Happy Holidays

Happy holidays from us here at the Battelle Center. We will resume our STEM-views posting on Friday, January 7th.

STEM-Views: Diana Wolterman

Name: Diana Wolterman

Title: Education Project Manager in Residence at Metro High School

Organization: Battelle

1) What do you believe is the most pressing issue in STEM education today?

Getting people to understand that STEM education is not just a longer list of math & science courses. Even students interested in subjects like art and history and want careers in other fields need to learn how to synthesize information and think critically about issues and solving problems. The ability to succeed in college and ultimately in a career that requires independent thought is reliant on the types of skills that a STEM education can convey.

2) How does your work impact STEM education?

One of the things I do is bring business strategies and project management principles into the school system and help foster partnerships that benefit both parties, just like business relationships. It’s important that today’s schools don’t rely on old habits but are instead always seeking fresh ideas and adopting practices that are innovative and push the status quo. Helping our school stay connected to other innovative STEM schools in the state is a great way to build capacity.

3) What do you think is the most important part of a successful STEM curriculum?

Problem based learning. Students need to learn by doing things that are relevant and real. Working to solve a real issue or problem that doesn’t have an answer waiting in the back of the text book is a very valuable learning experience. Hands-on projects are also critically important.

4) What STEM profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?
When I was young I wanted to become a teacher, but somehow I never followed up on that in school. I think that’s why I jumped at the chance to come to Metro as Battelle’s STEM liaison!

STEM-Views: Tony Girifalco

Name: Tony Girifalco

Title: Executive Vice President

Organization: DVIRC

1) What do you believe is the most pressing issue in STEM education today?

There are really two in my view.  The first is the somewhat naïve belief that we can change the fundamentals of our education system simply by throwing money at it and without addressing larger cultural and societal issues at the same time.  The second issue is that too many of those involved in STEM education don’t see business demand as a fundamental starting point for a STEM strategy.  This simply mystifies me!

2) How does your work impact STEM education?
As an economic development company that works with and in businesses every day, we bring the voice of business and a business perspective to the table.    Only by developing trust among partners are we able to make longer term changes in the way people work and in the systems within which they work, whether it’s within a single company, “business-to-business” or “school-to-school” or any other.  Social capital is king.

3) What do you think is the most important part of a successful STEM curriculum?

Aside from the teacher?  Learning how to understand and solve problems through the rigorous application of the scientific method.

4) What STEM profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?
Either architecture or piano making—both professions involve making something and both combine the fundamental beauties inherent in the arts and sciences.  Ahh, to be 40 again!

Coming Soon!

Each Friday starting 12/10 we will post an interview with a professional from either a STEM field, education or someone associated with the Battelle Center. On the short list we have our director Kathy Sullivan, former astronaut and Senator John Glenn, Battelle executive Rich Rosen and many more! Stay tuned for these interviews as well as updates on the Battelle Center’s current endeavors.

Obama Nominates Kathy

We are proud to announce that President Barack Obama has nominated Battelle Center Director Kathy Sullivan for the Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Observation and Prediction), Department of Commerce. It is bittersweet for us here at BC as Kathy has been a wonderful Director and she will be missed. We are happy that Kathy will be moving on to such a prestigious role and will be able to continue making a difference on a national level. Congratulations Kathy!

Click here to read the White House Press Release.

Grants Awarded

Exciting news to report here at the Battelle Center! We have received word from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) that our grant applications have been approved. That means a grand total of $1.439 million is headed our way to start work on three grants (1 with NIH and 2 with NSF). See below to read the full press release and hear more about the grants we will be working on.

Battelle Center awarded $1.439 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation

Ohio's March 2nd STEM Event at COSI: An Intern's Journey

The Ohio STEM event at COSI was really eye-opening. Seeing STEM initiatives in research is informative and it gave me an understanding of the scope of the programs around the country, but the experience of seeing all of Ohio's initiatives really put the number of initiative names on a computer screen into perspective. STEM education is not improved by these initiatives alone, and the Ohio STEM convention illustrated that the people who make up those initiatives are the true energy and the true passion driving Ohio’s STEM education forward.

For those of you who have not visited the COSI building - it's huge. Governor Strickland gave a speech in a conference room that could hold at least three private jets. The entire first floor lobby (just about as big as the assembly room) was used by the convention to display posters and computers detailing tons of programs all across Ohio. In the middle of the displays were all kinds of projects that students of the various initiatives had created, such as LEGO robots designed to skitter away as a simulation of a frightened animal. Most of the programs I had heard of, such as the Ohio Design Challenge project, and (of course) OSLN, but the sheer amount of people ready and willing to take up the STEM education cause was truly remarkable.

Governor Strickland and his coalition of university and local school district leaders announced a renewed state vigor to increase the quality and number of Ohio STEM teachers for the primary and secondary classrooms. The partners in education all converging on one stage highlighted the efficiency and accomplishment of all of the STEM collaborators there, and also highlighted the fact that STEM education movements have so many resources, both in communication and funding, that Ohio can only continue to pave the way for innovative thinking.

It just goes to show that you can read all the press releases, news updates, and program descriptions to understand the need for STEM, but only at a function like Ohio STEM can you understand the impact of better STEM education, and the number of people – from the powerful to the ordinary – that are dedicated to improving the education of students for years to come.