STEMapalooza connects kids to science, technology, engineering, math
The excitement of scientific discovery is alive and well at University of Colorado Denver
Kindergartener, policymaker, teacher or business executive—no matter what age or occupation—there will be something for everyone at the 2009 University of Colorado Denver STEMapalooza. More than 7,500 participants are predicted to attend, including 4,500 students who have registered for field trips. The event is sponsored by the Colorado Convention Center, the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, the Colorado Workforce Development Council, Lockheed Martin, The Center for Applied Science and Mathematics for Innovation and Competitiveness (CASMIC), and Girls Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (GESTEM). University of Colorado Denver STEMapalooza supports connections across science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and aims to excite Colorado’s students about careers in these fields.
UC Denver is a proud partner in the Colorado STEM Network, the newly formed statewide coalition of businesses, government, education and community groups that was launched by Governor Bill Ritter on June 12. Concentration of the state’s focus on STEM education is vital to the development of tomorrow’s business leaders, scientists, researchers and educators. UC Denver is playing an important role in raising the standards of STEM education and in preparing a workforce that is ready to meet the demands of a global, technology-based economy. As companies in industries like aerospace, IT, and biotechnology continue to move into Colorado, it’s imperative that UC Denver develop the potential of education-to-business partnerships and keep Colorado’s best graduates here in the state.
WHAT: Over the course of two days, STEMapalooza will feature more than 100 exhibitors from higher education, K-12, education organizations, workforce development, economic development and large and small business and industry. Popular exhibitors will be returning from the 2008 event, such as First Robotics where children learned to operate kid-size robots and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory which featured hundreds of math and science activities. Many participants look forward to visiting the inflatable Skylab planetarium that welcomed more than 2,400 visitors. The creative arts community also will be returning to illustrate how the creative arts are fully integrated with math and science. And many new companies and organizations will be present to showcase their areas of expertise.
WHO: Friday’s events include a luncheon with keynote speakers Colonel Fred Gregory, former NASA Astronaut, and Colorado Lieutenant Governor Barbara O’Brien. For businesses and organizations, it’s an ideal setting for networking with other industry leaders, engaging policy makers in discussion, and learning more about STEM initiatives throughout Colorado. For students, parents and teachers, the two-day event provides an opportunity to dive into hands-on, “minds-on” activities, such as fast-track racing, robotics, gaming, film production, staging, and rocketry.
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Colorado Convention Center, downtown Denver, 700 14th Street, Denver
Free and open to the public
For more information, please visit: http://www.stemapalooza.org/ or call: 303.556.6543.