Announcing 2011 STEM Summit on August 1, 2011
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Professionals and Educators collaborate
The 2011 South Carolina Summit on STEM Education will take place in Greenville on August 1st bringing together passionate STEM supporters within education business, professional associations and government.
“Why promote STEM education? Because we need scientifically- and technologically-literate citizens. We need technologically-proficient workers and skillful scientists and engineers to meet a growing workforce demand,” says Dr. Tom Peters, Executive Director of the SC Coalition for Math & Science – the Summit’s lead planning organization.
Peters adds, “We can only increase a STEM skilled talent pool by raising the profile of STEM education and increasing collaboration among STEM professionals. We need to tap into the learning potential of all children.”
Helping to raise the STEM profile are Summit sponsors within STEM industries: 3M, BMW, The Boeing Company, Fluor Corporation, Lockheed-Martin Corporation, and Michelin North America.
"BMW continues to advocate the importance of innovative, educational programs that teach the skills necessary to build a technologically-advanced workforce. The STEM program is uniquely positioned with a clear focus on children from K-12 which, when combined with our other educational initiatives at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, gives us a nice continuum of support in this area,” stated Max Metcalf, Communications Manager, BMW Manufacturing Co. and chairman emeritus of the SCCMS Board of Advisors.
The Summit will take place at the University Center of Greenville from 1:30 – 5:45 pm. Initiating the event will be key note speaker Anita Zucker, CEO of The InterTech Group, followed by three time blocks of session opportunities. U.S. Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsay Graham will also be contributing speakers through virtual addresses.
“The need for having students educated in STEM is critical to the state of South Carolina as we attempt to grow a knowledge society. The types of jobs coming in the future will require "talent" educated in STEM as the types of jobs will be in Information technology, health, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing, just to name a few. We must also ensure that our educators are equipped to handle teaching STEM,” says Zucker.
The robust half-day program was developed by planning partners Clemson University, Personal Pathways to Success, SC ETV, S²TEM Centers SC, Tri-County Technical College and the University Center of Greenville, Inc.
The information sessions will feature various presentations from organizations like the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SC Project Lead the Way and others.
Panel discussion sessions will tackle topics within areas of Integrative STEM Education; Preparing and Supporting STEM Educators; Public Awareness and Engagement; College, Career and Civic Readiness; and STEM Partnerships: Linking Education, Business, Professional Associations and Government.
Hot topic sessions will include facilitated discussions on timely specifics, such as Public Understanding of Science & the Japanese Nuclear Crisis; ways to make STEM education matter to parents, taxpayers, general public and policymakers; connecting STEM fields with literacy and/or the arts; and many more.
The Summit is open to interested STEM supporters and costs $25 for program sessions. Additionally, the event will feature indoor and outdoor learning showcases that are open to the public at no cost. Showcases include the Greenwood Genetic Center’s ‘Gene Machine’ a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory, the United States Navy’s STEM outreach initiatives, the Air Force Association’s Cyber Patriot student competition, the prestigious Einstein Fellowship program for STEM educators and many others, as well as a Live Learning Lab of Pickens County Elementary and Middle School students.
Interested participants can learn more about the Summit and register at www.scstem.org.