Last October, the STEMx network issued $15,000 grants to five states. The “STEMx Challenge Grants” offered $75,000 in funding for states to advance STEM and share lessons learned with the national STEM community. Below, read the detailed reports submitted by each of the five winning states. Idaho:  New strategic plan and regional hubs planned to enhance statewide STEM access Download report Project plan: Facing projections of a 26 percent increase in the number of STEM jobs in Idaho by 2024, the Idaho STEM Action Center looks to expand into a full-fledged statewide STEM ecosystem. T ..read more

We regularly check in with Thomas Phillips, Congressional Affairs Specialist for Battelle, about legislation that’s going to impact STEM networks and STEM educators across the country. This week, Congress has been busy debating new bills with trillions of dollars in federal aid. Thomas breaks down both bills, with a view on the prospects for compromise and passage into law. Generally, what legislation are we discussing today? Because this is an unusual year, the appropriations process has been anything but regular; the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with a presidential election has significantly de ..read more

In July 2019, the governor of Virginia established a STEM Education Commission for the state, with the goal of eventually launching a statewide STEM network. Having such a network, proponents said, would provide a united vision for Virginia’s many STEM programs, which had been developed in isolation. A network could aid communication and sharing of best practices to use and pitfalls to avoid, while setting goals and common terms. We chatted with Dr. Tina Manglicmot, Director of STEM for the Virginia Department of Education, about the state’s plan in September 2019. Efforts to establish a STEM ..read more

The Army Education Outreach Program, or AEOP, is the Army’s platform for advancing STEM education and literacy. AEOP includes a portfolio experiences, internships and competitions. AEOP, through its cooperative agreement with Battelle, has opened a formal Request for Proposals. AEOP and Battelle seek a partner to increase participation in the eCYBERMISSION program. Specifically, the proposal should detail a strategy to engage underserved students, families and teachers and also target military dependents. Overall, the aim of this RFP is to dramatically increase the likelihood of a diverse part ..read more

Since its creation in 2010, the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network has worked to develop high-quality STEM programming for the state’s students in support of the focus of “kindergarten to jobs.” From its Regional STEM Innovation Hubs and STEM Designated Schools program to its professional development efforts, the network has strived to help Tennessee students be prepared for success in college, career and beyond. Brandi Stroecker is director of the network, which is based in Nashville and managed by Battelle. Brandi takes us through how her organization works and its many programs: Q: Tell us a ..read more

As U.S. health-care workers struggle to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients, they’re also struggling with a lack of personal protective equipment on the job. Aware of medical workers’ critical need for facial protection against the coronavirus, a team of educators in southeastern Tennessee sprang into action to help. The group, bolstered by local experts and 3D-printing technology, is quickly producing thousands of plastic face shields to distribute to local health workers and first responders in the Chattanooga area. Two participants in this broad-based effort – Jill Levine of Tenne ..read more

Within the school community, everyone is adjusting to new roles. Parents navigate new work situations. Educators find ways to continue learning beyond the classroom walls. What can students do? Following on the incredible success of the “Name the Rover” essay contest, the STEMx network proudly presents a new opportunity for K-12 students, in partnership with Future Engineers. The “Start a Smile” challenge will highlight the creativity and commitment of young people. Students, your challenge is : INVENT A WAY TO HELP SOMEONE SMILE WHILE IN ISOLATION ENTRIES DUE: May 1, 2020 | 6:00 PM PST Submit ..read more

As parents across the country find themselves managing unprecedented new challenges with the closure of most schools, we are proud to announce the release of the STEMx Parents Guide to STEM.  The STEMx Parents Guide to STEM offers more than 30 pages of research and interviews examining how to understand STEM education. This guide is based heavily on a guide created for parents by the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative. We also benefited from conversations with the members of the STEMx network and the national labs managed by Battelle. Download the guide here. Please feel free to share with ..read more

All last year, you read about the NASA’s effort to find a new name worthy of the space agency’s next rover. STEMx followers passed this contest onto schools in their states or served as one of the 3,000 judges. Today, NASA revealed the winning essay and name. Middle school student Alex Mather’s name, Perseverance, has been carved onto the rover body and will travel to Mars. Read Battelle’s release for all the details and learn more about the rover here. NASA Names Next Mars Rover Following Year-Long Student Essay Contest with Battelle, Future Engineers Columbus, OH – NASA’s next Mars rover has ..read more

For many parents, the problem with STEM education isn’t intention, it’s execution. These parents know that a quality STEM education can ignite their child’s curiosity, drive a deep understanding of our complex work, and provide the foundation for prosperity. Where should they start? March 26, we’ll issue the first edition of the Parents Guide to STEM, published in partnership with the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative. Before we publish, we’re giving our readers a chance to submit any resource you feel deserves sharing. After some internal review, we’ll publish the best of these submission ..read more