Press Release May 6, 2016
The Global STEM Education Center, Inc Third Symposium was held on Friday, May 6, 2016 at Harvard University Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Over 95 people participated in the Symposium. Participants included K-12 administrators; K-12 teachers; engineering and technology industry professionals; higher education administrations and faculty from UMass Amherst, Mass Maritime Academy, Framingham State University; students from Harvard GSU and Extension School; representatives from non-profit organizations in the Boston metropolitan area and Massachusetts; higher education faculty and K-12 teachers from international schools from UK, France, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, Argentina (participated virtually).
The keynotes were given by:
• Alan November, November Learning (novemberlearning.com). He introduced by Iza K. Zimmerman, Chairman of the Board, Global STEM Education Center, Inc
• Dr. Maria Uhle, National Science Foundation, International Activities Directorate, Vice-Chair, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council
The keynotes were followed by Larisa K. Schelkin, CEO and Founder, Global STEM Education Center, Inc. She reported on the status of all activities, shared a brief history of G-STEM no-profit organization and the achievements of the Center; shared the information about Global STEM Classroom® model and provided some examples of the projects with UK, Ukraine, France, Russia, Mexico, Norway; acknowledged and thanked all volunteers and advisors from NASA, UNESCO, UMass Amherst, University of South Florida, IBM, Raytheon, SETI Institute and thanked the Board of Directors of G-STEM and the Chairman of the Board, Isa K. Zimmerman.
A special formal recognition ceremony has followed honoring the leaders in Global STEM K-12 Education pioneering Global STEM Classroom® program implementation in their school districts.
From Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District:
• Superintendent Carol Woodbury
• Principal Kenneth Jenks
• Science Teacher, Dr. Julia Sigalovsky
From Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District:
• Superintendent, Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick
• Principal, Anthony Steele
The Symposium included two moderated panel discussions. The industry panel discussion “What progress is Global STEM education making for industry and government?” was moderated John Hodgman, Professor of Practice (Retired), Entrepreneurial Leadership, Tufts Gordon Institute and included:
• M.L. Mackey, CEO, Beacon Interactive
• David Bau, Senior Software Engineer, Google, Cambridge
• Dan November, Student, Harvard University Extention School, CS
• Gary Beach, Publisher Emeritus, Author, "US Technology Skills Gap"; Wall St. Journal Columnist
The educator’s panel discussion “What progress is Global STEM Education making in PreK-16?” was moderated by Isa Zimmerman, Ed.D, Chair, Board of Directors, Global STEM Education Center, Inc and included:
• Elizabeth Stevenson, Provost, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• Jake Foster, Director of STEM, MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
• Dr. Helen Soule, Executive Director, Partnership for 21st Century
• Kim Frumin, Teaching Fellow and Student at Harvard Graduate School of Education
The purpose of the Symposium is to increase networking among local schools, colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, industry & corporations for the purpose of increasing resources and opportunities for students in Global STEM Education programs.
The Global STEM Education Center, Inc is devoted to 1) sharing the information about Global STEM Education and serving as a catalyst in building partnerships between educators in the US and around the world and Global STEM professionals and global research community 2) addressing the needs for innovation-driven 21st century globally competitive and competent workforce 3) building bridges between K-12 educators and governments, private, corporate funding sources 3) emphasizing the importance of diversity in STEM
The Global STEM Education Center, Inc (G-STEM) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was founded and incorporated in Massachusetts in 2007. The Global STEM Education Center mission is: To provide Global STEM Education and to increase participation in the global science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines by all students, and especially students from underrepresented, underserved populations to meet the needs of a globally competitive workforce.