Siemens "We Can Change the World Challenge" Now Open for K-12 Teams

The Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education have announced the opening of call for entries to the annual "We Can Change the World Challenge" for K-12 student teams.  Students, paired with a teacher advisor (part- or full-time school employee), work to find a green solution to an environmental issue in their classroom, school or community.  Once registered as a team, there are resources and web-based curriculum tools available for use.  Winning teams and schools are eligible to receive part of a total prize package of $300,000 worth of scholarships, savings bonds, school grants, adventure trips, school assemblies and more. 

The deadline for entries is 4 March 2014, and winners will be notified in April of 2014.  For more information and to register, go to www.wecanchange.com . 

STEMConnector and TeenLife Media Publish STEM Programs Guide

STEMConnector has teamed up with TeenLife Media to produce a 2013 Guide to STEM Programs which is available for review on-line and for download.  The Guide includes a directory of STEM colleges and programs, a list of the top 10 paying majors, as well as a variety of student and professional profiles and articles related to STEM studies and careers.  Visit http://teenlife.uberflip.com/i/156018.

Fordham Institute Report Finds that Next Generation Science Standards Not Adequately Aligned With Common Core Math

According to an article in the Education Week "Curriculum Matters" blog, a recent report released by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, comparing the new Next Generation Science Standards with the new Common Core State Standards for math, opines that there is insufficient alignment with the math standards by grade level, as well as lack of specificity in the math skills required for the science expectations.  While Appendix L of the NGSS does outline the connections more explicitly according to the study's principal analyst, Prof. W. Stephen Wilson of Johns Hopkins, there are still shortcomings.  The study also contains a state-by-state comparison of existing science standards with the NGSS (although California is not included).  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2013/08/report_science_standards_fall_.html

Public comments to the Fordham report are invited, and the report is available for download.  http://www.edexcellence.net/publications/commentary-on-appendix-l.html

FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2013-2014 to Design Solution for Natural Disaster

FIRST LEGO League has announced its team challenge for the upcoming year.  #Nature's Fury will have global teen robotics teams work on identifying a community which could experience a natural disaster, identifying a problem which occurs in the wake of a natural disaster, creating an innovative solution to the problem, and sharing the problem and solution with others.  Solutions will be presented by team members at tournaments, including LEGO robot missions and multimedia presentations.  For more information about the challenge, visit FIRST LEGO League 2013 Nature's Fury Challenge.

Enviro-Bus Bucks Field Trip Grants Now Available - Application Deadline 10/30/13

MEEC has announced that the annual Enviro-Bus Bucks field trip grant applications are now available for teachers in the High Desert areas of San Bernardino and northern Los Angeles County, as well as Riverside County's Palo Verde Valley- the deadline to submit the on-line application is 30 October 2013.  No handwritten applications will be accepted; the applications must be accompanied by transportation agency cost quotes (if not available through your school district, then proof of mileage and hourly or mileage rates for the transportation agency). 

To download the 2013/2014 EBB online Application form, Rules & Guidelines, and available Host Sites, please go to: www.meeconline.com (green box.)  Grant recipients will be notified between 15 and 30 November 2013.

Services for Astronaut Gordon Fullerton Scheduled

Local retired NASA astronaut Gordon Fullerton passed away at age 76 after a lengthy illness on 21 August 2013.  Gordon's long and storied career included two space shuttle missions during his tenure as an astronaut from 1969-1986.  He then returned to NASA Dryden where he served as a NASA test pilot for 22 years, and later as Associate Director for Flight Operations and chief of the flight crew branch prior to his retirement in 2007.  Gordon consistently appeared and interacted with students and educators at NASA events such as Apollo's 40th anniversary celebration, and he was a perennial favorite at Salute to Youth, flying in with his NASA F-18.  He will be dearly missed.

Gordon with NASA workers and students at Salute to Youth

 

A full biography of Fullerton is available online at:   Dryden Pilot Biographies - C. Gordon Fullerton

Video highlights of Fullerton's career are available on-line at:  Dryden People

 

A funeral mass is scheduled for Gordon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lancaster at 10:00am on Saturday, 24 August 2013.

YELC Applications Due by 9/12/13 (Deadline Extended)

Remember to register your student teams for the Mojave/Antelope Valley Youth Environmental Leadership Conference sponsored by MEEC on 5 October 2013.  The featured speaker is once again Joel Greene; grants and transportation stipends may be available.  Applications are due by 5  12 September 2013 at 5:00pm.  Download the team application at www.meeconlinecom/students/yelc .  Submit Completed Applications:  MEEC/YELC, 14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392, Email to: christier@mdaqmd.ca.gov , FAX: (760) 241-6271.  For more information contact:  Christie Robinson/YELC Coordinator, (760) 245-1661 x 6101.

 

 

Upcoming STEM Events

Several statewide STEM education events are coming up in the fall, so please keep them on your radar:

• AV MSET, STEM School Tour in Palmdale for industry partners: 30 October 2013 - contact Bob Johnstone for details, bjohnstone@cityoflancasterca.org
• California Science Education Conference: 25-27 October 2013 in Palm Springs - http://www.cascience.org/csta/conf_home13.asp
• California Math Council - South:  Annual Mathematics Council 1-2 November 2013 in Palm Springs, CA - http://cmc-math.org/activities/south_conference.html
• California's 1st Annual STEM Conference: 18-19 November 2013 in Sacramento, CA - http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/stemconference.asp

GE Hosts #6SecondScience Fair on Social Media 8/8-8/15/13

GE is hosting a social media science fair from 8-15 August 2013 using the Vine app for six-second videos to be posted using the hashtag #6secondsciencefair on Twitter.  GE will both create (including celebrity videos) and curate user-created videos showing their science projects.  One of the popular offerings to date shows what happens when you combine milk, food coloring, and dish soap.  Go to http://www.gereports.com/6secondscience/ for more details and to see some of the videos.
 

"Zombie Science" on the Marquee of "STEM Behind Hollywood"

Fox News reports on a new initiative by Texas Instruments and The Science & Entertainment Exchange which provides curriculum resources in "STEM Behind Hollywood." "Zombie Science"  Free resources relate to the popular "undead" theme of movies and television, where students can learn about the spread of disease and inoculation, among other subjects, such as forensics, space, and superheroes in the media.  For more information, visit STEM Behind Hollywood .

AV Summer Gateway Academies Engage Middle School Students in STEM

Two Project Lead the Way Summer Gateway Academy sessions were sponsored by the AVUHSD for middle school students during June and July 2013.  Over thirty students took part in events such as rocket-building and launching, creating solar cell phone covers, learning how to use design software, and programming Boe-bots to go through a maze, among others.  The session held at Lancaster High School was also visited by Lockheed Martin's school outreach team.

Eagle Robotics team member assists students to learn design software at
Lancaster HS Summer Gateway Academy

Middle school students launch solar balloon

Students at KHS Summer Gateway Academy create solar cell phone covers/chargers

 

Claremont Graduate University Publishes Inaugural Digital "STEAM Journal"

Claremont Graduate University has published its inaugural on-line "The STEAM Journal" dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.  To access it, read and download papers under Digital Commons rights, visit Claremont Graduate University "The STEAM Journal" Inaugural Issue .

Geek Week on YouTube Airs 8/4-8/10/13

The week of 4 August through 10 August has been dubbed "Geek Week" on YouTube.  On Monday, the theme is "Global Geekery" on multi-cultural geek trends and a celebration of Dr. Who. "Brainiac Tuesday" will feature Veritasium and The Spangler Effect with science, education, and "all things knowledge." SuperWednesday will cover superheroes, supernatural and "super-weird".  Gaming Thursday will include live games, games in real life, and a Twitter chat on gaming (#GeekWeek at 1pm PST), while Friday ends up with "Fan Friday" featuring Felicia Day of "Geek & Sundry."  Weekend fare includes "Best of Geek Week Saturday."  For more info and a complete rundown, including info on how to get badges for participating and real-time clues for an Easter egg hunt, visit www.YouTube.com/GeekWeek .