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University of Massachusetts > STEM > MA STEM Initiative
STEM Summit V: Implementing the Plan
October 28, 2008 in Sturbridge, MA
Keynote Speaker: Nobel Lauriate Craig C. Mello, PhD.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, The Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Registration is now available for the "2008 STEM Summit V: Implementing the Plan," to be held on Tuesday, October 28, at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center, Sturbridge, MA.
We expect about 600 people including educators, both PK-12 and higher education, community and business leaders and state and local-level policy makers to be engaged in the Summit. The challenge remains that currently, and in the foreseeable future, Massachusetts is not graduating enough students to fill the open STEM workforce positions. The purpose of the STEM Summit is to explore and analyze the problem and its solutions, extend exemplary, extant practices, determine the roles of the various players and mobilize the Commonwealth's STEM community to:
- Dramatically increase student interest in and preparation for careers in STEM and
- Increase the number of highly qualified teachers in STEM and provide them with timely professional development programs support.
Fact: In 1999 26% of Massachusetts SAT test takers indicated they planned on STEM majors
Fact: By 2007, this was at 20.4%, a slight increase from 2006. In addition, in 2007, nationally 26% planned on STEM majors and Massachusetts was second to last among the competitor states tracked by the MTC Innovation Index.
Fact: BUT, to get back to 26% by 2010, Massachusetts needs to prepare and generate 3,400 students over and above the 12,414 already indicating the intention to major in STEM at the higher education level in 2007.
Through the leveraging capacity of the Summit, we intend to focus on state STEM planning and the necessary funding vehicles to support a state-wide plan, especially science and technology infrastructure, and as always in collaboration with the legislature, PK-12 and higher education, business and associations.
The Summit program will feature the work of the STEM Pipeline regions as well as a policy strand and the "wingspread," so popular in past years. The Summit will also provide opportunities to network and brainstorm with colleagues as well as opportunities to be inspired and look to the future.
Watch this website and your email for developing details.
For more information, contact Isa Zimmerman, Senior Fellow, PK-16 STEM Initiative, Office of the President, University of Massachusetts, izimmerman@umassp.edu.
To see a related initiative please visit the Commonwealth Information Technology Initiative (CITI) website and the UMass Donahue Institute website.
View the University of Massachusetts STEM initiative website.
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