New Student Spaceflight Experiment Program Opportunity Announced

The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education has announced a new opportunity for students and communities to participate in the final Space Shuttle mission (STS-135) aboard Atlantis in August of 2011 through the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP).  The deadline for signing a contract for participation is March 15, 2011,  with five-page proposals regarding the micro-gravity experiments due by May 12, 2011.  For more details on the funding and other requirements to participate, visit http://ssep.ncesse.org/ and http://ssep.ncesse.org/2011/01/how-to-participate-in-ssep-on-the-final-flight-of-the-u-s-space-shuttle-program-shuttle-atlantis-sts-135/ and follow the links on SSEP.

Middle Schoolers' Essays Show Connections Between STEM and Careers

A series of entertaining and insightful essays written by middle school students about their favorite classes (math and science, in many cases) shows how the courses are relevant to their future career plans.  The essays relate how real-life application can enhance the STEM experience.  http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/feb/08/what-current-class-is-going-to-prepare-you-best/

Webinar on Inspiring Girls to Participate in Information Technology 2/9/11

The National Center for Women & Information Technology is sponsoring a webinar on 9 February 2011 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on inspiring girls to participate in information technology.  The "webcast will highlight free materials and information for attracting more girls and underrepresented groups to computing and information technology and share how formal and informal educators are using these resources to strengthen programming for girls."  To register, go to http://www.ngcproject.org/events/register.cfm?eventid=186 .

CSUS/UCD Receive NSF Grant for STEM Education Efforts

The Sacramento Bee reports that CSU Sacramento and UC Davis's MESA (Mathematics, Science, Engineering Achievement) program has received an approximately $740,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to teach forty students from Twin Rivers Unified School District to design and use computer games to teach math concepts to elementary school students.  The games will be tested in local schools.  http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/03/3374953/csusucd-educational-prgram-receives.html

Key Issues Institute Applications Due by 4/1/11

MEEC, AVAQMD, AVC and the SB70 Collaborative, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and the LA County Sanitation District are offering full scholarships to three grade 5 through 8 teachers in the Antelope Valley to the five-day Key Issues Institute in Silverthorne, Colorado during June or July.  The institute addresses issues relating to environmental and STEM education.  Teachers must teach at least one section of a core subject (math, science, social science, or English).  Applications are due to Violet Roberts by no later than 1 April 2011.  For more information about the institute, visit http://www.keystone.org/cfe/pel/services.  For the application and further information regarding the scholarship, visit http://www.meeconline.com/key-issues-teacher-scholarship-program/.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring

Maja J. Mataric of USC has been named a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring, and was honored at a White House ceremony last week.  Candidates are nominated by colleagues, administrators and students (elementary grades through graduate school) at their home institutions, according to the White House website.  Honorees receive a $10,000 award to advance their mentoring efforts in recognition of the "crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering—particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in those fields."  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/21/president-honors-outstanding-science-math-engineering-mentors

Free Webinar Regarding Implicit Bias in STEM 2/16/11

Dr. Fred Smyth from the University of Virginia will present a webinar, sponsored by the STEM Equity Pipeline, on "Implicit Bias in STEM:  The Power of Automatic, Unintended Mindsets."  The free webinar, to be held at 10:00 a.m. PST on 16 Feb. 2011, will address evidence of implicit bias and its effects on STEM outcomes such as choice of major and high-stakes testing results.  To register for the webinar, visit https://www106.livemeeting.com/lrs/8001043798/Registration.aspx?pageName=hxh237qvj003jp80

New iPad Free App Aims to Boost Teen Interest in Mechanical Engineering

CNET has recently reviewed a new Autodesk free app for iPad known as "Tinker Box," which aims to boost teens' interest in mechanical engineering.  Reportedly similar to "The Incredible Machine," the app has several different training and simulation levels with 13 puzzles to work on.  The app also allows one to link to others' inventions.  http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31747_7-20030247-243.html

Santa Monica-Malibu District Adopts New Environmental Curriculum

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is adopting up to 85 units of environmental curriculum prepared by the California Environmental Protection Agency, thanks to grant funding by the Sempra Energy Foundation.  Funding will cover teacher professional development and instructional materials.  For full details of the story, go to http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2011-02-01-71237.113116-District-hailed-for-adopting-environmental-curriculum.html

NACME President Calls for Increased Minority Participation in STEM

In a recent "Washington Post" commentary, Irving Pressley McPhail, President of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, calls upon business leaders and policy-makers to focus more on increased participation by under-represented minorities and women in STEM education and career fields in order to optimize American competitiveness in the global marketplace.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012805974.html

On a related note, according to "Inside Higher Ed," Howard University has reduced its offerings by 71 out of 171 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs to focus more on STEM-related, Africana, and diaspora studies.  http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/02/01/howard_university_spares_philosophy_and_african_studies_the_axe_but_guts_or_changes_71_others