Monthly Archives: January 2014

APEGBC Releases Position Paper on Climate Change

27 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

APEGBC has published a position paper on climate change as it relates to the professional practice of engineering and geoscience. The position paper, developed by APEGBC’s Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG) outlines the association’s position on the changing climate in BC, as well as the implications for practicing professionals. APEGBC members play a key role in providing guidance and advice to decision makers on how to respond to climate change, given their technical expertise and commitment to public safety.

APEGBC’s position statement on climate change is as follows: Continue reading →

Girls From 13 California Schools Attend Mathematics, Science Conference

27 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

hmmm…I am curious if this conference results in increased female enrolments in science. From the ASEE aggregator:

The Victorville (CA) Daily Press (1/25, Self) reported hundreds of girls from more than a dozen schools around California participated in the “Celebration of Women in Mathematics and Science” conference on Friday. The girls separated into several workshops on topics including, aeronautical engineering, energy management and robotics.

State Spending On Higher Education Begins To Rise Again

21 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Perhaps Canadian governments will soon choose to again follow the Americans and return funding of higher education to levels that permit colleges and universities to meet student needs. From the ASEE aggregator:
The Wall Street Journal (1/21, Belkin, Subscription Publication) reports that spending by state governments on higher education is up about six percent in FY14 after four years of straight declines. While the gains are uneven, they are widespread, with 40 states increasing funding compared to only 10 decreasing it, according to data put together by researchers at Illinois State University. However, state government spending on higher education remains 11 percent below its level of five years ago in real-dollar terms.

West Kentucky University Receives Grant To Help Steer Early Learners Into STEM

18 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Part of the issue. There is more we must also do later in education to support these early learners when they finally make their post-secondary decisions. From the ASEE aggregator:
WKYU-FM Bowling Green, KY (1/16, Autry) reports West Kentucky University has received a $150,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to create videos that will expose children to STEM. Dr. Julia Roberts, executive director of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at WKU, said, “The hardest thing about changing the number of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in Kentucky relates to the fact that unless you stimulate interest early and students are really prepared to be successful when they go to college in those areas, then it’s not going to happen.”

Researchers Develop New Spacesuit That Could Fight Bone Loss

18 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

I am fascinated by the progress researchers are making towards a future with viable space travel. From the ASEE aggregator:
The ABC News (1/15, Chang) website reports on the new spacesuit designed by researchers at the European Astronaut Center (EAC), called the Skinsuit. The suit “exerts force” on a wearer, thus helping his or her skeleton from the effects of zero gravity. International Space Station engineer Mamta Nagaraja said, “When we’re on Earth and we walk or run, we put weight on our bones that cause the different cellular processes to signal bone formation to occur. … Without gravity, there’s an imbalance between [bone] formation and resorption, so astronauts lose up to 3 percent of their bone mass per month.” Nagaraja added that there might not be a single answer to combating the problem, so “it’s worth trying these types of research-based efforts to counteract bone loss.”

LaGuardia Community College Professor Receives Grant To Develop Program To Encourage More Women To Pursue STEM Careers

17 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

From the ASEE aggregator (another potential collaborator?):
The Queens (NY) Chronicle (1/16, McRae) reported Preethi Radhakrishnan, an assistant professor of biology at LaGuardia Community College has been awarded a grant to help develop a program to encourage women to pursue STEM careers. The college has begun an initiative that will include workshops, research internships and scholarships. “The first two years of a college career are considered key predictors of whether students will pursue a major in STEM fields,” Radhakrishnan said. “This grant will increase women entering STEM fields, gaining research experience and in successfully graduating with a STEM degree in hand.”

Project To Study Different Techniques For Teaching Engineering To Young Students

13 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by in General, Outreach Ideas

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

From the ASEE aggregator. I will have to connect with these people when I begin my own research…

The Dracut (MA) Valley Dispatch (1/12, Feinstein) reported that a program called Exploring the Efficacy of Elementary Engineering (E4 Project) “will gauge the efficacy of different techniques for teaching engineering to” young students, fifth graders. Also, the E4 Project will “evaluate how engineering instruction affects children from groups that are underrepresented in engineering, including girls.” Christine Cunningham, who leads the E4 project, said, “Our preliminary research suggests that very young children really can master engineering concepts and practices -and that they benefit in a number of ways when engineering is part of their classroom experience.”

Cleveland School District Will Increase Efforts To Add Hispanic Students At Its STEM High Schools

10 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Interesting article briefly summarizing the work behind Cleveland school district recommendations. Seems there were “concerns about access to STEM programs” but others note the schools simply needed to begin affirmative action to attract Hispanic students. May be some lessons to learn here…  From the ASEE aggregator:

The Cleveland Plain Dealer  (1/10, O’Donnell) reports the Cleveland school district will promote its STEM high schools more to Hispanic students, according to an agreement between the school district and the civil rights office of the Department of Education. Civil rights investigators focused on the low number of Hispanic students in the district’s “STEM programs, particularly the district’s STEM-based specialty high schools – MC2STEM, Cleveland School of Science and Medicine at John Hay, Design Lab-Early College at Jane Addams, Garrett Morgan School of Science.” Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights, said though “the district has almost 1,700 Hispanic high school students, only 130 attend these” STEM schools.

Wearable Technology Project At University Of British Columbia Gets Funding Boost

10 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

From the ASEE aggregator.  This is the American Association of Engineering Educators…nice to see that we are noticed north of the border, too, with emerging technologies!  Although this one is intriguing, it is also a little unnerving:  it reminds me of “The Game” from Star Trek, the Next Generation.
The Canadian Press  (1/10, Luk) reports that an e-textiles project at the University of British Columbia will receive funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Electrical and computer engineering associate professor Peyman Servati, who is leading the research, said wearable technology is becoming more popular as consumers become more reliant on “smart” devices.

APEGBC Makes Self-Assessment Tool Available for Internationally Trained Professionals

10 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in APEGBC

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

APEGBC has partnered with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) and the BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training to develop an online self-assessment tool to assist internationally trained professionals entering the engineering and technology fields in BC to understand where they may fit into the job market. This tool was designed to be easy-to-use and to help individuals to determine if their qualifications are more appropriate to either register as an applied science technologist/technician with certification through ASTTBC or as a registered professional engineer with APEGBC. 

More Information >>