NASA Aeronautics Educator Workshop Scheduled for Palmdale 4/17/14

NASA Education Office will be holding an aeronautics educator workshop (formal educators grades 2-12) on "Seeing Sound and the FPG-9 Glider" on 17 April 2014, from 4:00pm-5:30pm at the AERO Institute in Palmdale.  Participants in the free workshop will join NASA Armstrong Education Specialist Dr. Richard Chapleau in constructing a simple waveform monitor and an "FPG-9 glider" from grocery store materials for use in the classroom, with connections to CCSS and NGSS.  Seating is limited.  Please call or e-mail to register:  Sondra Geddes, 661.276.2359, sondra.l.geddes@nasa.gov .

2014 Cassini Scientist for A Day Essay Contest Submissions Due by 4/17/14

Teachers of students in grades 5-12 are invited to submit student essays of not longer than 500 words to NASA's 2014 "Cassini Scientist for A Day" competition.  In commemoration of the Cassini spacecraft's 10-year anniversary, NASA is seeking essays on one of three topics:  1) Saturn's F ring; 2) Saturn's moon, Titan; or 3) the north polar region of Saturn, answering the questions: why should Cassini take this photo; and what questions will be answered through the photo.

For information on submission rules, eligibility, and prizes (including a possible visit with  Cassini scientists), visit 2014 Cassini Scientist for A Day Essay Contest

Boeing Essay Contest Entries Due By 4/10/14

"Oceans: Preserving the Earth's Liquid World" is the theme of this year's Boeing spring essay contest, sponsored by MEEC.  Students in grades K-12 may enter the contest, with kindergarten students able to offer a drawing plus 2-3 sentences about the theme, and other essays not to exceed 250 words in length about the subject.  Winners in each age category (K, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) will receive gift cards.  "EACH ESSAY MUST CONTAIN THE
AUTHOR’S GRADE, SCHOOL AND HOME PHONE NUMBER TO BE CONSIDERED.  Submissions may be mailed, delivered or faxed by 10 April 2014 to:MEEC, 14306 Park Ave, Victorville, CA 92392 or (760) 241-6271.  All submissions become the property of MEEC and Boeing. 
"Winners will be notified by phone and invited to attend the Award Ceremony presentation
on April 23, 2014 at the Antelope Valley AQMD located at 43301 Division St, Suite 206, Lancaster.  For further information, please call Samantha Murray, at: (760) 245-1661 ext. 6717."

AV Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Deadline 4/25/14

Applications for two $1,000 scholarships, funded by Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, are now being accepted by the AV chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.  Female high school seniors, community college transfer students, and current undergraduates with permanent residency within the Antelope Valley, California (zip codes beginning 935**) and who are/will be pursuing an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited institution are eligible to apply by providing official transcripts and application documents to the AV chapter of SWE at SWE.AntelopeValley@gmail.com by no later than 25 April 2014.  For further information regarding eligibility and application requirements, visit AV SWE Scholarship .

Google Science Fair Submissions Due By 5/12/14 - FAQ Hangouts 4/4, 4/7, 4/11

Calling all Google science aficianados:  Google is once again hosting its annual Science Fair for students ages 13-18 from around the world.  Students register for free at GoogleScienceFair.com, then carry out an experiment or test a subject of their interest, and submit their project by 12 May 2014; 90 regional finalists will be chosen and their work reviewed by judges, with that field narrowed to 15 finalists who will go to the Google HQ in Mountain View, CA to compete for a range of prizes.  There will be Google Hangouts in early April, as well as website resources for competitors.  For further information on critical dates, to register, and view resources, go to Google Science Fair Competition Overview .

Solar and Renewable Energy Workshop in Palmdale - Register by 4/4/14

Boeing and MEEC are hosting a "Solar and Renewable Energy" workshop for 25 teachers at the Palmdale Conference Center, 1156 East Avenue "S," on 16 April 2014, from 4:00-6:00pm; the registration deadline is 4 April.  A second session will be held 4/24/14 at the Mojave Desert AQMD in Victorville (registration deadline 4/10).  Participants will receive free curriculum, free tools, and free dinner!  The information provided will enable students to "conduct scientific research on renewable energy sources, draw conclusions, and develop critical thinking skills while learning how to reach logical conclusions and solutions about our future energy usage. Each participating teacher will receive a kit that contains a Hydropower Kit, Solar Oven, Solar Panel Kit, Wind Turbine Kit, PLUS curriculum from the National Environmental Education Development Program (NEED). NEED curriculum includes four levels: Primary, Elementary, Intermediate, and Secondary. The NEED Project curriculum includes Teachers’ Guides and Student Lab Books for hands-on activities as well as a variety of resources to learn about solar, hydropower, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy and their applications. Student Lab Book activities are designed for group learning, which promotes interaction among students. NEED's K-12 curriculum helps schools meet the Common Core State Standards, develop student leadership, and brings the latest technology into the classroom. "  Each kit is valued at $400.  For further information and to register, visit Solar and Renewable Energy Workshop 2014 .

MEEC Solar Cook-Off Competition Registration Due By 5/1/14

The second annual MEEC solar oven cook-off competition is back and hotter than ever!  Teams of students in grades 4-12 are invited to register by 1 May 2014 to compete on 14 June 2014 at the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley.  Students will design, build, and create/fix original recipes involving their solar cookers.  Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three in each age division (4th-6th, 7th-9th, 10th-12th) for construction (Best Oven Design) and recipe (Top Solar Chef).  For more information and to register, visit MEEC Solar Oven Cook-Off .

NGSS Rollout Symposium Meetings Slated for May

The OC Office of Education, in partnership with CDE, CSP, WestEd, and CSTA,  is presenting a Next Generation Science Standards Rollout Symposium for teachers and administrators of grades K-12 from 8:00am-4:30pm on 22 and 23 May 2014 at the Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center.  Districts and schools are encouraged to bring teams to the event to learn more about the standards, performance expectations, connections with CCSS, lesson explorations, action plans, and more.  Registration fees include symposium materials, continental breakfast, and lunch.  To register, go to NGSS Rollout Symposium .


Update:  NGSS Rollout  Symposium also offered May 27-28, 2014, Crafton Hills College, Yucaipa 11711 San Canyon Rd., Yucaipa, CA 92399, Registration/Continental Breakfast - 7:30 a.m. Meeting - 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (day two 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).  NGSS Rollout Symposium Locations

State of STEM and ARTS 5/21/14

The LA Regional STEM Hub will host "The State of STEM + Arts" at the Los Angeles Times Building on 21 May 2014.  Registration begins at 7:30am, and the event runs from 8:30 to 11:40am.  The convening will focus on multi-industry collaborations to advance STEM and arts education for workforce development.  For more information and to register, go to State of STEM + Arts .

On a related note, Vital Link of Orange County will be hosting the 2014 STEM and the Arts Career Showcase at the OC Fair and Event Center on 11-13 April 2014.  For more information, see OC STEM and the Arts Career Showcase .

AV Summer Gateway Academy Registration Available Until 5/23/14



The AVUHSD will offer two sessions of the PLTW (c) Summer Gateway Academy in 2014.  Designed to introduce incoming 7th and 8th graders to STEM principles related to engineering and robotics, the free week-long camp sessions will take place 23-27 June 2014 at SOAR Prep Academy in Quartz Hill, and 21-25 July 2014 at Knight High School in Palmdale.  Each session will accept approximately 35 students on a first-come, first-served basis; students must have their own daily transportation and lunch.  For further information and to apply, please visit the red tab at Summer Gateway Academy - Middle School Registration 2014.  Registration will be open until 23 May 2014 or until filled (classes may waitlist).