OSIT has released four grant funding opportunities to strengthen STEM in Nevada.

The K-5 STEM Classroom Grant provides up to $1,500 per classroom for teachers to purchase high-quality STEM education materials. Applications are due December 17, 2021.

The K-5 STEM Program Grant provides up to $20,000 per school to implement school-wide programming and/or training for programs on the STEM Advisory Council’s List of Recommended STEM Programs. Applications are due December 17, 2021.

The Workforce Talent Pipeline Development Grant has $500,000 available to create training programs provided by consortiums of secondary education, postsecondary education, and Nevada’s STEM industries. Applications are due January 17, 2022.

The Workforce Challenge Grant has $500,000 in funding available to create workforce training programs for in-demand, industry-recognized STEM skills. Applications are due January 22, 2022.

Please visit https://osit.nv.gov/Grants/Grants/ to read the Requests for Applications for all current funding opportunities.

This fall Climate Generation, a nationally recognized nonprofit providing interdisciplinary climate change education training and resources for over 15 years has a series of virtual workshops around the best practices of climate change education. We invite you to join our next virtual workshop focusing on Understanding the Power of COP 26 (United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change action).

Teach Climate Network Workshop: Understanding the power of COP26

Wednesday, November 3rd, 12:00-1:00 PM CT

Register Here

Learn about COP26 (United Nations Conference of the Parties) taking place in Glasgow, Scotland November 1st-12th. Discover the importance of policy and collaboration in finding climate change solutions, and learn about resources to connect your students with the climate change solutions developed at this year's U.N. Climate Change Conference. Educators will also leave with best practices and strategies for effectively using Climate Generation’s COP26 Educator’s Toolkit.

 

All workshop registrants will have access to the workshop recording.

 

#TeachClimateChat Connect with educators attending COP 26

Thursday, November 4th, 12:00-1:00 PM CT

Register Here

Join the Climate Generation delegation of educators live in Glasgow, Scotland, as they attend COP26 (United Nations Conference of the Parties). Join the discussion about the importance of their work in empowering all members of society to engage in climate action, through education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues.

NASA seeks young engineers to help design a new robot for an excavation mission on the Moon. The Lunabotics Junior Contest, open to K-12 students in U.S. public, private, and homeschools, starts accepting entries on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and runs through Jan. 25, 2022. The competition, which is a collaboration between NASA and Future Engineers, asks students to design a robot that digs and moves lunar soil called regolith from an area of the lunar south pole to a holding container near a future Artemis Moon base.

“Developing mining capabilities on the Moon will require innovation and creativity, and students are some of the most creative thinkers,” said Mike Kincaid, NASA’s associate administrator for the Office of STEM Engagement. “The next generation always brings new perspectives, inventive ideas, and a sense of optimism to the challenges NASA puts in front of them. I’m really looking forward to seeing the designs they submit to Lunabotics Junior.”

NASA’s Artemis missions are returning to the Moon with the first woman and first person of color, and will create a long-term human presence that will serve as a springboard for future Martian exploration. Lunar regolith is instrumental in this development, and could be used to create lunar concrete, reducing the amount and cost of materials that need to be transported from Earth. Artemis Student Challenges such as the Lunabotics Junior Contest create unique opportunities for a diverse group of students to contribute to NASA's work in exploration and discovery while celebrating their creativity and innovation.

To enter the contest, students must submit by Jan. 25, 2022, an image of the robot design and a written summary that explains how the design is intended to operate on the Moon. While students are not tasked to actually build a robot, they are asked to envision a robot design that is no larger than 3.5 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet and addresses three main design features: how the physical design of the robot will enable it to scoop/dig and move the lunar regolith, whether the robot will operate by moving large amounts of dirt per trip or transporting less dirt in more trips, and how the design and operation of the robot will meet the big challenge of lunar dust that is stirred up and can “stick” to surfaces when lunar regolith is moved.

Students can sign up individually or teachers can register their entire class. Entries will be split into two categories – grades K-5 and grades 6-12. Ten semifinalists will receive a Lunabotics Junior prize pack and four national finalists from each category will win a virtual session with a NASA subject matter expert. The national winner from each category will be announced on March 29, 2022, and will be awarded a virtual chat for their class with Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro. For all contest and prize details, including education resources, visit: https://www.futureengineers.org/lunaboticsjunior

NASA and Future Engineers are seeking volunteers to help judge the entries anticipated to be submitted from around the country. U.S. residents interested in offering approximately five hours of their time completed over a 10-day period should register to be a judge at: https://www.futureengineers.org/registration/judge/lunaboticsjunior

The Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine (TriCEM) is gearing up for a "Darwin Day Roadshow" this February, and we want you to be a part of it!

 

What is the Darwin Day Roadshow?

To celebrate Charles Darwin's birthday (February 12th), scientists hit the road to bring evolutionary science to schools and communities. For 2022, we are offering in-person visits in North Carolina* and virtual visits anywhere in the United States.

Our teams talk to students, teachers, and the general public about their research, career opportunities in science, and why evolutionary science is relevant to everyone. These visits are completely FREE, and we even leave behind a collection of resources to enhance the teaching of evolution in the classroom.

 

What is a typical Roadshow visit like?

We work with host teachers (i.e. you!) to design an event that best serves their school and community. There is no "typical" visit; both the topic and format are flexible to meet specific needs.

 

How do I apply?

You can learn more about the Roadshow at https://darwindayroadshow.wordpress.com. When you're ready, apply here by the deadline of midnight (EST) on Monday, November 29th, 2021. Since we work with host teachers to plan successful events, we are looking for enthusiastic applicants who will show creativity and initiative in working with us to coordinate the visit.

 

*Note: We'll be following all relevant COVID-19 guidelines and may be required to switch to virtual visits depending on the pandemic's status in February

If you have any questions, contact Meredith Spence Beaulieu (meredith.spence.beaulieu@duke.edu). Looking forward to visiting you soon on the Roadshow!

WestEd, a non-profit educational research agency, would like to invite high school teachers to access a free online peer assessment tool called Peerceptiv (https://www.peerceptiv.com/why-peerceptiv-overview/k-12/). Peerceptiv is a tool that allows students to receive quick and actionable feedback from their peers. The purpose of the study is to test a prototype of the tool and get your feedback about how helpful and useful it is in supporting classroom learning in science.

WestEd is inviting high school teachers to join a research study that will examine the feasibility of the online peer assessment tool. The study will take place sometime between October through November 2021 (we would schedule a time that works best for you and your students). The benefits of the study are that teachers can use this innovative tool for free during the study. In addition, the tools are based on learning science research that suggests that students' learning is enhanced by engaging in the peer assessment activities, which the tool facilitates. Finally, teachers would receive a stipend of up to $300 for participating in the study.

If you are interested in learning more about the study, please fill out this interest form: https://airtable.com/shrpJL2i25yWf7O5a . 

Contact information for participant inquiries: peerceptivstudy@wested.org

The National Park Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, and Get Outdoors Nevada are proud to host field trips for schools to support the "Let's Go Fishing! at Lake Mead" program. 

Get Outdoors Nevada will cover the cost of a charter bus. Students will be taught basic fishing techniques and all about the amazing underwater wildlife at Lake Mead. Students will also earn their Jr. Angler badge!

All fishing equipment is provided. Fishing is catch and release only. Field trips are scheduled for November 2021.

See attached document for additional information.  Scan the QR code to sign up, or use the following link: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVuI9KBS7v5jJGMq1cGOUdChu8NBcSjV13EgorMaOkhW10lw/viewform

Some Nevada Academic content standards that could be addressed during this experience are: 

1-LS1-2.  Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of partners and offspring that help offspring survive.  (students can research the behavior of a chosen animal to determine patterns)

3-LS4-2.  Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing. 

MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems. 

Contact Cheresa Taing at  ctaing@getoutdoorsnevada.org if you have any questions.  

The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (The Discovery) is embarking on plans for statewide outreach in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  Our aim is to help provide engaging STEM education, aligned with state science standards, to students in schools and communities across Nevada. 

 

It is important that we decide which programs we bring, and where to provide them to reach the audience who most needs or wants them, based on feedback from as many teacher, para-educators, principals, and other educator professionals as possible.  What aspects of STEM might you appreciate from outside providers?  What types of outreach programs would be most convenient for your school or most effective in the context of your curriculum?  We hope you’ll take a quick 20 minutes to provide us with your feedback by filling out the attached survey. 

 

As a thank-you for your valuable time, survey respondents will be entered into a drawing for one of three $100 Amazon gift cards.  Please complete the survey before November 15 so that your feedback can be included in our planning efforts!  To amplify your assistance to The Discovery’s outreach efforts, it would be most helpful if you’d also share this survey with other teachers (including those not in the sciences!) at your school or in your network.

 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NDM_Educator_Survey

 

Thank you for helping us help our schools through STEM education,

 

Regards,

The Discovery

 

A film screening of Pioneers in Skirts hosted by BIG and Digital's Cinema Learning Challenge and the Nevada Affiliate of NCWIT(National Center for Women & IT) in celebration of the International Day of the Girl.

The event is open to the public, however you must sign-up in order to attend. All attendees will receive popcorn, water/soda, and candy. Limited tickets available!  

Click the link to register:  https://bit.ly/pioneer-oct9

All current health and safety protocols must be followed.

Snehal Bhakta

CTE Administrator

@Snehalstocks

This year DRI is once again bringing back Lazy Lou with the EnergySmart Education Theater Program thanks to our grant from Southwest Gas Corporation.  

Performances will be offered virtually to ensure the safety of the students, staff, and performers as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 situation. The focus is on 2^nd and 3^rd grade classes in areas that receive service from Southwest Gas Corporation.

 

The 15-minute pre-recorded video performance will tell the story of Lazy Lou, who is so lazy that he is a perpetual energy waster. Luckily, he meets a group of scientists who help him understand the importance of conserving energy. Together they help Lazy Lou become a more thoughtful and efficient consumer of energy.

 

Important Information: Our goal is to schedule at least 20 virtual performances through the teachers’ Google Meeting platform that can be projected in individual classrooms or run on individual Chromebooks. Following the pre-recorded video will be a Q&A with one of the actors. The total time with the video and Q&A will be approximately 30-40 minutes. Available timeslots can be found HERE and are offered on the hour throughout the week. If allowed by the teachers/school, it would be ideal to schedule multiple classes at once and have them all be in the same Google Meet. This way we can include as many classes as possible within our limited timeslots.

 

We also have some supplemental material to provide to the classrooms, as well as an online survey for the teachers to provide feedback on this energy conservation program.

 

Performances will be held October 18-22, 2021.

 

We are excited to share this with you and look forward to seeing you in one of our performances!

 

Thank you,

 

Shawna Witt (she/they)
STEM Programs Manager
Desert Research Institute
755 E Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Shawna.Witt@dri.edu

See flyer for more information