Conference to Host STEM Opportunities Showcase

The State of Environmental Justice in America Conference will host a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) showcase in addition to the regular Conference exhibit hall being held on April 3-5, 2012 at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel (Crystal City, VA). The STEM showcase will highlight STEM programs in the Federal and private sectors that are available to students. Students from local and out-of-area academic institutions will have an opportunity to view intern and fellowship possibilities, and have discussions with those offering the opportunities. The STEM showcase will include activities directed toward K-12, undergraduate and graduate students.

The Conference’s STEM Education Committee advocates for policies and actions to increase Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) participation in STEM education at all levels. The Committee seeks to identify ways HBCUs/MSIs can collaborate with Majority Institutions and others on Environmental Justice (EJ) related STEM funded projects. We seek to help communities with their environmental justice issues by advocating a greater role of HBCUs/MSI participation in STEM Education. One connection is to give minorities and low-income individuals additional skills to improve and increase their ability to participate in environmental decision-making through greater understanding of various technical and complex issues resolved through STEM skills. These additional skills can come through HBCUs/MSIs.

Our overall STEM goal is to conduct innovative efforts to:

•   Encourage and inspire more of our best and brightest students, especially those
    from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, to study in STEM fields;

•   Improve the content knowledge and professional skills of the STEM teacher
    workforce; 

*   Facilitate the pipeline of HBCU/MSI students participating in Federalnternship and
     fellowship programs, and transition from student to Federal employee;

•    Recruit and retain highly-skilled STEM educators;

•    Improve the resources available for learning STEM subjects; and

•    Encourage better coordination of efforts among federal agencies that provide
     STEM education programs. 

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: COB March 15, 2012.  For additional information or to exhibit in the showcase, please contact STEM@ejconference.net.