 |
| |
|
Welcome to our second newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading it and I encourage you to submit your stories and input as they is really your newsletter. In the coming months, STAN will be undertaking a membership renewal drive in order to gain a better picture of our membership and to work toward our goals for growth in 2017.
As a standing member of STAN you will be contacted to fill out a registration form to renew your membership. Membership in STAN does not have a cost associated with it. At that time, organizations will be asked to name a representative to receive regular communications and invitations to events which they can then disseminate through their organization. Only one representative from an organization can be named, however anyone in a given organization is welcome to join STAN as an individual member and we would encourage everyone to do so.
For more information about membership in STAN, or to find out more about this drive, please feel free to email us.
|
|
— Alison Symington, STAN President
|
|
|
|
Through the summer and fall months, STAN has been working to revitalize some of its communications strategies. We are now on Twitter, and encourage you to follow us there.
Our Twitter account is meant to share your updates and successes, as well as interesting news pieces from across Canada and around the world. As we grow our followers, our content will improve. Tag us (@stan_rsst) in any of your tweets for a retweet!
If you would like to submit a story, promote an event or share your successes with the STAN membership in the next newsletter, please email us with your idea.
If you are not yet registered to receive this newsletter, follow the link to the right to sign-up to receive quarterly emails.
|
|
|
|
The STAN 2017 Conference is generously supported by the
|
|
|
The Unbalanced World of Technolgy
The Concordian, November 16, 2016
Making the World a Better Place with STEM
Marketwired, November 4, 2016
Scientists fear ‘brain drain’ during Trump presidency
Can-India, November 12, 2016
Grade 10 students genetic research fueled by friend's non-Hodgkin lymphoma
BayToday, November 11, 2016
Who gets to code our future?
TVO, November 7, 2016
The importance of ‘wow’ in learning
The Star, November 1, 2016
Here’s why millennials might actually be better off than their baby boomer parents
Financial Post, October 24, 2016
|
|
|
Wrapping Up Science Literacy Week 2016
The nationwide celebration of science that was Science Literacy Week (September 19–25) included 520 events in over 60 cities this year. Public talks, explosive science demos, nature hikes, dissections, star parties, you name it—if it engaged the public and revolved around science, it was likely part of the week.
At its heart, this event focused on great science books and content—so when events took place at libraries, participants were encouraged to learn more by borrowing great popular science. Furthermore, the Indigo Books link was the single most clicked-on part of the Science Literacy Week website. It was great to see people excited about great science reads!
|
|
|
Five ways STAN members can be part of Innovation150
Innovation150
is a collaborative, countrywide celebration of Canadian innovation that engages youth, families and communities in 2017. It involves a travelling science expo, major quantum exhibition, mobile makerspace, city-wide festivals, and dynamic online experiences.
STAN members can get involved in the celebration:
- Share your stories of innovation – past, present, and future – through an interactive digital storybook.
- Brand build by engaging Canadians across the country through giveaways or contests.
|
|
|
You Can Call us STAN
Science and technology (S&T) has a reputation, one that we need to “fix”. Like most reputations, S&T’s reputation is partially based on truth and partially based on perception. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a fan of S&T and you know the truth –there is a lot of creativity in science and technology. For some, the perception is that creativity isn’t associated with science or technology. It should it be. Consider the imagination used to help design experiments. Consider the root of invention and ingenuity. Discovery and innovation don’t arise from thinking like everyone else; they are not achieved by seeing the world as it has always been seen. Discovery and innovation come from a new thought, a new perspective, and new understanding. Curiosity can drive us to understand how things work, and how this can help us work smarter, be healthier, go faster or use valuable resources more economically.
Actua’s Maker Mobile workshops are a great example: in these workshops, participants are invited to design, build and program with sophisticated maker tools including 3D printers, laser cutters, micro-controllers while they solve real-world challenges.
Many STAN member organisations are not only offering experiences but supporting STEAM careers. The STEM Spotlight awards look for the next generation of problem-solvers to drive BC economy into the 21st century. It’s open for post-secondary individuals interested in pursuing a career in one of the STEM sectors. The new STEAM Horizons Awards are in search of young leaders and innovators who have demonstrated achievements such as “a science fair win, a published app, a patented invention” or “creating a local interactive art installation”.
So the trend to take S&T, which is really Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), and insert “A” for Art is to recognize what S&T, what STEM, have always had at their core —creativity. It’s really always been STEAM. You can expect your STAN newsletter, and your STAN membership to continue to focus on STEAM in the future. We know what you know: art and creativity are already a part of the science and technology landscape and together we’re going to seek opportunity to engage with audiences to give them STEAM experiences and help with that perception along the way.
That made me wonder, should STAN change its name, adding in the E and the M and the A. STEAMAN? NEMAST? TEAM-SN? But I realized something –this network is more than a name. We’ll embrace that extra letter but for now you can call us STAN.
— Sandra Corbeil
STAN Board Member,
Chair of the Strategic Communications Committee
Explore some STEAM projects by STAN members and share with your networks!
(submissions due Dec 2, 2016!)
(submissions due January 9, 2017!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
