All articles tagged with #stem education
Malcolm Gladwell advises students interested in STEM to avoid Harvard if they are unlikely to be in the top quarter of their class, as success in STEM is more about relative performance than the institution itself. He emphasizes that being at the top of your class boosts confidence and motivation, and suggests workplaces should focus on class rank rather than college prestige when hiring.
Pete Hegseth's 2013 Harvard thesis advocated for merit-based STEM schools that promote equity, contrasting with his recent outspoken criticism of diversity initiatives in the military, highlighting a shift from his earlier moderate stance to a more combative approach against woke ideology.
Recent NAEP scores reveal significant declines in 12th graders' reading, math, and science knowledge, indicating ongoing learning challenges post-pandemic, with potential long-term impacts on college readiness and the nation's economic future.
NASA is inviting student teams to participate in the 2026 Student Launch Challenge, where they will design and launch rockets with scientific payloads inspired by the Artemis lunar missions, culminating in events in Alabama in April 2026. The challenge aims to foster engineering, teamwork, and STEM skills among students from middle school to college, with proposals due by September 22, 2023.
Astrophysicist Nia Imara blends science and art in her book and initiatives to connect Black and brown youth to STEM fields, emphasizing the cultural and historical significance of astronomy and advocating for diversity in science to foster understanding and inclusion.
A group of middle school students in Chicago discovered a cancer-fighting compound in goose droppings as part of a STEM education program. The bacterium Pseudomonas idahoensis, found in the droppings, produces a novel compound, orfamide N, which shows potential in inhibiting melanoma and ovarian cancer cell growth. This initiative, led by the University of Illinois at Chicago, highlights the impact of community-driven science and aims to inspire future STEM professionals by involving young learners in real scientific research.
Kent Yagi, a physicist at the University of Virginia, is leading innovative research using artificial intelligence to bridge the gap between Einstein's theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics, aiming to offer new insights into gravity and the universe's fundamental forces. His work, supported by a prestigious CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation, focuses on studying massive gravitational waves to test Einstein's theories and probe the fundamental laws of nuclear physics. The grant will also fund educational outreach projects to inspire the next generation of scientists.
NASA has awarded grants to five universities to develop education plans for the community overflight phase of its Quesst mission, which aims to demonstrate supersonic flight without loud sonic booms. Each university will receive $40,000 to develop STEM engagement plans for engaging with students and educators in communities selected for overflights. The grants aim to ensure accurate community information and involvement in the mission. The X-59 experimental aircraft will fly faster than the speed of sound while producing only a quiet sonic "thump," and NASA will gather data about what people below hear during overflights.
Kerbal Space Program and United Launch Alliance (ULA) partnered to challenge users to recreate ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket in the Kerbal universe, with the winner being The Space Peacock for their near-perfect recreation. Both companies recently completed significant launches, and ULA's CEO Tory Bruno expressed positivity about the contest and the game's impact on STEM education. KSP2, the sequel to the popular spaceflight simulation game, aims to make rocket science accessible and engaging for players at any skill level, while ULA's Vulcan rocket had a successful first flight and is manifested for six flights in 2024.
NASA updates its 2023 Equity Action Plan, focusing on increasing equity across the agency and removing barriers for underserved communities. The plan includes commitments to engage and inspire diverse talent in STEM education, expand equity in procurement processes, enhance grants for underserved communities, increase accessibility to Earth science data, improve language access policies, and build a diverse future STEM workforce. NASA's achievements since the 2022 plan include increased outreach events for small businesses, higher grant award amounts to historically Black colleges and universities, funding for environmental research, and the establishment of an Earth Information Center in Washington.
The Director of the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Sethuraman Panchanathan, and Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas argue that US involvement in Antarctic research is crucial for scientific advancement, engineering breakthroughs, educational opportunities, and national security. They emphasize the geopolitical significance of Antarctica and the need for continued investment in research infrastructure to maintain a technological and innovative edge. The unique conditions in Antarctica support a wide range of research, including astronomical studies, geophysics, glaciology, and ocean systems. Additionally, they highlight the importance of providing diverse students with hands-on learning opportunities in STEM fields to solve complex global challenges.
Elon Musk plans to invest $100 million into building a STEM-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, Texas, with the intention of expanding it into a university dedicated to education at the highest levels. The school will offer a traditional curriculum alongside hands-on learning experiences, and the university will seek accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This venture comes as Musk has recently expanded his presence in Austin, Texas, with the relocation of Tesla headquarters and the presence of a SpaceX testing facility.
Elon Musk plans to launch a primary and secondary school focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects in Austin, Texas, funded by a $100 million donation from his charity, The Foundation. The school will initially enroll 50 students and offer remote learning experiences. Once successfully operating, it will expand to become a university and seek accreditation. This is Musk's second venture into education, following the establishment of the Astra Nova School for online learning.
Elon Musk has donated $100 million to his charity, The Foundation, to establish a primary and secondary STEM school in Austin, Texas, with plans to seek accreditation for launching a university. The school aims to provide formal instruction in subjects like mathematics, science, engineering, and physics, along with hands-on learning experiences. Initially enrolling 50 students based on merit, the school intends to offer tuition and financial support to admitted students. Funding will primarily come from donations and tuition fees. Musk's move to Texas and his recent controversial actions have drawn attention, but his philanthropic efforts in education continue to expand.
Elon Musk plans to open a university in Austin, Texas, with a focus on STEM education. The university, which will offer instruction by experienced faculty, aims to provide hands-on learning experiences in subjects like math, science, engineering, and physics. Musk's charity, The Foundation, has filed a tax exemption application for the university and plans to contribute $100 million towards building STEM-focused primary and secondary schools as well. The university will seek accreditation and the K-12 schools will focus on teaching STEM subjects and other topics. This is not Musk's first venture into education, as he previously opened Ad Astra and Astra Nova for his children and a small number of other students.