Outreach

STEM News and Events

Arkansas Education Conference Focuses on STEM

STEM careers in Arkansas was the focus of the luncheon panel where Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet (including Dr. John Ahlen - seen left) discussed the important links between education and economic development. This event was part of the Arkansas Curriculum Conference where approximately 1400 K-12 educators gathered for curriculum improvement.

After highlighting Arkansas’ progress on the national level in education policy, benchmark scores, and Pre-K education, the Governor pointed out the need for increased STEM education and critical thinking skills. He told the audience of educators, “where we are tomorrow is a direct result of where we are today in education.”
Other panel speakers included Dr. John Ahlen, President of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority. Dr. Ahlen shared alarming data on the retirement rate of engineers in the next five years and the low numbers of engineering students that will replace them. Pointing out the low percentage of students prepared for college, the high college dropout rate, and the increasing economic need for graduates in STEM fields, he reminded the audience of the urgent need to address these education problems now.

Students Compete in the First Hot Springs Robotics Competition

BEST™ Robotics at ASMSA
Eight schools from the Hot Springs area competed in the first Hot Springs BEST Robotics Game Day on October 31, 2009. After six weeks of preparation, area middle and high school students competed in the robotics game, and also in the BEST Award competition that includes a project summary notebook, oral presentation, table display, and spirit and sportsmanship. The Hot Springs BEST hub is sponsored by ASMSA (Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts).
BEST is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science and engineering-based robotics competition. There are currently seven hubs in Arkansas. Six of these regional hubs were started by the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority robotics grant program funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

Upcoming Events

Dec. 4 and 5
Frontier Trails BEST Robotics Regional Championship Competition
(Includes 23 Arkansas schools)

Dec. 18 – STEM Classroom Enhancement Application Deadline

January 11 -Stem Coalition Meeting

Quality education is the pathway to Arkansas’ future on a broader international playing field. As EPSCoR research projects pave the way for nano- and bio-technology in future industrial development, education must keep pace by providing an appropriate competent workforce. Today’s students need high quality skills in information technology as well as an enriched STEM curriculum. Teachers must promote a higher level of understanding of the core curriculum by utilizing teaching strategies that weave career, learning, innovation, and technology skills with interdisciplinary themes such as global awareness, financial, civic, and health literacy. The Technology Task Force, the STEM Coalition, and the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority have worked with EPSCoR teams to promote these new strategies in Arkansas schools.