a household word, it has grown more familiar to science educators
over the past decade, as companies have marketed a new generation of high-tech instruments
for collecting and analyzing data from the physical world.
Nearly a dozen middle-school girls are taking a Saturday course at Boston's Museum
of Science that lets the students examine the chemical components of cosmetics and
concoct their own lipsticks as a way to increase their interest in science, says
biochemist Chi-Ting Huang, who teaches the class.
RESOURCES
This camp for girls works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry and gives
young people a chance to experience firsthand what it is like to develop cutting-edge
technology. During the camp, girls are exposed to executive speakers, technology
tours and demonstrations, networking and hands-on learning workshops. Maximum Award:
camp attendance. Eligibility: girls grades 7-12; must be 13 at the time of attendance.
Deadline: varies; see website.
Women Are Scientists is a series of FREE video presentations that showcases successful
female scientists in their respective specialties, and informs students about educational
requirements, rewards, and challenges of careers in the biomedical sciences. Each
video presentation gives a detailed view of three women scientists, from various
backgrounds, as role models for their particular career. This series is designed
to motivate students to take more challenging advanced science and math courses
and to enable them to successfully direct their own career paths.
EdWeek’s special annual report, “STEM: The Push to Improve Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics” is now online.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The American Honda Foundation makes grants to K-12 schools, colleges, universities,
trade schools and other youth-focused nonprofit organizations for programs that
benefit youth and scientific education. Maximum Award: $100,000. Eligibility: Schools
and youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Deadline: May 1, 2008.
The Toshiba America Foundation makes grants for projects in math and science designed
by classroom teachers to improve instruction for students in grades K-12. Maximum
Award: $10,000. Eligibility: Grades K-12. Deadline: Decisions about grants under
$5,000 (K-6: $1,000) are made on a rolling basis and applications are accepted throughout
the year. Deadline for large grants grades 7-12: August 1, 2008.
SAVE THE DATE
August 4-6, 2008, Oakland, CA
This 3-day workshop will teach participants strategies for encouraging girls in
technology, science and engineering.