Obama announces over $240 million in pledges at White House Science Fair

Yesterday at the 2015 White House Science Fair, President Obama announced over $240 million in pledges to inspire more students - especially those from underrepresented groups - to pursue education in science, technology, engineering, and math. Included in Obama's announcement were:

• $150 million philanthropic effort to empower a diverse cadre of promising early-career scientists to stay on track to become scientific leaders of tomorrow;
• $90 million “Let Everyone Dream” campaign to expand STEM opportunities to under-represented youth;
• $25 million Department of Education competition to create science and literacy themed media that inspires students to explore;
• 120 universities and colleges committing to train 20,000 engineers to tackle the “Grand Challenges” of 21st century; and,
• CEO coalition Change the Equation committing expand effective STEM programs to an additional 1.5 million students this year.

This year's White House Science Fair focused on diversity and included students from underrepresented backgrounds. The Fair also featured more women and girls in science than in previous years, with over 100 students from more than 30 states. Among the participants were a high school student from Arizona who created an algorithm to identify other medical applications for existing drugs, a student from Pennsylvania who designed an innovative carbon-dioxide powered battery, and a group of 6-year-old "Supergirls" who invented a batter-powered page turner to help people with disabilities read books.

To learn more about the White House Science Fair and yesterday's events, watch the video above or visit the White House Science Fair's homepage and the fact sheet about Obama's new STEM commitments.

Invest in tomorrow - donate to Project Tomorrow!

By 2020, half of all jobs in Orange County will be science, technology, engineering and math based. Your donation helps us provide programs and events that support the next great generation of STEM-career ready students and teachers.

• $20 sends one student to a Project Tomorrow Youth Leadership Summit or Future Teachers Conference
• $50 helps fund scholarships and support for Emerging Student Innovators, High Impact Teachers, and Innovative School Programs
• $125 sponsors a Future Teacher’s Club at a local high school
• A donation of your choice provides general support for student programs and events
• Please contact us regarding a corporate donation or my company match

Click here to learn more

The 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science is TOMORROW!

Our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science takes place tomorrow, October 25th at Edwards Lifesciences. All students in Orange County, CA are invited to attend the summit and learn about different careers in STEM. This free half-day event includes a student presentation, panel discussions from industry leaders and a diverse group of engineers, tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local opportunities and college programs, and breakout sessions led by business and education leaders.

We are proud to announce this year's highly distinguished list of speakers and panelists for the 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit! Check out the list below: 

Anton Anderson from IT Consulting

Ashaunta Anderson from the University of California, Riverside/RAND

Jim Aralis from Microsemi

Celeste Bonyuet from Edwards Lifesciences

Carmella Cassetta from Advancing Women in Technology

John Chamberlain from Emulex Corporation

Amy Choi from Railpros

Corporal Decasanova from the United States Colonial Marine Corps

Jess Gillespe from Astronics Corporation

Christy Haley-Stover from Advancing Women in Technology

Matt Hannus from Sleepy Giant

Ed Hernandez from Tustin High School

Kim Homa from Kaiser Permanente

Kevin Hostert from the Municipal Water District of Orange County

David Johnson from Astronics Corporation

Joanna Laird from the University of California, Irvine

Mark Mathews from Airwolf 3D

Tim McCan from Impact Fire Services

Stacy McGoldrick from Cal Poly Pomona

Susan Medley from the University of California, Irvine

Octavie Ramsey from Southern California Edison

Nayssan Safavian from Project Tomorrow and the University of California, Irvine

Shawna Shaffner from CAA Planning

Karen Thomas from LPA, Inc.

JJ Wang from Boeing

Jimmy Zhong from NASA

Click here to learn more about the Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science. We look forward to seeing you there!

Youth Leadership Summit registration deadline has been EXTENDED!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH!

Don't miss out on this exciting and unique experience for Orange County high school and community college students* to attend our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science - for free!

• Our summit is held on Saturday, October 25th at Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine from 8:45am-2:00pm.
• Students will get the opportunity to hear from professionals in STEM fields from all over Orange County about their careers, connect with local colleges, and network with students from other schools!
• Registration is FREE for all students, so register TODAY!

To register, please go to our website: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

*Please note that this event has opened up to community college students in addition to high school students. The website may not be updated to reflect this new and exciting addition.

Today is the last day to register for the 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS TODAY!

Don't miss out on this exciting and unique experience for Orange County high school and community college students* to attend our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science - for free!

• Our summit is held on Saturday, October 25th at Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine from 8:45am-2:00pm.
• Students will get the opportunity to hear from professionals in STEM fields from all over Orange County about their careers, connect with local colleges, and network with students from other schools!
• Registration is FREE for all students, so register TODAY!

To register, please go to our website: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

*Please note that this event has opened up to community college students in addition to high school students. The website may not be updated to reflect this new and exciting addition.

Throwback Thursday: Project Tomorrow's 4th Annual Youth Leadership Summit

Happy Throwback Thursday! In honor of our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit next Saturday, we're looking back at last year's Youth Leadership Summit. Check out our summary of the event from last year:

On October 19th, 2013, Project Tomorrow held its fourth annual Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science, at Edwards Lifesciences Worldwide Headquarters in Irvine, California. With over 200 students, parents, and community leaders in attendance, the event provided an opportunity for students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and to learn about how math and science proficiency is increasingly a critical skill for current and future jobs. 

This conference-style event kicked off with a student presentation of OC business trends, followed by a panel discussion from industry leaders. Students then attended career-specific breakout sessions of their choice led by local business and education leaders, a panel discussion featuring a diverse group of engineers, and tabletop exhibits introducing attendees to local STEM college programs. This free, half-day event included continental breakfast and a networking lunch and concluded with a student raffle featuring gifts from local businesses.

Last year's summit had 200 student & parent participants, 37 high schools in attendance, 21 career professionals, 8 local colleges, 14 STEM fields (including zoology, surgery, engineering, gaming technology, and more), 23 raffle prizes, and 20 hardworking volunteers! What will this year bring?

Our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit takes place on October 25th and runs from 8:45am to 2pm. All students in Orange County, CA are invited to attend the summit and learn about different careers in STEM. This free half-day event includes a student presentation, panel discussions from industry leaders and a diverse group of engineers, tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local opportunities and college programs, and breakout sessions led by business and education leaders throughout the region. Opportunities like these are just what students need to get exposure to these types of careers!

The deadline to register is TOMORROW - click here to register and participate in this year's summit!

Project Tomorrow event: "Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math & Science"

The “Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math & Science” is a unique opportunity for Orange County’s high school students to share their ideas on how to improve math and science education and to learn about how math and science proficiency is a critical skill for many current and future jobs in Orange County. This interactive, half-day summit empowers students to explore careers in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and provide these students with valuable information about the workforce development trends in the county and what they need to do to be well prepared for the jobs of the future. Additionally, through working group discussions, we capture the students’ ideas on how to improve K-12 math and science education and thus, Orange County’s economic future.

Click here to register - the registration deadline is this Friday!

Who will be attending this year’s Summit?

This year’s Youth Leadership Summit will host 200 of Orange County’s best and brightest high school students who are interested in science, technology, engineering and math, and serve as representatives from their high schools.

The Summit will also include:

• A special presentation by a panel of student leaders, on the latest workforce trends in Orange County. 
• Panel discussion with representatives from a diversified set of OC companies on the role of math and science in their industry, and their expectations for employees in the future. Break out sessions and tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local STEM career opportunities and college programs. 

Why a Youth Leadership Summit?

Statewide, California reports that in 2020, the number of jobs requiring a college degree will outstrip the number of jobs which do not, with most of those jobs being STEM-related. Additionally, 45% of today’s current science and engineering workforce will retire within the next few years. It is also becoming increasingly apparent that science and math proficiency are the new “must-haves” for jobs outside of the usual STEM fields including positions in the hospitality, construction and services sectors. To be prepared to join the new OC workforce, today’s students must receive a world-class science and math education, and understand what is needed both in terms of skill development and educational attainment to compete for these new careers.

How to get involved!

Participation by the invited high school students is 100% underwritten through corporate sponsorship funds provided by our Summit sponsors and includes a specially prepared packet of information and resources for the students, continental breakfast and lunch. 

Other interested participants can register to attend at www.tomorrow.org. The registration fee for the Summit is $25. For information about the Summit, sponsorship opportunities or to discuss ways for your company or organization to be involved, please contact Meg Lewis (mlewis@tomorrow.org or 949-609-4660 x12).

In Curriculum Materials Make a Difference for Next Generation Science Learning (SRI Education), researchers found that science classrooms that adopt a project-based curriculum can help narrow the science education achievement gap in children from groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields. Christopher Harris, co-author of the report, said that project-based lessons "seem to work for all kinds of kids" regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity, and that acknowledging personal engagement in meaningful classroom activities makes a difference.

While access to good science curriculum materials is difficult (most urban public schools use outdated textbooks), the U.S. National Research Council is working on revamping K-12 science education by incorporating curriculum that teaches kids the practices that scientists and engineers use. Although this will require a shift in how schools teach science, project-based learning programs can help schools transition by getting students to participate in educational projects in the same bsic ways that scientists would.

The SRI Education research team continues to analyze data from teachers who implemented project-based curriculum. Like any new program, project-based curriculum has potential barriers, such as the fact that it is resource intensive and costly and it is a huge investment and more work for teachers (requires more training). Despite these barriers, schools that have implemented project-based learning have found the "hard work pays off." Harris hopes to see more project-based learning added to science curricula, and especially in elementary schools - early exposure to good science curricula can only help kids in the long run, and can even inspire them to go into STEM careers.

Interested in learning more? Check out the original article, "Can Project-Based Learning Close Gaps in Science Education?"(MindShift) and the official report, Curriculum Materials Make a Difference for Next Generation Science Learning: Results from Year 1 of a Randomized Control Trial (SRI Education).

Speak Up opens in just four days! Our surveys ask questions regarding technology usage, online learning, STEM careers, and more. One question is:

Many people around the world are interested in having more students pursue careers in science, technology, math or engineering. Are you interested in a job or career in any of these fields?

Speak Up is just around the corner, and provides an easy way for students, parents and educators to participate in local decisions about technology, as well as contribute to the state and national dialogue about educational technology. Data from the surveys - including data regarding online classes - will be released in February 2015. Click here to register for Speak Up 2014 and mark your calendars for the survey's launch date on October 6!

How digital learning can lead to a career in STEM

Technology use in the classroom is here and is no longer an idea of the future. Thanks to grants and state-subsidized funding, more and more schools are using devices within their classrooms. Not only does the use of educational technology provide a new way of learning, but it also makes it easier for teachers to satisfy Common Core standards.  Furthermore, it also gives students an opportunity to access 21st century technology, which will be relevant and used throughout their entire lives.

However, given that flipped classrooms are a relatively new practice, some schools still struggle with adopting devices into their classrooms. While lack of funding and device scarcity are obvious barriers to digital learning, another barrier is the lack of teacher education and understanding of how they can use technology in the classroom. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the majority of the US education workforce is comprised of individuals whose median age is 45 years, meaning that they did not experience technology learning in their own academic careers, making it a new concept for everyone involved. However, the technical knowledge of teachers is ultimately up to their administrators, who can provide tutorials, workshops, and other methods of training; one example is the Baldwin County Public School District in Alabama, which has created a Digital Renaissance Leadership Academy for teachers, where teachers are given the opportunity to improve their skill set.

With the right instruction and use of technology, perhaps more students will be driven and prepared to enter careers in STEM. For example, while the lack of computers and adequate computer science classes/programs may have deterred students from programming careers in the past, the combination of the two is now possible through digital learning. Furthermore, if schools provide teachers  with resources supporting digital learning, teachers can then use technology to motivate, interest, and support students who are looking towards STEM careers.

Interested in learning more about how digital learning can lead to a career in STEM? Check out the original article, "Technology Education for Students Is Essential in Creating a Future STEM Workforce, and It Starts With Educating Teachers" by Felix W. Ortiz III.

Every year our Speak Up surveys contain questions regarding digital learning, STEM careers, and students' accessibility to devices. In our teacher survey we ask questions regarding those topics on top of questions about teachers' familiarity with technological devices, such as

How much do you agree with this statement: My pre-service education adequately prepared me to effectively use a wide range of technologies within my teaching practice.

Speak Up provides an easy way for students, parents and educators to participate in local decisions about technology, as well as contribute to the state and national dialogue about educational technology. Data from the surveys - including data regarding online classes - will be released in February 2015. Click here to register for Speak Up 2014 and mark your calendars for the survey's launch date on October 6!

Stem Integration in K-12 Education

What is STEM? Is it isolated or integrated? While K-12 students usually study science and mathematics separately, all four disciplines within STEM are actually intertwined in the real world. The National Academies Press draws a picture of the outcomes that may occur if students were taught about these connections.

The National Academies' full report, "STEM Integration in K-12 Education," makes recommendations for designers of integrated STEM experiences, assessment developers, and researchers to design and document effective integrated STEM education in hopes that STEM education will make a positive difference in student learning and interest in STEM careers.

The full report is available for free online. Check it out here and let us know what you think!

The National Academies Press (NAP) was created by the National Academy of Sciences to publish the reports of the National Academy of Sciences,National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council, all operating under a charter granted by the Congress of the United States. The NAP publishes more than 200 books a year on a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and medicine, providing authoritative information on important matters in science and health policy. The institutions served by the NAP are unique in their ability to attract leading experts in many fields to join panels and committees charged with providing policy advice on some of the nation’s most pressing scientific, technical, and health-related issues.

I Am A Scientist

Despite being home to two of the largest life science clusters in the world, California’s mathematics and sciences programs continue to lag behind other states, ranking 43^rd in the category. As the life sciences continue to grow in California, the state will need more diverse and educated workers in order to fill high-paying jobs; STEM education will have to become stronger in order for these roles to be fulfilled.

In I Am A Scientist, Tom Torlakson (Superintendent of Public Instruction), the Department of Education, The California Endowment, California Biotechnology Foundation, and Lybba connect what a solid STEM education can do for expanding students’ future career paths. The film follows student from Promise Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles at a biohackathon, an event that enables students to work with biomedical lab equipment in a hands-on setting. “[At the biohackathon] I was inspired by [the students’] imagination and wonderment…these students are genuinely passionate about pursuing careers in science, medicine, research,” said Jesse Dylan, founder of Wondros and Lybba.

The film hopes to not only show the impact that STEM education has on future career paths, but also hopes to inspire students to consider the life science field as well. “We want to help students find their passion and to get a sense for what’s possible in the future,” said B. Kathlyn Mead, the EVP and COO of the California Endowment. Given STEM education’s track record, this seems likely. Marlena Jackson, founder of NexGeneGirls, an afterschool program that introduces girls to science and technology, has seen her students place themselves on track to becoming scientists, engineers, and lab technicians just after some exposure to science.

I Am A Scientist is now showing and is due to be screened at several high schools throughout the state in order to open students’ eyes about a possible career path in the sciences.

Here at Project Tomorrow our mission is to ensure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world. We believe that by supporting the innovative uses of science, math and technology resources in our K-12 schools and communities, students will develop the critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills needed to compete and thrive in the 21st century. Each year we hold our Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science for local High School students in Orange County, CA. This free half-day event includes a student presentation of OC business trends, panel discussions from industry leaders and a diverse group of engineers, tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local STEM career opportunities and college programs, and breakout sessions led by business and education leaders throughout the region. Opportunities like these are just what students need to get exposure to these types of careers!

To learn more about how you, your company or students can get involved with next year's 2014 Leading the Way Youth Leadership Summit please visit our website at: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

Click here to read the full article, "New Flim Inspites Youth to Find Passion in STEM Education and Discover Science-Based Career Opportunities".

Also please be sure to contribute to the national dialog about science, technology & preparing students for the 21st century workforce through Speak Up! This year we are asking students, parents and community members to share the types of college and workplace skills that they think students should be learning in school to be successful in the future, what is needed to acquire those skills as well as student's overall STEM career interest and how they would like to learn about future careers.

To participate in Speak Up go to www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2013, surveys are available to students, educators, parents and community members.

Thanks for reading! And please be sure to tell us your thoughts on this interesting article below in our comment section!

Written by Lisa Chu, Project Tomorrow Fall Intern

Leading the Way 4th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math & Science

2013 Summit At-A-Glance

200

Student & Parent Participants

37

High Schools

21

Career Professionals

8

Local Colleges

14

STEM Fields

Engineering, Gaming Technology, Zoology, Entertainment, Surgery, Energy, Transportation, Nursing, STEM Teaching, Law, Financial Literacy, Accounting, Earth & Environmental Sciences Studies, Nonprofit Management

23

Raffle Prizes

20

Hard-Working Volunteers

On October 19th, 2013, Project Tomorrow held its fourth annual Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science, at Edwards Lifesciences Worldwide Headquarters in Irvine, California. With over 200 students, parents, and community leaders in attendance, the event provided an opportunity for students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and to learn about how math and science proficiency is increasingly a critical skill for current and future jobs.

This conference-style event kicked off with a student presentation of OC business trends, followed by a panel discussion from industry leaders. Students then attended career-specific breakout sessions of their choice led by local business and education leaders, a panel discussion featuring a diverse group of engineers, and tabletop exhibits introducing attendees to local STEM college programs. This free, half-day event included continental breakfast and a networking lunch and concluded with a student raffle featuring gifts from local businesses.

 Project Tomorrow would like to extend a very special thank you to all of our guest speakers, volunteers, local colleges, sponsors, and partners for their time and generous contributions, without which this influential event would not be possible.

Testimonials

• Future Molecular Biologist, Senior, Trabuco Hills High School (Mission Viejo)

“It was interesting to talk to experts in their fields and gain information about skills needed from employers."

• Future Pharmacist, Junior, Saddleback High School (Santa Ana)

“I think that this Summit was definitely beneficial. I loved getting the opportunity to network with like-minded people in the career of my choice."

• Future Environmental Scientist, Junior, Santa Ana High School (Santa Ana)

“This event was fun, interactive, and gave insightful information about colleges and careers.“

• Future Computer Engineer, Sophomore, Aliso Niguel High School (Aliso Viejo)

“I thought today’s experience was really cool because I learned that I definitely want to be an engineer.”

• Undecided, Freshman, Edison High School (Huntington Beach)

“I was really happy with the experience and it really opened up my mind to new ideas and careers I may want to consider.”

• Future Mathematics Teacher, Senior, Brea Olinda High School (Brea)

“The Youth Leadership Summit was very interesting, and was a great experience. Thank you to all the sponsors.“

Summit Moderator

Julie Evans

CEO, Project Tomorrow

“…Our most successful Summit yet! This premier STEM event allowed students to understand the depth and breadth of the types of jobs and careers that depend upon math and science…preparing them to be tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.”

Thanks to our 2013 Summit sponsors…

…and contributors…

Adventure City

Angel’s Baseball

Aquarium of the Pacific

Bagels & Brew, Inc.

BCU (servicing Edwards Lifesciences)

Bowers Museum

Discovery Science Center

In-N-Out Burger

Knott’s Berry Farm

Luna Grill

Microsoft

Oakley

Princeton Review

San Diego Zoo Global

Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park

Stonefire Grill

To learn more about how to get involved with next year's 2014 Leading the Way Youth Leadership Summit please visit our website at: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

Also please be sure to contribute to the national dialog about science, technology & preparing students for the 21st century workforce through Speak Up! This year we are asking students, parents and community members to share the types of college and workplace skills that they think students should be learning in school to be sucessful in the future, what is needed to acuire those skills as well as student's overall STEM career interest. 

To participate in Speak Up go to www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2013, surveys are available to students, educators, parents and community members.  

Thanks for reading!

-The Project Tomorrow Team