English-Learners Often Denied Full Access to STEM Education, Report Finds (Education Week) 
School systems across the country should do more to ensure that current and former English-language learners have access to STEM education, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine finds. The report is a follow-up to a 2017 study that detailed how under-resourced schools and under-prepared educators hinder efforts to help students learn English. The latest study looks to build on those findings by exploring how those factors limit English-learners’ access to high-quality and challenging STEM educational opportunities.

Girl Powered Initiative Rallies Thousands of Students to Explore STEM Careers, Hosts 100 Inclusive, Hands-on Workshops Across the Globe (Girl Powered) 

Girl Powered, a global initiative that is increasing girls’ access to and confidence in STEM careers, launches a series of hands-on workshops this month. The Girl Powered Flagship Event, to be held Oct. 20 from 10am – 2pm CT, for students grades 2-12, at Texas Instruments (TI) headquarters in Dallas, will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Knatokie Ford, biomedical scientist, former White House Senior Policy Advisor and female STEM education advocate.

STEM Events

Science-A-Thon celebrates a day in the life of a scientist (UW-Madison) 
From Oct. 15-19, 300 scientists from around the world will share photos of a typical day for the second annual Science-A-Thon, a social media campaign designed to exhibit and promote diversity in science and raise funds for scientific mentoring. Participating scientists will post 12 photos over 12 hours on social media, an hour-by-hour snapshot of a day in the lab, field or classroom, using the hashtag #dayofscience. The photos will highlight everything from morning routines to research, big discoveries, and after-work activities, showcasing the many faces and experiences of science around the world.

Naval Station Norfolk to host 2,500 5th graders for 2nd Annual STEM Day (ABC Norfolk) 
Naval Station Norfolk will host about 2,500 5th-graders for the 2nd Annual STEM Day. On Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the 5th-graders from Norfolk Public School will tour two Navy ships, visit exhibits and other physical displays such as an ARFF (aircraft rescue and firefighting) truck and a dive tank. Both the Naval Station and the Norfolk Public School system expects the event to be an annual one. Over 15 commands and organizations partnered to help create the interactive STEM-focused experience.

Higher Education

Pentagon awards $4M grant to Hampton University to enhance STEM programs (ABC Norfolk) 
The students sit in Dr. Isi Ero-Tolliver’s Biology 105 class could one day become America’s war-fighters of tomorrow. Specifically, STEM war-fighters. “It says that they believe in us, they like our product,” said Ero-Tolliver. “The D.o.D. is going to place our students, more than half of them, during the summers, in internships across D.o.D. laboratories.” The Defense Department this week announced it has awarded HU a $4 million grant, specifically aimed at enhancing research capabilities and strengthening STEM educational programs.

‘Little Shop Of Physics’ Designed To Encourage STEM Interest In Students (CBS Denver) 

Colorado State University is working to get more young students interested in STEM. CSU students visited Bruce Randolph School in Denver on Thursday to host “Little Shop of Physics.” Elementary and middle school students from the Denver metro area got hands-on experience. The CSU physics department put together 100 science experiments including a cloud-making machine and a music amplifier.

K-12 Education

Do You Feel Clueless About STEM? How To Support Your Child This School Year (Forbes) 
Did you struggle with science as a kid? Or maybe math was the subject that never quite added up. Whatever the reason, you’re not alone if the thought of helping your child with homework from STEM classes fills you with trepidation. Here’s a little secret that should be general knowledge: Not having the answer is the perfect place to start when it comes to learning STEM. That cluelessness you feel? It’s actually an asset. In fact, knowing the answers to your child’s homework questions could derail the very learning you want to occur.

Massachusetts

Brockton NAACP to participate in statewide STEM Week (Boston Globe) 
A Brockton group is working to inspire local students to join the field by participating in Governor Charlie Baker’s first statewide STEM Week. Brockton branch of the NAACP will host two events at the Brockton Public Library on Oct. 23 and 24 to connect K-12 students with more than 50 STEM organizations and programs. Both events are free and open to the public.

#AgIs

Corporate Leaders Partner With FFA to Introduce Cutting-edge Tech at National Convention (Feed, Nourish, Thrive.) 
We don’t often think that agriculture and technology go together – but what if I were to tell you that agriculture is pioneering the technology of the future? Recently several tech companies have announced a partnership with the National FFA Organization to help empower and educate FFA student members throughout the United States. Top technology and agriculture companies have announced a partnership with the National FFA Organization to empower and educate nearly 670,000 FFA student members.

EXCLUSIVE: Walmart’s grocery warehouse worker of the future will have a STEM background (Yahoo!) 
As the grocery arms race in the U.S. continues to heat up, Walmart (WMT), the world’s largest retailer, is betting on a new high-tech distribution center that will rely on STEM workers and tech systems to move more product to store shelves. Walmart will soon break ground on a distribution center in Shafter, California, that will deploy Witron technology. This technology uses automation to store and retrieve grocery items such as produce, eggs, dairy, and frozen goods to build pallets while associates work alongside the system. The facility will begin operating in the fall of 2020 and will support 200 stores.

Help Million Women Mentors Go #BeyondTheBuzzword. Answer questions on social media to show what mentoring really looks like IRL! 
To mark some significant milestones at our Million Women Mentors Summit, this October we’re asking the STEM community to step up and help us show what it really takes to mentor by sharing your stories, tips, and advice on social media using #MWMentorIRL. To make it even easier, we have some questions for ya to help get the ball rolling. The first question is: How did you and your mentor/mentee meet? What tips can you provide for finding the right mentor/mentee and starting a mentor relationship? Just jump on social media and tag @MillionWMentors and use #MWMentorIRL!

Students to the rescue! Reduce food waste in your school through the 2018 National Day of Design 
Food Rescuers, this year’s National #DayOfDesign mission, tasks students with the mission to apply #STEM innovations to reduce food waste in their school cafeterias and communities. Click the link to watch the #DayOfDesign2018 preview video and then sign up and download this free, easy-to-implement, NGSS-aligned, and fun design challenge for National STEM/STEAM Day this November!

Don’t Miss Olin College’s Remaking Education Event! 
If you are someone who believes that our current model of education needs to change and you want to find ways to make that change happen, Remaking Education is for you. Happening in the heart of Boston at the Paramount Center on Friday, November 2, Remaking Education is bringing together STEM educators, business leaders, advocates and other influencers to change the narrative of what really matters in education through storytelling and highly immersive learning experiences. It’s being hosted by educational innovators Olin College of Engineering and Emerson College. Click the link for more information and to register!

Download your free copy of the State of STEM report! 
“We have two STEM talent challenges in rural areas: a warm body problem — having enough folks applying for jobs, and a right body problem — having job seekers with the right skills.” – Dr. Jill Zullo, VP, Bioindustrials Cargill