Community Forum on expanding diversity and inclusion in science education and careers - APG Discovery Center

Community Forum on
expanding diversity and inclusion
 in science education and careers

¨   Agenda
    ¡ Senior Science Society welcome/overview

    ¡ Intro to Discovery Center at Waters Edge

    ¡ Presentation on Diversity, Equity, and
      Inclusion in Science
    ¡ Panel Discussion with five panelists

    ¡ Community Input time

¨   Tonight’s goal: start the discussion on
    igniting the spark of science in ALL people

¨   Will participants at the Discovery Center be
    able to identify with:
    ¡ Science?
    ¡ Scientists?
    ¡ Scientific Practices?
¨   What gaps or barriers are in the way?
¨   What should the Discovery Center’s top
    priorities be, according to the community?

¨   Formed in 2008 in response to a request
    from the Harford Community College
¨   Comprised of a volunteer staff of
    experienced scientists and engineers
¨   Primary goal of “Igniting the Spark of
    Science” in Harford County youth
¨   Identified as an affiliate of the Harford
    Community College

¡   Momentum and Impulse
¡   Things That Fly
¡   Mechanical Advantage
¡   Chemical Properties of Matter
¡   Civil Engineering
¡   States of Matter
¡   Cataclips (precision & accuracy)
¡   Fun with Triangles
¡   Sweet Sound of Music
¡   Electricity and Electronics
¡   Twisted Machines
¡   Click and Dunk
¡   Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope
¡   Fuel Cell Cars
¡   Robotics programming
¡   Let’s Make a Deal (conditional probability)
¡   Elephant Tears (chemical reactions)

Venues
        Elementary Schools
        Middle Schools
        Boys & Girls Clubs
           (three locations,
           with some weekly)
        Harford Comm. Col.
           Student Clubs (3)
        APG STEM Scouting
        Cub Pack Meetings
        APG Discovery Fest
        NMTC STEM nights
           at Middle Schools
        Fallston & BA Libraries
23X
        HCPS In-service (3 yrs)
        Private schools
        LASOS summer camp
        GEMS program (AEOP)

¨   Annual awards of $2500 each
¨   Self-funded by SSS members
¨   Highly qualified winners
    ¡   Annually 2011 through 2021
    ¡   One, two, or three each year

¨   Support local teacher education in STEM areas
¨   Clarify and improve our relationships with
    other county STEM organizations to maximize
    effectiveness
¨   Joint projects with the Discovery Center
    ¡   Technical lead for exhibits at Preview Center
    ¡   Magic of Science Fair and Family Festival – lead in
        judging the science projects

    We need talented new members to help
       Ignite the Spark of Science in ALL

Next up: the Discovery Center

¨   SSS support to the HCC
    §   As representatives of the HCC working with
        schools, libraries, Boys & Girls clubs, NMTC, and
        the community, to “Ignite the Spark of Science”
        through hands-on demonstrations and career talks
        (in excess of 3400 student contact hours, yearly)
    §   Speakers, guides, exhibits, and demonstrations for
        HCC-sponsored or hosted STEM events
    §   Volunteer instructors for teacher training events
    §   Support to HCC club activities
    §   Transfer scholarships to HCC graduates continuing
        in STEM education

¨   HCC support to the SSS

¨   SSS support to the HCC
¨   HCC support to the SSS
    §   Start-up support and encouragement in 2008
    §   Use of HCC facilities for meetings (pre-pandemic)
    §   Use of HCC Teams license for meetings (pandemic)
    §   Handling of finances through the HCC Foundation

Elementary and Middle Schools:
  Numerous locations as shown
Other Venues: Non-HCPS schools, APG, all Harford
  County Boys & Girls Clubs, HCPS In-Service Training,
  Fallston & Bel Air Libraries, HCC STEM Day &
  Student Club, Summer Camps,

Internal Communication:
   ¡   Monthly Board of Directors Meetings to conduct
       the business of the SSS
   ¡   Quarterly General Member Meetings with brief
       business meeting and invited guest speaker

¨   Pursue our primary goal of “Igniting the Spark”
    of science by bringing hands-on learning
    experiences to Harford County elementary and
    middle school aged children
¨   Maintain active Transfer Scholarship program
¨   Support local teacher education in STEM areas
¨   Clarify and improve our relationships with
    other county STEM organizations to maximize
    effectiveness

¨   Joint projects with the Discovery Center
    ¡   Technical lead for exhibits at Preview Center
    ¡   Magic of Science Fair and Family Festival – lead in
        judging the science projects
¨   Increase community awareness of
    opportunities to work with the SSS to further
    STEM education in Harford County through
    our website www.SeniorScienceSociety.org
    newsletters, and public media
¨   Continue to seek talented new members,
    senior in experience but not necessarily in years!