Thank you to the organizers, exhibitors, volunteers, and attendees for making this an awesome event! It was fun, educational, and inspiring. This event is a labor of love by the whole community and was started by East Penn's Connie Mehrhoff, who wanted to bring more STEM opportunities to southern Iowa students.

Here are the 2024 numbers:

• 1000s+ of blue cotton candy strands
• 346 kids and families
• 93 volunteers, organizers, sponsors, exhibitor
• 35 exhibits
• 7 vehicles, including EMT and a County Sheriff
• 4 slime workshops
• 3 alpacas
• 2 yoga mats
• 1 sheep

Save-the-date of Oct. 4, 2025. All that sweetness will be back next year, and we'd love to see you there!

Pictured: Josh Shields on the science of making cotton candy. To reserve a spot next year right by the cotton candy exhibit, email Connie today.

If you're an exhibitor or attendee who is interested in one or all three of these events, please click on the links below or email email lisa.morlock@drake.edu.

I'll Make Me a World

Education Day

• Feb. 7, 9am - 2pm
• Horizon Event Center
• West Des Moines, IA

This incredible event draws 700+ students and educators in grades 6-12. We have 1 spot left for an exhibitor with an incredible hands-on activity.

Besides a STEM festival, the day includes workshops, keynotes, a college fair and more. It's part of a weekend celebration of African American STEM, culture, arts, history, and leadership. It's free, open to the public, and EVERYONE is invited!

To register your students, please visit IMMAWII's Education Day website: https://www.worldiniowa.org/education-day.

Ottumwa's Noche de Ciencias

>February 19, 5pm - 8pm

>Ottumwa High School

This festival is back and bigger than ever!

We're seeking career-related exhibitors to bring hands-on activities. Families will rotate through exhibitors, listen to a keynote, and sign up for workshops. Supper is provided.

Click to exhibit.

Click to attend.

DMACC's Future Fest

>March 11; AM & PM Sessions

>DMACC's Ankeny Campus

The DMACC Work-Based Learning Department and SC Iowa STEM Hub are partnering to host a new event aimed at connecting about 600 5th grade students with career exploration through engaging STEM activities.

We're seeking exhibitors. Click for registration: https://forms.gle/SjBjMQCkAd28Z1Hs7

If you received All About Balance Scale-Up training and need additional resources, please peruse the newest addition to the Hub Checkout Library.

To reserve this or any of our lending kits, please click the box below. Items are first come, first serve. You'll be send a confirmation email with details on how to pick up the materials on the Drake campus.

Look for 2025-26 Scale-Up Applications to go live in January! We can't wait to share the incredible menu.

The STEM BEST Program helps schools and communities boost or create work-based learning opportunities for students. There have been 18 awards in the SC Regional, and 121 schools and districts across the state have active STEM BEST programs. These programs help students develop future-focused, high-demand skills through authentic real-world experiences.

For BEST details and application information, please visit Iowa STEM's website: https://educate.iowa.gov/iowa-stem/stem-best.

Many BEST projects connect secondary students with community endeavors. The progression between high school and the work force is clear and immediate. But can BEST principles positively impact younger students? Callie Anderson, Karlie Hyde and Ericka Tamerius from the Creston Early Childhood Center say YES!

Creston ECC brings examples of what authentic learning could look like in an early childhood setting. Click on the video above to hear them share how the BEST program connects STEM-focused instruction with thematic activities and curriculum. Student work combines critical thinking and sensory activities including art, music and design. The best BEST part is that kindergartners Hunter. Jay and Colby join their teachers.

We're celebrating 10 years of phenomenal STEM teachers and looking forward to seeing all of the 2025 nominations! This is a great opportunity to honor someone in your community.

One teacher from each of the six STEM regions will be acknowledged for their contribution and dedication to STEM education in Iowa. It's presented to teachers who make a difference in the lives of students across the state by providing an excellent curriculum, encouraging lifelong learning, and inspiring a passion for STEM beyond the classroom.

ICEC Game Jam Registration is open! Please complete this form so we can communicate with you about the jam: https://forms.gle/iGr4Q9Kw2UC4QVcC9

Overview:

The Iowa Environmental Game Jam is a yearly project of Iowa Conservation Education Coalition and highlights conservation topics of interest in Iowa. Registration is now open for the 2024-2025 game jam. We encourage you to weave game design into your classrooms as part of your environmental curriculum.

Click on the video to view one great game! Topics include:

• Iowa Endangered species
• Iowa’s Prairies
• Protecting Iowa Waters
• Iowa Invasive Species
• Renewable energy
• Soil health

Game design with a conservation focus can inspire curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills. We encourage small team collaboration and will accept games from students in grades 3-12. Teams can develop analog (board games) role-playing games, physical games or digital games.

When complete, students submit their game prototypes to expert judges through 4-minute videos and winners are recognized next spring. Video submissions are due February 28, 2025. More details at https://iowaee.org/ee-science-in-iowa/game-jam/

Special Opportunity:

Be one of the first 10 teachers to sign up by December 15 and get a one-year ICEC membership and a gift card. 

Iowa STEM Connection:

ICEC Game Jam program was once supported by an Innovation Fund Award through the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council in 2019. We're thrilled to see this incredible program evolve each year!

Peggy Steffen, program coordinator and long-standing K-12 advocate, has joined Iowa STEM in support of Iowa STEM Day at the Fair, regional STEM Festivals, and the Iowa STEM Teachers Externships Program.

Our advisory team members contribute on numerous occasions, and we'd like to mention a few ways they've championed STEM for the SC Region. Here's quick slice of their work in the past month.

Big thank you to Alexis Cordts, who traveled to the All-Southern Iowa STEM Fest and lent a hand the entire day. STEM festivals depend on an army of volunteers, and we're grateful she made the trip to Corydon.

Amber Pargmann serves on a committee that created Ottumwa's Noche de Ciencias. In February 2025, the Hub is partnering with Pargmann and Ottumwa schools, and we're currently seeking exhibitors and attendees.

We lean on the board to evaluate applications and nominations. The following board members volunteered to review Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program applications: Ken Bozer and Jessica Schellhorn.

Here are a few scenes from the Iowa Science Educator Learning Day, hosted at Drake University in collaboration with the State Science Leadership Team, the Iowa Department of Education and the Izaak Walton League. Thanks to all who presented, including the Drake professors and staff members who shared expertise with the those who attended. They include: Dan Chibnall, Michelle Bottenberg, Jerrid Kruse, Nate Newman, Leslie Jackson, Pramod Mahajan, Mallary Allen, Sarah Derry, Maryann Huey, and Ryan Wise.

Thank you to the DOE Science Consultant Chris Like for a great day of learning!

Above, Dr. Sarah Derry (right) with SW Hub Manager Casey Wenstrand and Allison Walders, North Union High School Teacher/Iowa STEM Extern after speaking with attendees about Iowa STEM Teacher Externships. Did you miss it? Access their presentation here.

NOVEMBER

• November 7 -- Funding Opportunity Deadline: Regeneron High School Senior Science project grant
• November 15 -- Iowa STEM Teacher Nominations Close
• November 15 -- Funding Opportunity Deadline: Science Research Grants for middle and high school teachers

DECEMBER

• December 11 -- Funding Opportunity Deadline: STEM BEST Applications Close

FEBRUARY

• February 7 -- I'll Make Me a World Education Day
• February 8 -- I'll Make Me a World Celebration Day
• February 16 -- STEM Day at the Capitol
• February 19 -- Noche de Ciencias, Ottumwa

MARCH

• March 11 -- Future Ready Fest, DMACC

APRIL

• April 15 -- Anatomage Tournament, Drake (info coming soon)