Building on previous years’ success with convening students, parents and educators to engage in meaningful discourse about science, technology, engineering and math, WashingtonExec is once again announcing its annual K-12 STEM Symposium — this year, with a theme of The Power of Curiosity.
Presented by Riverside Research, a nonprofit R&D organization for the Defense Department and the intelligence community, the March 30 event aims to better link what is learned in the classroom with today’s science and technology capabilities.
Riverside Research recently presented the STEM Advocate of the Year Award to Joyce Abbey, chief investigator with SAIC at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. Abbey launched an externship program at the space center for local teachers, a new STEM curriculum for three local high schools and engaged in overall advocacy for bringing aerospace programs to the Houston, Texas, community.
For years, WashingtonExec has covered key educators, academics and science and technology leaders on their plans to modernize the U.S. STEM workforce pipeline and remain competitive towards foreign nations. However, a key asset to the national STEM human capital recruitment process was missing — the kids.
The first K-12 STEM Symposium in 2013 sought to take the U.S. homeland strategy of increasing STEM workforce participation local to the National Capital Region. With the mission of making science and technology cool, engaging and relevant, the inaugural STEM Symposium exceeded all expectations with over 2,500 parent, student and educator attendees, 30 interactive exhibitors and 10 prominent speakers. The event has grown in both size and diversity over the years.
“The K-12 STEM Symposium is where parents, children and educators can engage in conversations about STEM and what it means to the country’s future,” said JD Kathuria, WashingtonExec founder and CEO. “The symposium also aims to spur excitement and interest in STEM and the many possibilities it offers in terms of career paths for young, ingenious minds.”
This year’s interactive showcases will include flight simulators, drones and physics experiments. Over 50 exhibitors from nonprofit, government, academia and business will attend. Past attendees included the Smithsonian, NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Transportation Department and the Children’s Science Center.
Held at the Nysmith School in Chantilly, Virginia, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event is facilitated by WashingtonExec. Sign up for the event here.