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STEM Education News

January 19, 2012

In This Issue:

NSF Releases 2012 Science and Engineering Indicators

The United States remains the global leader in supporting science and technology (S&T) research and development, but only by a slim margin that could soon be overtaken by rapidly increasing Asian investments. So suggest trends released this week in the report, Science and Engineering Indicators 2012, by the National Science Board (NSB). The report outlines the overall status of the science, engineering and technology workforce, education efforts and economic activity in the United States and abroad.

According to the report, the largest global S&T gains occurred in the so-called “Asia-10″–China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand–as those countries integrate S&T into economic growth. While the U.S. share of global R&D dropped from 38 percent to 31 percent between 1999-2009, it grew from 24 percent to 35 percent in Asia during the same time. In China alone, R&D growth increased a stunning 28 percent in a single year (2008-2009), propelling it past Japan and into second place behind the United States.

In 2009, President Obama released A Strategy for American Innovation, which recognized the importance of science and engineering as drivers of innovation and identified a strong fundamental research base as critical to innovation, economic growth and competitiveness.

“Maintaining our role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation [is] absolutely essential to our future,” the President said.

NSF has launched a number of new initiatives designed to better position the U.S. globally and at home by enhancing international collaborations, improving education and establishing new partnerships between NSF-supported researchers and those in industry, for example. Among these initiatives are Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI); The NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program; NSF investment in advanced manufacturing; and Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES).

Review the complete Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/indicators/.

Celebrate Nuclear Science Week

National Nuclear Science Week, “Get to Know Nuclear,” is taking place January 24-28 in recognition of the contributions of the nuclear science industry and those who work in it every day. The goal of the week is to encourage education, participation and communication around nuclear themes that are promoted on each day of the week. The days provide platforms for learning and exploration of nuclear sciences, careers in the nuclear field, energy generation, nuclear safety and nuclear medicine and radiology.

“This week is an opportunity for educators, industry and citizens across our country to speak out about the critical value of nuclear science and technology to our future energy security and economic competiveness,” stated Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. “As a platform for a nationwide discussion on the need to recruit the next generation of students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, National Nuclear Science Week plays an important role.”

Wednesday January 25 is Nuclear Science Day, with involvement from Triangle Coalition members, the American Nuclear Society – as a sponsor, and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) – as the host of the event. This full-day online event features world-class nuclear experts in many fields of nuclear science and technology, explaining what it’s all about in live internet webinars and Q&A sessions for students grades 5-12, as well as other interested parties. On Wednesday evening, Excelsior College will host a free webinar titled Women in Nuclear: Professional Organizations and Career Advancement. For more information or to register for these events, visit nuclearscienceweek.org. The website  also offers free games, tools, and curricula information for teachers.

ITEEA Advises Chinese Technology Education Association on Teacher Preparation

China does not currently prepare teachers to specifically address technology as happens in U.S. universities; rather, Chinese curriculum introduces students to technology via science teachers. This, however, may change in the future as Chinese leaders are currently considering whether teacher-preparation universities will include technology education as a major in the future. Triangle Coalition member, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) has begun discussions with the Chinese Technology Education Association (CTEA) about the preparation of technology education teachers for Chinese secondary schools.

In December, ITEEA Executive Director, Dr. Kendall Starkweather spoke to a group of future technology teachers and leaders in Beijing about the importance of education in creating an advanced technological society. “The main issue here is whether any nation can maintain a worldwide competitive edge without appropriate understandings and education pertaining to technological literacy-understandings that result in the level and quality of living that we desire,” said Starkweather. Starkweather went on to further discuss the definition of technological teaching, technological literacy content and curriculum, and what it takes to build ongoing success for the future. Dr. Starkweather’s remarks can be found on ITEEA’s website.

The next exchange of information will occur at ITEEA’s International Conference, in Long Beach, CA March 15-17 with an address by one of China’s professional development leaders, Dr. Jianjun Gu of Nanjing Normal University. Dr. Gu will describe the status of Chinese technology education during the luncheon. Sue Wang, an established leader in Chinese educational research, will also address the topic at the Long Beach Conference. For more information, visit www.iteea.org.

ONR STEM Challenge Awards Over $1 Million to Innovative Educational Projects

Twelve winners of the Sponsoring Scholars in Science challenge will each receive a research grant worth up to $100,000 to carry out projects that cultivate student interest and participation in STEM. Selected from a pool of over 125 entries, the 2011 winners were announced by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) at the Naval STEM Forum in December. The Sponsoring Scholars in Science program supports ONR’s goal of growing the pipeline of future scientists and engineers for the naval workforce.

Finalists represent the education, scientific and business communities from across the United States. Their ideas reflect both creativity and the needs posed by different geographic regions and education levels. One of the winners was Tim Turner of Triangle Coalition member, the American Society for Engineering Education, with a project that will create a prototype of STEM Advocacy.

Another winning entry, from South Kitsap School District in Port Orchard, WA, will expand the Advanced Placement (AP) environmental science curriculum with real, hands-on renewable energy projects. The submission was a collaboration between Chance Gower, CTE instructional specialist for the district, and Sara Hatfield, a teacher at South Kitsap High School. “Our STEM initiative will challenge students to design and install renewable energy systems on the grounds of the high school,” said Gower. “We are partnering with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, whose engineers volunteer to work with students to optimize designs and help with installation.”

Hatfield added, “The first project is to plan, design and install a marine-grade wind turbine that will actually help power the school and supply electricity to the grid. This brings real math and engineering challenges into the classroom. The ONR grant will enable us to have the turbine up and running this school year.” View a complete list of 2011 winners here.

President’s Jobs Council Calls for Transformation in STEM Education

The President’s Council on Jobs & Competitiveness released a new report this week entitled Road Map to Renewal, which lays out a set of recommendations to improve our Nation’s competitiveness over the long term.  This report builds on last October’s Jobs Council report and offers six key recommendations, which include a special emphasis on K-12 STEM education.

The challenge, the report says, is that American education and professional training are not where they need to be for us to thrive in an increasingly competitive global arena. The gap between employer needs and workforce skills is starkest in the critical areas of STEM education. Yet while demand is growing rapidly, the U.S. is on track to respond with only modest increases in the number of graduates in STEM related fields. In addition, only 1.5% of 25-34 year-olds in the workplace gained a higher education degree in a science related field, putting the U.S. in the bottom third of all OECD countries.

The Jobs Council calls for a transformation of our education system from preschool through K-12, especially in STEM education, as well as ensuring that our higher education and professional training programs are better aligned to meet student needs. It also recommends renewing our Nation’s commitment to investing in innovation, including the research to develop new technologies, the capital to turn ideas into industries, and a 21st century workforce with the skills to sustain our competitive edge and develop the next round of game-changing inventions. Read the report’s summary and more about its recommendations here.

UF, FSU Presidents Suggest Higher STEM Tuition

Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
1/13/12

Presidents of Florida’s two leading research universities suggested Friday that lawmakers let them pay for expanding expensive science, technology, engineering and math programs by charging those so-called STEM students higher tuition.

University of Florida’s Bernie Machen and Florida State University’s Eric Barron also told the House Education Committee their schools and possibly some others should be allowed to bring up tuition rates, now among the lowest in the nation, closer to the national average. Current law lets the Legislature and Board of Governors approve annual increases totaling no more than 15 percent.

Gov. Rick Scott, who has made job creation his top priority, has been pushing universities to boost STEM degree production because there’s greater demand for those graduates in the marketplace.

Both universities are taking steps to attract more students into STEM classes, but Education Committee Chairman Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, asked Machen and Barron for suggestions on how to pay for the additional laboratories, equipment and other costs that make STEM classes more expensive than other curricula. Read more.

  • Member in the Spotlight:

Fly to Learn Teams Up with Build A Plane to Teach STEM With Airplanes

Students can experience STEM firsthand through the use of virtual airplanes with a new software developed by Triangle Coalition member, Fly to Learn and partner, Build A Plane.  The program gives kids a chance to learn the basics of aviation, and apply what they have learned through building virtual planes which they can fly against one another in an Aviation Challenge.

Fly to Learn has developed a classroom curriculum which is paired with the world’s leading flight simulator software, X-Plane. “X-Plane is a great learning experience because the software is sensitive to things like center of gravity, induced drag, angle of incidence and more,” says Fly to Learn’s Thomas Dubick. Currently targeted to middle school students, aviation competitions begin within the classroom and students then have a chance to advance and fly their virtual planes against other students regionally and nationally. For more information, go to www.FlytoLearn.com or visit Fly to Learn’s Member Profile Page.

__________________________________________________________ Sponsors: This week’s STEM Education News is sponsored by 3M. 3M and the 3M Foundation are committed to supporting innovative and practical initiatives which enhance the quality of life in 3M communities around the world. With the goal of helping to develop productive, educated and involved citizens, 3M targets programs that address related education, family, and community issues. Science and math education and youth development are top priorities. In addition to education, 3M also supports health and human services, the arts, and environmental efforts. 3M and the 3M Foundation donate millions to education, arts and cultural, health and human services, and environmental organizations. To find out how your organization can sponsor the News or support the Triangle Coalition in other ways, click here. __________________________________________________________________

The STEM Education News (formerly the TCEB) is a e-newsletter provided to members and friends of the Triangle Coalition.

To submit information for possible inclusion in News, contact stemeducation@triangle-coalition.org.