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Opening up the STEMx archives

February 23, 2017

by Michael Feder, Director of STEMx

Today, we’re rolling out a major upgrade to the STEMx website, which includes a cleaner look and the launch of the STEMx endorsed resources.

It’s my great pleasure to recognize the work of STEMx members who have created the tools that received the STEMx “seal of approval.”

STEMx seal Each month, I work with “Practices” committee to identify high quality tools developed across the STEMx network. The Practices committee has been working for the past 12 months to achieve a simple vision: Find the best tools that sum up how STEMx networks grow their capacity and improve STEM education, and share them with you.

Today, we get to open the books to you with our first 17 committee-approved tools. These resources come from STEMx members across the country, from Washington to South Carolina. In each entry, you’ll find brief descriptions. These cover questions like: What’s the goal of the tool? What were its impacts in the state or community it was used? And of course, we’ve included links to download or access every single one of these resources. You can learn more about the tools in the upcoming STEMx webinars.

Here are a few key questions I hear from STEM advocates all the time with answers from our new database.

  1. How do I ensure that STEM schools are really providing access to high quality STEM learning opportunities? We’ve got answers from four different states: Texas, Arizona, Tennessee and South Carolina. Tools from these networks have been developed to work in the unique context of their state, but there are aspects of each state’s tool that can inform the work in your state.
  2. How can I advocate for STEM in powerful ways? Both the DC STEM Network and Tennessee STEM Innovation Network offer tools on this question. These tools, along with the STEMx communication (which will be released next week) and the Every Student Succeeds with STEM campaign , can help you take your STEM communications work to the next level.
  3. How do networks continue to grow their capacity to lead?  This is a big one so it’s not surprising we have four different answers. STEMx members have created templates for conducting landscape surveys (D.C) , developing memorandums of understanding with regional partners (Washington) , guiding those regional partners (Oregon), coordinating STEM statewide (Indiana) , and much more.

We will be looking for additional tools to review beginning later this month, so start thinking about which of the tools you have developed could benefit other networks.

Celebrating the 2023 STEM Innovation Forum

By Rob Evans • November 1, 2023
by Heather Sherman, Director of STEMx The 2023 STEM Innovation Forum: Activating Collaborations to Advance an Inclusive STEM Workforce was a success! Through our collaboration with STEMconnector and Million Women Mentors, we convened 160 leaders from industry, government, non-profit organizations, and education institutions from all over the United States to discuss strategies and best practices to support the STEM workforce. We were honored to host a variety of dynamic speakers including: Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado Brynt Parmeter, Chief Talent Management Officer, U.S. Department of Defense Dr. Athina Kanioura, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, PepsiCo and Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, Founder and CEO of Ruling Our eXperiences (RoX). We extend our gratitude to our panelists, Learning Session speakers, and participants who joined us in Denver. Broadening participation We set out share information on trends in STEM education and workforce development, with an emphasis on broadening participation in STEM careers. Resources from sessions highlighting strategies for broadening participation are linked below: DoD STEM: Developing a STEM Workforce to Support the National Security Mission Priming the Pump for High Demand STEM Careers STEM Workforce Readiness for Teen Girls: “If She Can See It, She Can Be It” Driving change Another goal of the forum was to feature high impact strategies, programs and solutions that are driving change, and STEMx members from LASTEM , the PAST Foundation and MBRT showed how they are engaging youth and building career awareness through their workforce programs. Emerging technologies We looked towards the future to better understand how emerging technologies will change the world and the ways we must prepare STEM talent for jobs in logistics, artificial intelligence, research safety , bioenergy , and renewable technologies. Chevron‘s sponsored panel, “Cultivating the Talent to Drive the Innovation and Technologies for Ever-Cleaner Energy” was a rich discussion featuring experts from Chevron, Project Lead the Way and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Dr. Jamie Vernon, Executive Director, and CEO, Sigma Xi Society was a fantastic moderator for this discussion. Next steps We have linked event resources including videos, slide decks and collateral on the event landing page . The event photo gallery is located there as well. If you attended, please complete our 30 second event survey . Five lucky winners will be selected at random to receive a Forum water bottle! More importantly, your feedback matters to us. If you did not attend, mark your calendar for next fall - we’re looking to make next year even bigger! If you are interested in hosting in your state, or have thoughts about compelling content that we should include, please reach out to Heather Sherman .

STEM Innovation Forum: Agenda and New Sponsors

By Rob Evans • October 3, 2023
Join us for The STEM Innovation Forum: Activating Collaborations to Advance an Inclusive STEM Workforce
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