The Geophysical Institute’s Education Research Group invites you to an afternoon seminar:

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics STEM K-12 Outreach Program

Many United States, school children perceive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as difficult, boring and often irrelevant subjects. The possible reasons for this problem are endlessly debated.  However, the economic, social, and overall national importance of producing graduates who are technically literate and enthusiastic in their support of a rational scientific world is essential to our nation.  This apparent STEM crisis should motivate the many scientific and engineering societies to develop STEM outreach programs aimed at students, parents, teachers and schools (grades K-12).

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is among those organizations that have identified the need to educate students and teachers about STEM current events and their direct effects on the United States population in a way that motivates both.  The AIAA has established a pre-college outreach program that has several major elements that will be described in this paper.  Elements focused on the teachers include a pre-college Educator Associate Membership program, classroom grants to support hands-on learning activities, Educator of the Year awards and recognition program and national workshop events. The AIAA also encourages and supports precollege outreach activities sponsored by the local AIAA sections through leadership training, activity and material support.

Presented by Edgar Bering, Professor of Physics, University of Houston

Edgar Bering is the Vice Chair of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) K-12 STEM Outreach Committee and a member of the Planetary and SPA EPO AGU committees. His goal is to update UAF education professionals on a new major STEM K-12 Outreach initiative with AIAA. He will be in Alaska for two weeks teaching auroral science via weather ballooning to high school and college students. 

Friday, April 6 at 2 p.m.

Akasofu Building, Room 417