STEM Education Summer Institute to be held at Alfred State College July 29-31

Educators from all levels will once again be gathering at Alfred State College for the annual STEM Education Summer Institute.

Taking place July 29-31, the institute is hosted by the New York State STEM Education Collaborative, and provides a way for kindergarten-through-college-level educators to learn new techniques for engaging students of all ages in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.

Presentations, workshops, panelists, and roundtable discussions will help share ideas on how to spark interest in the STEM curriculum through classroom projects, afterschool activities, and even gaming. This year’s theme is “Innovate to Integrate – Cultivating Tomorrow’s Problem Solvers.” The full conference provides 18 Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) certified professional development hours.

Dr. Craig Clark, vice president for Economic Development at Alfred State and conference co-chair, said, “The STEM Summer Institute is a great opportunity to share, learn, and collaborate on STEM programs and projects on the Alfred State College campus, which is focused on STEM programs and careers.”

Serving as the keynote speakers this year are:

• Dr. Donald Duggan Haas, director of Teacher Programming at the Paleontological Research Institute. Haas has served on the New York State Science Leadership Team for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and as chair of the Geological Society of America’s Geoscience Division.
• John Kent, vice president of Worldwide Program Management at Global Foundries, a full-service semiconductor design, development, fabrication, and innovation company. Kent is a senior member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering and of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
• Dr. Clint Ballinger, CEO of SelfArray and Evident Technologies. Ballinger has launched products in multiple market verticals, from LEDS, to biotech, to military, to energy. He holds a PhD in nuclear engineering.

The event will feature more than 50 cutting-edge presentations related to STEM and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics). Presenters are invited to submit proposals until March 23.

The institute will also present the Margaret Ashida Awards, named in honor of a woman who created a wave of change by her tireless efforts to create connections between business/industry and STEM educational leaders in colleges and the K-12 sector throughout the US.

For more information, visit www.nysstemeducation.org.