Building the Capacity of STEM Practitioners to Develop a Diverse Workforce  

In This Issue

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NGCP Updates

 Collaborative Network Activities

TxGCP SciGirls Workshop: 4-H CAPITAL

Austin, TX; March 7, 2014; 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM 

4-H CAPITAL is hosting the Texas Girls Collaborative Project for a workshop based on SciGirls, a PBS KIDS series and website with the goal to change how millions of tween girls think about STEM. 4-H CAPITAL staff and educators are invited to attend this free professional development opportunity and discover how to engage girls (ages 8-13) through research-based, high quality activities, and resources.

Role Models Matter (CoCoSTEM/Techbridge Training)

Research shows that girls who interact with female role models are more likely to develop and maintain an interest in STEM. Bringing STEM to life is an important step in getting students interested in STEM careers. Participants will learn strategies to effectively engage with girls to explore STEM careers and will receive resources to support their work as role models at outreach events. 

Boulder, CO; March 18, 2014; 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Colorado Springs, CO; March 19, 2014; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM 

STEM-ulating Collaboration: Sustaining Equity and Resources for Indiana Girls

Indianapolis, IN; March 19, 2014; 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Attendees will meet and network with influential individuals who are interested in promoting STEM fields and making STEM more accessible to people not currently represented. Keynotes include Glenda Ritz, State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Congresswoman Susan Brooks. 

SciGirls Professional Development Training for Project Scientist

Charlotte, NC; March 22, 2014; 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Missouri Collaboration Conference: A Celebration of Equity

Kansas City, MO; April 10, 2014; 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

This is a full-day conference celebrating STEM Equity. Sessions will feature national and regional experts in STEM Equity issues, as well as presentations from NGCP Mini-Grantees. Attendees will learn how to increase opportunities to encourage girls, underrepresented youth, and youth with disabilities to pursue STEM careers.

NGCP Collaborative Mini-Grants

NGCP mini-grants are designed to enhance access to and build collaboration between programs and resources. Mini-grant application resources, including a sample application, exemplary practices, project ideas, and frequently asked questions are available online. Open and closing dates are listed below and more information is available on the Collaborative website.

Louisiana STEM Girls Collaborative Project: 2/3/2014 - 3/17/2014

FabFems Spotlight

Meet Melissa Reusche, a geologist at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. A recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a bachelors degree in Geoscience and English, Melissa made outreach a priority and worked at the UW Geology Museum, where she conducted tours to school groups, designed and presented outreach material, curated collections, and assisted in fieldwork. Melissa has served as committee member for her local Expanding Your Horizons conference. Learn more about Melissa's outreach and research experiences by visiting her FabFems profile.

Looking for a FabFem like Melissa to connect with in your area? Search www.fabfems.org.

What excites you most about the work you do every day?

I work with engineers and provide them a business voice, supporting their efforts to create innovation and navigate business and contractual requirements. Kids are innovators too and they need a voice, - I provide that connection, with projects such as Imagine Engineering with the support of the Girls Scouts.

What drew you to participate in the ASTEC Collaborative Project in a leadership capacity? In action, that's what got me involved. SWE Tucson was invited to participate in a STEM conference but it was cancelled. After the event cancellation I met Michelle Higgins from the Girls Scouts of Southern Arizona at an NGCP event and said we should do our own STEM event! She has supported SWE and STEM every step of the way.

Which NGCP resources do you find most valuable? I value the networking and support I get from the NGCP national team. It can be difficult to find connections and support in our individual efforts. The NGCP provides that spark or line that can be tugged by user. Finding something that can be recreated in our communities helps early planning.

How has being involved in NGCP impacted your work? I found a new appreciation for the adults I work with. They started somewhere and now I can see future generations working towards educational and life goals. It encourages me that so many kids and parents are willing to go the extra effort to support engineering and innovation. 

Who are your role models? My mom was and is my most important role model.  She taught us that community services was important and that you don't know what you don't know. Getting out and meeting people through public service makes you more aware of and willing to tackle community problems.    

STEM Resources

Change the Equation (CTEq) Accepting Applications for STEMworks

STEMworks is a resource for businesses looking for proven programs that meet their philanthropic priorities. It houses an expanding number of STEM learning programs that have met CTEq's rigorous Design Principles and Rubric for Effective STEM Philanthropy. Business leaders, funders, and STEM advocates search STEMworks for programs most likely to maximize the impact of their investments. Application deadline is March 7, 2014.

This article examines middle school girls' participation in science classes and out-of-school time science clubs to understand the girls' identification with and relationship to science. Looking at girls' science experiences across settings, researchers compared how the identities developed from these experiences supported or worked against the girls' future trajectories in STEM.

Maker Corps Recruiting Maker Corps Members

The Maker Education Initiative seeks creative individuals who enjoy DIY art or science projects and are passionate about sharing their love of learning with others for the Maker Corps program. Maker Corps Members serve as mentors at a host site (museum, school, library, or other youth-serving organization) for the summer of 2014 to engage children and families in creative projects to develop problem-solving skills, while serving as a community leader. Application deadline is March 21, 2014.

Motorola Solutions Foundation Grants

Motorola Solutions Foundation is accepting applications for the Innovation Generation grants. These grants provide funding to STEM education programs that engage students in innovative, hands-on activities, teach innovative thinking and creative problem-solving skills, focus on girls and underrepresented minorities, collaborate with other STEM education providers or institutions, and demonstrate measurable change in STEM awareness, skills, or education through the use of evaluation systems and appropriate measurement tools. Application deadline is April 11, 2014.

Science: It's a Family Affair

A guide for families that highlights strategies for parents to do science and engineering at home. This guide includes exciting hands-on activities, tips to promote growth mindset, and career exploration.

NGCP Program Directory - Search for Collaborating Programs or Register Your Program 

No Ceilings Initiative 

The Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a new partnership to gather and analyze data about the status of women and girls' participation around the world, as part of the Clinton Foundation's No Ceilings initiative. The full participation of women and girls is critical to global progress, development, and security. This new effort will help chart the path forward to accelerate full participation for women and girls in the 21st century.