Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Engineering Poster Contest Kickoff

Engineering Poster Contest Kickoff!

“Grand Challenges for Engineering” is the theme for the Engineering Education Service Center’s 7th Annual poster contest. This year’s winning entry can be found in a display of inspiration, excitement, wonder and curiosity. Posters should be fun, motivational and inspire students to pursue a degree in engineering, technology, math and/or science.

Throughout human history, engineering has driven the advance of civilization. In the last century, engineering recorded its grandest accomplishments. The widespread development and distribution of electricity and clean water, automobiles and airplanes, radio and television, spacecraft and lasers, antibiotics and medical imaging, and computers and the Internet are just some of the highlights from a century in which engineering revolutionized and improved virtually every aspect of human life.

For all of these advances, though, the century ahead poses formidable challenges. As the population grows and its needs and desires expand, the problem of sustaining civilization’s continuing advancement, while still improving the quality of life, is more immediate. Old and new threats to personal and public health demand more effective and more readily available treatments. Vulnerabilities to pandemic diseases, terrorist violence, and natural disasters require serious searches for new methods of protection and prevention. And products and processes that enhance the joy of living remain a top priority of engineering innovation.

Applying the rules of reason, the findings of science, the aesthetics of art, and the spark of creative imagination, engineers will continue the tradition of forging a better future.

There are 12 Grand Challenges for Engineers - Find out more about them by visiting: http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996.aspx

Contest deadline: 11:59pm November 4, 2011

Winners will be notified by November 14, 2011

To enter, visit: http://www.engineeringedu.com/contest.htm

Download a flyer: http://www.engineeringedu.com/EESCPosterContestFall11.pdf

View the 2005-2010 winning posters here: http://www.engineeringedu.com/store/posters.html

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Research in the Arctic or Antarctic! PolarTREC Now Accepting Applications!

PolarTREC Teachers 2012-2013
Approximately 12 openings available!

Whether you are interested in a teacher research experience, building new professional networks, or enriching your classroom content—PolarTREC has something for every educator!

APPLICATION PERIOD
The application period for teachers to apply to participate in PolarTREC:
Begins: Monday, 1 August 2011
Ends: Friday, 30 September 2011 (until 5pm Alaska Daylight Time).

Interested teachers are encouraged to participate in a PolarTREC informational webinar (web seminar), scheduled for:
Thursday, 11 August 2011, at 3:00 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time (1:00 p.m. HST, 4:00 p.m. PDT; 5:00 p.m. MDT; 6:00 p.m. CDT; 7:00 p.m. EDT).

For further information and to register to participate, please go to:
http://www.polartrec.com/about/teacher-webinar

Brief Description of PolarTREC:
PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is currently accepting applications from teachers for the sixth year of teacher research experiences.
Teachers are invited to submit an application to participate in field research learning experiences during the 2012 (usually Arctic) or 2012-2013 (usually Antarctic) field seasons.
PolarTREC teachers will spend two to eight weeks in the Arctic or Antarctic, working closely with researchers in the field as an integral part of the science team.

All major expenses associated with teacher participation in PolarTREC field experiences are covered by the program and program partners, including transportation to and from the field site, food, lodging, and substitute teacher costs.

Further information about PolarTREC, including program goals, requirements, and frequently asked questions, is available at:
http://www.polartrec.com/teachers

Apply at the PolarTREC website:
http://www.polartrec.com/teachers/application/2012

Or contact PolarTREC:
Email: info@polartrec.com
Phone: 907-474-1600

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Finance a Field Trip through Target

Many teachers would like to extend their students' learning by taking them on a field trip to a museum, zoo, farm, nature center, or other informal science education venue. But tight budgets may make this almost impossible. Fortunately, Target has established a Field Trip Grant program to help teachers continue to take their students on field trips.

Each Target store will award three Field Trip Grants to K–12 schools nationwide, enabling one in 25 schools throughout the United States to send a classroom on a field trip. Teachers can use a grant to fund a school field trip that connects their curriculum to out-of-school experiences. Each grant is valued up to $700. The application period opened this week; visit the website to learn more and apply.

Don’t let tight budgets get you down! Visit the NSTA Calendar to find out about other grants for teachers.