WashingtonExec’s K-12 STEM Symposium is just around the corner — this year, themed The Power of Curiosity.
Presented March 30 by Riverside Research, a nonprofit R&D organization for the Defense Department and the intelligence community, the event aims to better link what’s learned in the classroom with today’s science and technology capabilities.
The symposium launched in 2013 to ignite excitement and interest in the science, technology, engineering and math fields and has over the years grown in both size and diversity. Last year’s event convened over 2,500 parents, students and educators and featured 30 interactive exhibitors and 10 speakers.
Held at the Nysmith School in Chantilly, Virginia, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., this year’s event is expected to draw 4,000 attendees. It will feature interactive showcases including flight simulators, drones and physics experiments. Over 50 exhibitors from nonprofit, government, academia and business will attend. Speakers include:
- Former astronauts Dr. Sandra Magnus and Dr. Larry DeLucas
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology junior Kirthi Kumar, winner of last year’s STEM Rising Star Award, and founder of SheSoft, which seeks to bridge the gender gap in STEM
- Dr. Tinell Priddy, STEM educator and inaugural principal of The Academies of Loudoun
- TJHSST Principal and STEM leader Dr. Ann Bonitatibus
The event will also feature the second annual STEM Awards program, which recognizes Best STEM-supporting Business of 2019, Most Inspiring STEM Executive of 2019, STEM Rising Star and Best STEM Non-Profit. To qualify, nominees must be able to attend the awards ceremony on March 30.