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

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

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.

Toilets that generate electricity - New Gates Project

Gates project info:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/foundationnotes/Pages/frank-rijsberman-reinvent-the-toilet.aspx

Toliets that generate electricity! Talk about awesome EDP.
Here is an example of a project that was awarded funding:
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/07/green-mahince-researchers-desi.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

WEB Resources that might be of interest

Dan Meyer - http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?page_id=2716
I'm Dan Meyer. I taught high school math between 2004 and 2010 and I
am currently studying at Stanford University on a doctoral fellowship.
My hobbies include graphic design, filmmaking, motion graphics, and
infographics, most of which have found their way into my practice in
some way or another. My specific interests include curriculum design
(answering the question, "how we design the ideal learning experience
for students?") and teacher education (answering the questions, "how
do teachers learn?" and "how do we retain more teachers?" and "how do
we teach teachers to teach?").

Sir Ken Robinson - http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr/
Sir Ken Robinson, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in the
development of education, creativity and innovation. He is also one
of the world’s leading speakers with a profound impact on audiences
everywhere. The videos of his famous 2006 and 2010 talks to the
prestigious TED Conference have been seen by an estimated 200 million
people in over 150 countries.


http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I


Dinae Ravitch
http://www.dianeravitch.com/


Diane Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York
University and a historian of education. In addition, she is a
nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington,
D.C. She shares a blog called Bridging Differences with Deborah Meier,
hosted by Education Week. She also blogs for Politico.com/arena and
the Huffington Post. Her articles have appeared in many newspapers and
magazines.

Win a Professional Development Scholarship-Apply by Aug. 1

If you’re a 2nd or 3rd year secondary science teacher, you’re eligible to become a Fellow in the New Science Teacher Academy, one of NSTA’s premier programs providing professional development and mentoring. Two hundred teachers will be chosen to participate in the 2011 Academy and take advantage of cost-free, consistent online professional development activities along with face-to-face experiences.

The Academy provides each teacher with:
• A year-long, discipline-specific mentor
• Web-based content development courses and other resources
• Membership with full benefits in the NSTA
• 2012 National Conference on Science Education attendance including air travel, lodging, meals, and registration fees.

We know districts are struggling with budgetary constraints and new teachers, especially, are feeling the pain of temporary displacement. We’re working with teachers to provide flexibility in the application process while districts try to make difficult staffing choices. So we encourage you to apply to participate in the Academy even while you wait to hear about your fall classroom posting. The Academy has supported more than 600 teachers nationwide and this exciting opportunity is waiting for you.

To find out more about the Academy and how to apply for a scholarship, visit www.nsta.org/academy/ or contact the project director, Damaries Blondonville, at dblondonville@nsta.org.

Timely Resource for AP Teachers

Timely Resource for AP Teachers

Now that the AP tests are over, we understand that you may have time for innovation. This may give you the opportunity to sample one of our nanotechnology lessons. We've simplified it for you by offering comprehensive lesson plans (many of which have been improved by teachers' feedback) and by providing materials with a typical one to two-day turnaround.

The lessons, each of which illustrates a nanotechnology concept, vary in sophistication, so that you can find one that fits your class profile. We are available to discuss them with you and provide ongoing support since we realize that nanotechnology may be new for many of you.

The available lessons are:
• Properties of Colloidal Metals on Nano Scale
• The Molecular Scale: How do you measure what you can't see?
• Effect of Size on Reactions Hydrogels - Production and Applications
• The Effect of Particle Size on Filtering Efficiency of Water
• Hydrogels - Production and Applications

You also can access analytical instruments at our partner universities in your classroom through the Internet.

The lessons can be found on our website www.nanotecknowledgy.org at:
http://www.nanotecknowledgy.org/Lessons.aspx


The nanotecKnowledgy team looks forward to working with you to inspire your students with this exciting, 21st century technology that will have a profound impact on their lives.

Jim Murray, PhD, Chairman, Chemistry Department, Immaculata University
David Luzzi, PhD, MBA, Dean, College of Engineering, Northeastern University
Barry Stein, PhD, Senior Consultant
Mary Burch, PhD, Consultant