US Students Struggling in Science

Reporting results from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), AP states that only one percent of fourth graders and twelfth graders, and two percent of eighth graders, scored proficient in physical, life, earth, and space sciences.  There was also an achievement gap for ethnic sub-groups, with seventy-one percent of black seniors and fifty-eight percent of Hispanics scoring below basic.  "
Overall, 34 percent of fourth-graders, 30 percent of eighth-graders and 21 percent of 12th-graders scored at the proficient level or above. Seventy-two percent of fourth-graders, 63 percent of eighth-graders and 60 percent of 12th-graders showed a basic level or above of science knowledge and skills."  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j9LfaQ1tDgT5WYknvkzJElm0qtig?docId=8a90412232404706b3904ec1b87177ef

Central Valley California STEM Activities

• The Modesto Bee reports on recent and upcoming activities sponsored by the Modesto Area Partners in Science (MAPS), including Peter Gros's talk on the Wild Kingdom, and SETI astronomer Seth Shrostak's presentation on the "Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence" scheduled for 28 Jan. 2011 at 7:30 at Modesto Junior College.  Meanwhile, UC Merced has just dedicated the site for a second science and engineering building.  http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/18/1515833/regions-putting-science-in-its.html#ixzz1BPpdLPU9

• The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART), which serves approximately 1,300 high school students from Clovis and Fresno, offers instruction in blended academic and career-technical education (CTE) courses such as biomedical engineering, forensic science, engineering, advanced communication, and global dynamics.  Data from a recent seven-year Cal-PASS study of CART students shows that a larger percentage of its graduates goes on to community college than the statewide average and local peers.  http://www.scribd.com/doc/47541338 

Space Settlement and Rocket Design Competitions

Brice Russ from Ars Technica provides information regarding upcoming space settlement and rocket design competitions entered by SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) and AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) student chapters at nation-wide universities, as well as competitions for K-12 students.  The NASA Space Settlement Contest for students aged 11-18 has submissions due by March 15, 2011, while letters of intent for the Undergraduate Team Space Transportation Design Competition for AIAA college student chapters are also due by mid-March.  For more details on these student organizations and the competitions, visit http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/01/still-got-the-right-stuff-the-next-generation-of-rocket-scientists.ars

Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest Submissions Due 2/16/11

Secondary and post-secondary students taking at least one career-technical education (CTE) course are eligible to enter the Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest sponsored by the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE).  This year's prompt is "What does this year's [CTE month] theme, Learning Today, Earning Tomorrow mean to you?"  A $250 scholarship will be awarded to one secondary and one post-secondary winner.  Essays must be 400-600 words in length and be e-mailed by 16 Feb. 2011 to essaycontest@acteonline.org .  For full details, visit Cliff Weiss Essay Contest.

Youth Environmental Leadership Conference (YELC) in Lancaster on 2 April 2011

Students in grades 3 through 12 are encouraged to apply for the upcoming Youth Environmental Leadership Conference (YELC), sponsored by the Mojave Environmental Education Consortium (MEEC).  The conference, with the theme of adopting sustainable practices, will be held in the AV on 2 April 2011 at Amargosa Creek Middle School.  Applications are due by no later than 9 March.  Teacher workshops will also be offered.  Visit http://www.meeconline.com/students/yelc/ for more details and the application.

Sen. Cantwell (WA) Plans Replication of STEM Schools Nationwide

The Tri-City Herald reports a recent visit by Sen. Maria Cantwell to Delta High School, a public-private partnership STEM school in Richland, WA.  The school, with smaller classes held for longer periods, focuses on STEM subjects; students attend there rather than their local high school, and are placed as interns at the local Dept. of  Energy national lab.  Sen. Cantwell plans to introduce legislation on the STEM Education Investment Act of 2011, and to work to replicate the school plan from Delta on a nationwide scale.  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/01/13/1325166/cantwell-plans-support-of-stem.html

Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited (NAP)

The National Academies Press released a publication in September 2010 entitled "Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited:  Rapidly Approaching Category 5."  This report, a follow-up to its 2005 call to action and recommendations to strengthen STEM competitiveness in the United States, finds that the outlook since the initial publication has worsened, despite some positive actions, including the initial authorization of the America COMPETES Act (currently up for re-authorization).  For a look at the full report, visit the National Academies Press website at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12999

Google Launches Global Science Fair - Submissions Due 4 April 2011

Google has announced a global science fair for young people aged 13 to 18 years old, working either individually or in teams of two or three.  The grand prize is a trip to the Galapagos Islands and a $50k scholarship.  Entrants are required to create either a two-minute video or a 20-slide presentation in English with details of their project embedded in the project submission, which is due by 4 April 2011.  Projects will be judged by teachers, with finalists being posted for a "People's Choice" voting process.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i_KO6iA5mtZ_CbvBa2frliqau0lQ?docId=CNG.f41f04cec6adef03d940f980c6f65e88.131

Antelope Valley Mathematics Council Open House 10 Feb. 2011

The AV Mathematics Council will be hosting an open house at Pueblo Learning Center in Palmdale on 10 February 2011 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm (1600-1800).  Please stop by to meet the officers, have light refreshments, and find out how you can become involved.  For more information, contact Matt Winheim at mwinheim@avhsd.org and/or check out the AVMC on Facebook.

Number of High School Computer Courses Offered Declines

Computerworld, citing a report by the Association for Computing Machinery and Computer Science Teachers Association,  reports that the number of introductory high school computer course offerings  declined 17% overall from 2005 to 2009, and AP Computer Science courses dropped 35% in the same period.  The report opines that the No Child Left Behind Act and other STEM initiatives may have had the unintended consequence by focusing only on traditional math and science courses.  http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/353671/K_12_Schools_Lack_Computer_Science_Classes?taxonomyId=70