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NC STEM Takes Action on Education

Submitted by: Noah Garrett on Aug 26, 2009 at 1:50 pm Tagged with: Gates Foundation, Karl Rectanus, Lt. Governor Walter Dalton, MCNC, N.C., nc education, NC STEM, NC STEM Community Collaborative, NGC, non-profits in nc, North Carolina, North Carolina networking events, STEM, STEM education Source: www.ncstem.org

RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 25, 2009) – North Carolina Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other notable national and state leaders from all sectors will meet Friday for NC STEM Community Collaborative’s Turning STEM Conversations into Action: Collaborative Networks Designed for Sustainability event at the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation on N.C. State's Centennial Campus.

NC STEM’s Collaborative Visioning Process has gained recognition over the past months as an innovative approach to community engagement in key education issues. A cross-sector group of experts and community leaders from North Carolina and other states will engage with a broad network of resources and supporters to explore the design of collaborative networks. The focus is to increase awareness of the need and value for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), help build a future job pipeline for North Carolina, and illuminate the importance of community involvement in the design process. This event will be immediately followed by a hands-on workshop for three NC STEM Collaborative Communities, as a part of their six-month design process.

NC STEM’s Turning STEM Conversations into Action: Collaborative Networks Designed for Sustainability event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The STEM Community Work Session is from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

This event includes keynote addresses and panel discussions by leading STEM experts. Speakers include: North Carolina Lt. Governor Walter Dalton; David Ferrero, Senior Program Officer and STEM Lead for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Rich Rosen, of the Battelle Memorial Institute and Executive Director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network; Karen Stephenson, Civic Engagement, NetForm International, Erasmus and Harvard universities; Joe Freddoso, President and CEO of MCNC; and Karl Rectanus, Leader of NC STEM.

Participants have the opportunity to engage with community design teams, statewide STEM resources, and national thought leaders in STEM. This will be an eye-opening event as leaders from every sector come together to develop new relationships and learn from each other to solve our current STEM challenges.

Coinciding with Friday's event, NC STEM also plans to unveil their new interactive Web site. For a sneak peak, please visit www.ncstem.org. We also would like to invite you to become a fan of NC STEM on Facebook and follow NC STEM on Twitter.

If you would like to join, we have a few spaces remaining, and you may submit your Registration to Stacey Yasses at syasses@mcnc.org by Wednesday, Aug. 26. NC STEM is pleased to offer live streaming for those who are unable to attend in person. Space is limited, and prior registration is required. You may submit your request to view live streaming at events@ncstem.org by Thursday, Aug. 27. A confirmation will be sent to you via email.

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About NC STEM Community Collaborative
The North Carolina STEM Community Collaborative, funded through generous support of MCNC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and community partners, recognizes that community collaboration is the lever to ensure sustainable innovation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. It builds the capacity of local communities to create innovative and sustainable educational programs that are characterized by individualization, quality and scalability. NC STEM supports successful 21st century teaching and learning in North Carolina, and recognizes the importance of engaging students in digital-age learning, preparing students to be ready to enter the workforce. Through designed collaboration, NC STEM partners closely with “ready to launch” and “emerging” communities throughout North Carolina to ensure all students have the opportunity to engage in rigorous, sustainable STEM education that provides them with good choices in life and bolsters the economic strength of their communities. Visit www.ncstem.org or more.