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March 5, 2018

The Walton Family Foundation announced plans to invest $790,000 to grow and diversify the teaching profession in Houston, Texas, by supporting the expansion of Teaching Excellence, an innovative teacher training program run by YES Prep Public Schools–one of 21 teams who attended the Smithsonian's 2018 Summit designed to help teams diversify the STEM teaching workforce. With foundation support, Teaching Excellence will train and support at least 620 educators, 70 percent of whom will identify as people of color, between 2018 and 2020. Teaching Excellence educators will eventually serve Houston students across 15 charter organizations and school districts.

Yale Women in Leadership Conference

March 17, 2018

Kirk Robbins, author of the blog "Science for All: Curating Transformative Science Education Resources," highlighted the playbook, "Fostering Change: Ideas and Best Practices for Diversity in STEM Teaching in K-12 Classrooms," which is the result of a collaboration between the Smithsonian Science Education Center, Shell Oil Company, and FSG. This playbook provides support in trying to diversify the STEM teaching workforce. The goal of "Science for All" is to share transformational science education resources, defined as any  book, article, web site, video clip, report, or tool that will be highly likely to change or advance the public's thinking about effective science instruction and can be used to support effective science teaching and learning for ALL students.

March 19, 2018

For over thirty years, women have remained noticeably underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Women make up more than half of college-educated workers but only 25% of college-educated STEM workers – in some fields, such as computer science, women make up only 18.1% of earned bachelor’s degrees. Missing half of the talent pool impacts our potential competitiveness and innovation in a technology-driven economy. But the real problems may begin once women enter a STEM career. Dr. Carol O'Donnell, the Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, is one of three women leaders in STEM to join a panel organized by the Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program, Women in Public Service Project and Serious Games Initiative, for a conversation on the barriers and opportunities for women in STEM, and the actions that can be taken to achieve true gender parity in these fields. 

April 13, 2018
10:00-11:00 am

The Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program, Women in Public Service Project and Serious Games Initiative, will host a Zoom Webinar on the barriers and opportunities for women in STEM, and the actions that can be taken to achieve true gender parity in these fields. 

Can you imagine turning on your kitchen faucet and no water coming out? That may happen to the 3.7 million people living in Cape Town, South Africa. The major water reservoirs supplying water to Cape Town are dangerously low. Once the reservoirs reach a certain level, drinking water will be shut off and people will need to pick up water at a distribution point.

March 22, 2018

On World Water Day–March 22–the Smithsonian Magazine published an article by Dr. Sarah Glassman, a curriculum developer with the Smithsonian Science Education Center. Dr. Glassman's article focuses on the importance of stopping and thinking about where we get the water that we need. She notes, "Only 2.5% of the water on Earth is freshwater compared to salt water. And most of that freshwater is not available because it is stored in glaciers." She also shares with Smithsonian Magazine readers that the second biggest source of freshwater is groundwater, which is unequally distributed across Earth, and the smallest percent of freshwater is found as surface water in lakes, streams, and wetlands. To learn more, go to: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-science-education-center/2018/03/19/world-water-day-dont-take-your-water-granted/

March 22, 2018 

Special Honor To Highlight a Distinguished Career

(Left to right) Scott Robinson, Anne B. Keiser, Dr. Douglass Lapp, Dr. Carol O'Donnell, and Eric Nastasi

On March 19, Dr. Carol O’Donnell, director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, presented Douglas M. Lapp with a letter from the Secretary of the Smithsonian designating Lapp as founding director, emeritus, Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) in recognition of his length of service and outstanding contributions during his tenure at the Smithsonian. The presentation took place at The Hamilton in the company of his wife, Anne B. Keiser of the Smithsonian Women’s Committee; Eric C. Nastasi, division director for advancement & partnerships, SSEC; and Scott Robinson, advancement officer, Smithsonian’s  Office of Advancement.

March 26, 2018

In January 2018, elementary school teachers from Tully Central Schools in Tully, NY completed the second year of the 100K in 10 Grant, which is offered through a partnership with OCM-BOCES and The Smithsonian Science Education Center. The team of teachers from Tully Elementary School involved with this grant are Rachel Kolod, Abigail Lerch, Michele McNerney, Lisa Saile and Melissa Pickard. Through this grant, teachers were provided training related to the science units developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center, as well as professional development in how to conduct a formal "Lesson Study." Tully teachers then worked with teachers from around the area to choose a specific element of a Smithsonian Science Lesson, which they then researched and evaluated.  To read their newsletter, go to: http://www.tullyschools.org/tfiles/folder749/KI%20March%202018.pdf

The 2018 Next Steps Institute  will be held in Colorado Springs, CO from October 10-12, 2018. This institute, hosted by the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) and the South Carolina Coalition for Mathematics and Science (SCCMS), is an advanced professional and leadership development institute designed to provide a rich STEM learning experience for educators while supporting them to grow their professional network.

April 2, 2018

On April 2, 2018, the Smithsonian Magazine's Voices Blog published an article by Logan Schmidt, a curriculum developer with the Smithsonian Science Education Center. Logan's article focuses on how Dr. Jane Goodall turned frustration into fame by conquering challenges in the field. In her article, Logan indicates that, "like every scientist before her and every scientist who will follow, Goodall encountered failure in the pursuit of science." Logan describes how all scientists, including Goodall, fail. Goodall, who is one of the most accomplished animal behavior scientists in the world, discovered that chimpanzees use tools, eat meat, and have complex social relationships. But those discoveries didn’t come without persistence and some measure of failure. To read more, go to: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-science-edu...

What words do you think of when you think of the name Dr. Jane Goodall? Chimpanzee researcher. Visionary scientist. United Nations Messenger for Peace. Expert. Leader.

How about failure? Maybe not.

But like every scientist before her and every scientist who will follow, Goodall encountered failure in the pursuit of science. All scientists fail. Einstein did. Marie Curie did. Your science teacher did. I definitely did.

April 9, 2018

While U.S. students are graduating high school at the highest rate ever, questions remain about how well prepared new diploma-holders are for what comes next. For instance, researchers estimate that  some 6 million jobs remain unfilled, many of which require individuals with STEM skills that employers say they just can’t find enough of in the talent pool. In response, K-12 administrators, advocates, and policymakers are working to shore up education programs in K-12 to give students the skills they need to compete in the workforce or the college classroom. The change is happening by improving teacher training, integrating more experiential and hands-on learning into the classroom, and teaming up K-12 schools with corporate and higher education partners to advance women in STEM. Several education leaders presented on this standing-room only panel, including Dr. Carol O'Donnell, Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC), who discussed SSEC's role in the Johnson & Johnson Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing, and Design (WiSTEM2D) initiative.

April 9, 2018

Christina Zdawczyk, Ph.D. student in the psychological foundations of education program in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota, is the recipient of a prestigious research fellowship through the National Science Foundation Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP). This grant supports graduate students studying STEM subjects and education. The fellowship covers educational and living expenses for three years, in order to allow graduate fellows to fully engage in their research interests and become experts in their fields. Zdawczyk will conduct research at the Smithsonian Science Education Center in Washington, D.C. under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Mandell, SSEC's Division Director of Curriculum. Zdawczyk's project is titled: “Student Misconceptions in the Science Classroom: Examining Teacher Knowledge and Self-Efficacy.” 

Congratulations to Christina on her continued success and contributions to the field of educational psychology!

Editor's Note: This article first appeared on EducationNC.

When you were a student, did you see a teacher that looked like you standing in front of your class? Chances are if you are a person of color the answer is no. In North Carolina, over 80 percent of the teachers are white, while under 50 percent of the student population is white, according to data from the Department of Public Instruction.  

April 10, 2018

April 10, 2018

Users Can Vote Online to Help the Smithsonian Science Education Center Win Internet’s Top Honor: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2018/games/genera...

The Smithsonian Science Education Center announced that it has been nominated for Best Public Service and Activism game in the 22nd Annual Webby Awards for “Aquation: The Freshwater Access Game.” Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of Internet industry experts, including Jimmy Kimmel, Lyft CEO Logan Green, Girls Who Code Founder Reshma Saujani, Gimlet Media CEO Alex Blumberg, Instagram’s Eva Chen, social entrepreneur Van Jones, Internet inventor Vint Cerf, Playmatics CEO Margaret Wallace, Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian, and Black Lives Matter’s Opal Tometi.

Mountains in the mist

The Isle of Skye is a 50-mile-long island in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the west coast of Scotland. It is famous for its dramatic scenery and wet weather. Its mountain ranges have names that wouldn’t look out of place in a Tolkein novel:  Red Cuillin, Black Cuillin, Trotternish. It is a place where office workers come to de-stress and adventure seekers come to climb some of the most challenging mountains in Europe.  Car manufacturers film new models of cars being expertly handled on Skye’s near empty winding roads. It is also an island where dinosaurs used to roam.  Recently, there have been several discoveries of fossils in Skye from the Middle Jurassic period (174–164 millions of years ago).  The Middle Jurassic period was an important time in the evolution of dinosaurs. It was when the first birds started to fly, meat eaters started to diversify, and long-necked sauropods (herbivores such as Brachiosaurus) started to get really big. Fossils from this period are rare, so now Skye has a new type of visitor: scientists.

Skye has a lot of rain, even by British standards. Image: longtaildog/istock/Thinkstock

Editors note: Leafsnap is an electronic field guide developed by Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution. The app includes images of leaves, flowers, fruit, petiole, seeds, and bark from different tree species, and features visual recognition software that helps users identify a species of tree by uploading images of a leaf.  It shares data uploaded by users, including the location and species, with scientists mapping the distribution of flora across the country and lets users view species documented in their area. Leafsnap is a great tool to use for Citizen Science Day on April 14, 2018. 

For years I’ve been fascinated by Leafsnap, a free app produced by the Smithsonian that lets users in the US and Canadian northeast identify trees by snapping pictures of their leaves. I live and teach in a downtown neighborhood and pass hundreds of trees every day on my walk to school. Sadly, other than the distinctive maple and some oaks, I could never tell one from another: they were just filed under the broad domain of “trees”. I’ve always admired environmentally literate folks who can distinguish between different species and better articulate their surroundings. Fortunately, since I discovered Leafsnap, I now make the occasional stop to identify a tree that catches my eye and educate myself, a lifelong city dweller, on what Frank Loyd Wright called “our best friend on earth.”

Image: Leafsnap.com

April 16, 2018 

On April 10, 2018, the Smithsonian Magazine's Voices Blog published an article by Dr. Katya Vines, a Senior Curriculum Developer with the Smithsonian Science Education Center. Dr. Vines' article focuses on

Scotland’s Jurassic Island and what scientists can learn from dinosaur footprint tracks, which can tell scientists how a dinosaur moved and lived, the size of the dinosaur, whether it is a herbivore or carnivore, what kind of species it is likely to be, and what kind of environment it lived in. Who knew that a footprint could reveal so much! To learn more, go to: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-science-edu...

April 16, 2018

The University of Pittsburgh School of Education recently sat down with Dr. Carol O'Donnell, Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, to talk to her about her experience growing up in inner city Pittsburgh, attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Education as a young adult, and pursuing a career as a woman in STEM. To read the transcript of the interview, go to: https://app.education.pitt.edu/newsletter/PittEd/article?id=...

April 16, 2018 

Dr. Brian Mandell, Division Director for Curriculum & Communications at the Smithsonian Science Education Center, was a featured presenter at the 2018 Math & Science Symposium held at the Morristown-Beard School and co-hosted by The New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) and the Far Hills Country Day School. 

The event was attended by more than 200 independent school teachers from across New Jersey and featured a keynote address by Dr Ellen Stofan, former Chief Scientist for NASA. Dr. Stofan, who was recently named the Head of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., spoke about "Exploring Other Worlds to Understand Our Own." In her talk, she discussed the importance of studying the planets Venus and Mars as well as the moon Titan (the largest moon of Saturn) because of their geological similarities with the Earth.

Dr. Brian Mandell 

Dr Ellen Stofan

April 16, 2018

Dr. Carol O'Donnell of the Smithsonian Science Education Center worked with 203 girls and boys at the fifth annual K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Symposium on April 14, 2018 held at the Nysmith School in Herndon, Virginia. An estimated 4,000 students, parents, educators, and businesses and 50 exhibitors attended the event. Young students who worked with the Smithsonian were given an engineering design challenge to design, build, test, and redesign a vehicle to move at least one meter and then demonstrate their understanding of the science behind its motion. Students applied engineering principles as they moved the car using either gravitational potential energy, rubber band energy, wind energy, or hydro-electric power. There were 203 students who won the design challenge and were rewarded with a WiSTEM²D poster produced by Johnson & Johnson and the Smithsonian Science Education Center. The poster illustrates a variety of STEM²D careers students can enter and the degrees required for each.

April 16, 2018

For over thirty years, women have remained noticeably underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. From hiring practices to workplace culture, multiple factors create barriers that prevent women from achieving fulfilling and successful careers. The capacity of women in STEM to excel in their chosen careers impacts the pipeline for emerging women leaders in these fields, and if these barriers persist, the number of women in the pipeline will not be able to grow. In order to open up pathways to leadership for more women in STEM, we must ask the question: What are those barriers? And more importantly, what can we do about them? In honor of Women’s History Month, Dr. Carol O'Donnell and other women leaders in STEM served as panelists in the Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program, Women in Public Service Project and Serious Game Initiative for a conversation on the barriers and opportunities for women in STEM, and the actions that can be taken to achieve true gender parity in these fields.