White House Science Fair Hosted By President Obama
President Obama will host the White House Science Fair celebrating the winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions.
The White House Science Fair fulfills a commitment the President made at the launch of his Educate to Innovate campaign in November 2009 to move American students from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade.
“If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too,” the President said in November.
The White House Science Fair kicks off a week that culminates with the USA Science and Engineering Festival on the National Mall and in 50 satellite locations, poised to engage more than a million people nationwide.
At the White House Science Fair, President Obama will view exhibits of winning student projects, ranging from breakthrough basic research to new inventions, and will deliver remarks congratulating these students on their diligence, desire to tackle hard problems, and drive to invent and discover.
The President will also announce his personal appearance onthe upcoming December 8, 2010 episode of Discovery Channel’s MythBusters, a popular television show which uses science to determine the truth behind urban legends.
Additionally, the Administration and leading companies are taking further steps to advance STEM education, which include expanding the tools of invention so that more students can directly be the “makers of things.”
This includes efforts by DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), an agency that has supported key technological breakthroughs, to place 3D printers in 1000 schools and an initiative by Autodesk to make new easy-to-use design tools freely available to students, and a viral video competition by leading Fortune 500 companies to show the rewarding jobs students can get if they achieve in math and science.
President Obama has identified STEM education as necessary for laying the new foundation for America’s future prosperity. Presidential leadership on the issue has already made a difference.
The President made STEM education a priority as part of the Administration’s $4 billion Race to the Top (RTT) competition.
States were encouraged to develop a comprehensive strategy to improve achievement in STEM subjects, to partner with local institutions, and to broaden participation of women and underrepresented minorities. As a result, the winning states are undertaking decisive actions to embed improvements in STEM education into their overall educational plans.
These efforts by Governors, State Superintendents, industry, foundations, and science and engineering professionals to work together with students, parents and educators demonstrates the power and potential of the of the “all hands on deck” approach that the President has called for. The “Educate to Innovate” campaign has resulted in over $700 million in financial and in-kind support for STEM programs.
New Steps to Inspire Students to Excel in STEM:
President Obama to Appear in Episode of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters to showcasing his personal commitment to inspire young people to excel in math and science.
President Obama will appear in the December 8, 2010 episode of Discovery Channel’s MythBusters, a television show which uses science to determine the truth behind urban legends. MythBusters has approximately 13 million viewers a week and is very popular with 9-14 year olds.
The show will also be included in the Science Channel’s commercial-free kids STEM television block as part of Educate to Innovate.
DARPA Launches “Renaissance of Wonder” Campaign: DARPA will launch two new initiatives designed to ignite creativity and to show students that scientists and engineers create things that can change the world – to spark “a renaissance of wonder.”
As part of Manufacturing Experimentation and Outreach (MENTOR) program, DARPA will put 21st century tools for design and fabrication, such as 3D printers, in the hands of students at 1,000 high schools. DARPA will use prize-based competitions and social networks to encourage teams of students to design and manufacture go-carts, mobile robots, and small unmanned vehicles.
Secondly, with the launch of ENGAGE, DARPA will build on its support for the highly successful Fold-It program, which has allowed 13-year-olds to learn how to solve “protein folding” problems. The ENGAGE program will use the power of games and computer simulations to make learning personalized and engaging, and will allow researchers to gain new insights on customized learning.
New “Cool Jobs” Viral Video Competition by Leading Fortune 500 CEOs: Change the Equation, with a membership of over 100 CEOs including leading media companies, will launch a viral video contest where its companies will vie to create the best video for students on the rewarding jobs they can get if they excel in math and science.
Autodesk’s Expanded Commitment to Make Tools of Invention Broadly Available to Students:Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software, is expanding their long-standing commitment to help young people develop a passion for design and engineering by providing access to software, curricular resources, and student programs.
Autodesk will deliver new software that makes it possible for students to create, design, and visualize just about anything, and share those designs.
Leading Companies, Federal Agencies and Others Host Science Festival on the Mall. More than 850 corporations, trade associations, federal agencies, colleges and universities and 300 K-12 schools will come together October 23-24, 2010 in downtown DC to host one of the largest science and engineering festivals ever put on in the United States. With over 1,500 interactive exhibits, 75 stage shows and 50 satellite events in 25 states, this festival is poised to reach over a million people nationwide.
Topics: 2010, 21st century, America, Americans, astronomy, Biology, children, competition, DARPA, Economy, education, employment, engineering, engineers, Governance, government, jobs, learning, Manufacturing Experimentation and Outreach, math, mentor, monitor, news, Obama Administration, physical activity, President Obama, Race to the Top, RTT, science, Science Fair, STEM, students, technology, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S., United States, Washington DC, White House, White House Science Fair, young, young people, youth
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