STEAMfest 2021 Gallery

STEAM Center

The STEAM Center located in the Academic Support Center provides tutoring in science, technology, engineering, and math to HCC students. The subject areas tutored at the STEAM Center also include Accounting and ESL. COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown raised many challenges and impacted the STEAM Center’s services; therefore, the 2020/2021 STEAM tutoring data reflects a decline in numbers compared to previous years. The STEAM Center followed the CDC and CSCU guidelines of social distancing and cautionary measures to ensure the safety of all our students and staff. That included limiting the number of students and staff present at a given time, reducing the number of tables and chairs, and putting up plexiglass dividers. In addition, the STEAM center discontinued some services such as drop-in math, group tutoring, study groups, and computer use. Even though the academic year 2020/2021 proved to be challenging, the STEAM Center tutors and staff continued to provide academic support services. In both fall and spring semesters, STEAM Center offered online live tutoring (via MS Teams & WebEx) and on-campus tutoring to accommodate the different needs of HCC students.The STEAM Center organized and hosted final exam review sessions in Mat137, Mat167, & Mat172 in both fall and spring semesters. In addition, in mid spring 2021 semester, STEAM Center created workshops in Mat137. All workshops and final exam review sessions were online using MS Teams. The Center advertised for these drop-in online sessions via social media and mass email to all math students and faculty. Consequently, the workshops started on March 8th, and resulted in 55 sessions. Final review sessions began April 24th, and 43 sessions were recorded. Since these activities proved to be successful and helpful to our students, the STEAM Center is considering recreating similar workshops and review sessions and adding tutoring groups in different subject areas in fall 2021 semester.

Usage

Faculty utilization has been minimal during the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related closures and limitations.

Over the past year, a total of 921 tutoring sessions were conducted, serving 230 unique students.

In the fall semester of 2020, online live tutoring and on-campus tutoring was offered in all STEAM subject areas. 48 unique visitors utilized the online live tutoring service, accounting to a total of 213 tutoring sessions. On-campus tutoring accommodated 57 unique visitors where 200 tutoring sessions were recorded.

In the spring semester of 2021, STEAM Center continued to offer both online live tutoring alongside on-campus tutoring. Online live tutoring was employed by 109 unique students, who received 379 tutoring sessions. Whereas on-campus tutoring was offered with limited availability and only in math. First, because of COVID restrictions, on-campus tutoring started two weeks late in the semester. Second, there was a shortage of tutors who were willing to work on campus because of the pandemic. As a result, only 15 unique students visited the center, and 129 tutoring sessions were logged.

Online Tutoring provided the greatest benefit to students this past year. Due to the closure and limited access to campus, online tutoring allowed students to meet live with a tutor and conduct a session. Not only did this provide beneficial in keeping the community safe, students were able to receive tutoring without having to worry about childcare or transportation to campus.

Workshops and review sessions for math courses provided students a convenient way to drop in and get answers to questions. Group sessions like this are also beneficial in that students can both ask their own questions as well as hear the answers to other students’ questions and assist each other.

Hours of Operation

The center is open along with the overall ASC hours of 9:00am-7:00pm during the academic year, 5:00pm during the summer. Staffing varies based on tutor availability. On-campus tutoring in the center has been available for the entire academic year along with online options.

Aliss Obeid is a Tutoring Coordinator working 17 hours per week, contracted under HCC. Aliss conducts outreach and some training for the whole ASC and coordinates hiring, scheduling, training, programs, reporting and data for the STEAM center. Currently Aliss’ hours are: Monday 11:00a-4:00p; Tuesday 11:00a-3:30p, Wednesday 11:00a-4:00p; Thursday 11:00a-3:30p

Equipment Availability

• Drawing Tablets – 15 Intuos Drawing tablets for online tutoring; purchased this year; heavy usage by math and science faculty and tutors for online tutoring and programming
• Model case – A case containing anatomical models was completed this year; minimal usage expected to increase with return to campus in fall
• Laptops – 4 Dell Precision 3550 15” laptop computers; purchased this year; not yet deployed for usage, awaiting setup from IT

The Math & Science Department

The Mathematics and Science department is focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) offering career-oriented programs such as Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Technology, but also academic programs that seamlessly transfer to our four-year institutions. If we can help you register for our courses to meet your career or academic goals, please contact an advisor in our department team for assistance:

Meet our dedicated career area faculty teams in Surgical Technology, Medical Assisting, and Advanced Manufacturing! 

Meet our dedicated academic area faculty teams in Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Engineering and Math! 

STEM 101: Intro to Tomorrow’s Jobs

This report shows the growth in STEM jobs expected to occur, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

According to the overview, "Employment in occupations related to STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—is projected to grow to more than 9 million between 2012 and 2022. That’s an increase of about 1 million jobs over 2012 employment levels. This article provides an overview of STEM work, analyzing nearly 100 occupations from a list created by a committee comprising several federal agencies."

Career Readiness: Competencies for a Career-Ready Workforce

Career Readiness Competencies

There are eight career readiness competencies, each of which can be demonstrated in a variety of ways.

• Career & Self-Development
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Equity & Inclusion
• Leadership
• Professionalism
• Teamwork
• Technology

Click Here For Printable Version

Upcoming STEAM Events

Please check back for upcoming STEAM events, including our STEAMfest in the fall. More details to come!

Below is summary of a variety of paid STEM internships available to HCC students both in and outside the immediate Connecticut area. It is a compilation of Summer Research Internship opportunities recommended by HCC's STEM Faculty and students who have completed these internships. Please contact Prof. Elizabeth Steeves or Prof. Rachel Cain for more information about these REU's (Research Experiences for Undergraduates).

NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates in Multimessenger Astrophysics at Rochester Institute of Technology

For more information, see astroreu.rit.edu or contact Dr. Joshua Faber. Participants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents and must be undergraduates in Fall 2022.

We especially encourage women, members of underrepresented minorities, and deaf or hard-of-hearing students to apply.

CoCreate Stamford Internship

We are excited to announce that the CSCU is collaborating with GE Appliance to offer internships to our students enrolled in our COT manufacturing and related technology and engineering programs at their new coCreate Center in Stamford CT. The students would be paid ~ $ 20/hour and are expected to spend about 20 hours a week for the Spring semester. Initially the plan is to hire up to 18 students with the objective of having the students start the internship in Jan 2022 and continue for about 6 months. . The attached flyer explains the internship and how to apply for the internship.

GE is planning on interviewing candidates on Nov.29th so time is of the essence. Please share this information with students who might be interested in applying for this exciting opportunity.

Download the Application!

2022 Yale Summer Enrichment Medical Academy (YSEMA)

On behalf of the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Community Engagement and Equity (DICE), we invite your students to apply for the 2022 Yale Summer Enrichment Medical Academy (YSEMA). YSEMA is a free 6-week residential program for Connecticut community college and Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students aspiring to a career in medicine. Students will participate in an intensive science curriculum designed to improve success in upper-division science courses that are required for pre-med students. There will be a focus on learning how to become a successful medical school applicant and how to navigate the application process. There is no fee to attend, and students will receive a $600 stipend. All cost associated with traveling, housing and meals will be covered by the DICE Office. Qualified applicants must have a 2.5 or higher GPA and be a current freshman or sophomore undergraduate student. The YSEMA 2022 application will open on December 1, 2022 and close on February 15, 2022.

Algorithm development for satellite retrievals of oil slicks & other substances

The retrieval of oceanic properties from satellites is a very important component of climate research. In preparation for the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, ocean Ecosystem mission (to be launched in 2023), we are developing an advanced retrieval scheme that, in addition to measurements of intensity, exploits the polarization state of the light measured by its state-of-the-art optical sensors. The retrieval scheme belongs to the class of “inverse methods”, which can be applied as solvers to the widest class of problems and have the advantage of rigorously determining the uncertainties associated with each retrieved parameter. In our case, the Python LMFIT “inversion wrapper” drives a “forward” radiative-transfer engine (written in Fortran) and will enable the retrieval of parameters descriptive of the ocean surface like its refractive index, with the primary application of detecting oil slicks or biogenic films. Through the interaction with the GISS RSP group, the intern will have the chance to be exposed to several aspects of remote sensing for climate research, from the preparation for airborne and spaceborne campaigns to their execution and subsequent data analysis.

Code development remote sensing of snow properties

The retrieval of snow properties and their evolution in polar regions is a very important component of climate research. We are in the process of developing a new retrieval scheme that exploits the polarization state of the light measured by satellite sensors (POLDER), in addition to measurements of intensity only (like those of MODIS). Such a retrieval scheme is composed of a “forward” radiative transfer engine (written in Fortran), driven by an “inversion” wrapper available as part of a Python package. Inverse methods can be applied as solvers to the widest class of problems and have the advantage of adding a detailed error budget estimate of the state parameters to the retrieval of their values. In this case it will enable the retrieval of parameters descriptive of the snowpack like grain shape and size, the concentration of light-absorbing impurities, but also the simultaneous determination of the properties of aerosols that might be present in the scene above the snowpack.

Fire in the Climate System

The project will use a climate model and observational datasets to understand and simulate processes that determine how wildfires impact climate and air pollution. The goal is to advance the understanding of how anthropogenic and natural pollutant emissions influence atmospheric chemistry, climate, and air pollution. Data from the NASA GISS climate model will be analyzed for aerosol and gas concentrations and be compared to aircraft and satellite measurements. We will investigate science questions that either address climate change or air pollution.

Merging and analysis of multi-sensor imagery over polar regions

Advanced satellite retrievals of snow properties benefit from the synergistic exploitation of data originating from multiple sensors. For this reason, such data needs first and foremost to be co-located and merged into custom files for practicality of use when input to the retrieval algorithms. Continuing the work performed by previous interns, we will exploit available processing tools to co-locate several-years' worth of datapixels from the MODIS, POLDER, and CALIPSO sensors and run statistics of interest on pixel-based properties. Ideal candidates for this project are students with strong interdisciplinary skills, including experience with the analysis of geophysical datasets and their visualization, but also well versed in code development. High proficiency in Python is a requirement, and knowledge of system architecture concepts is considered an advantage since the batch processing of large amounts of data requires to be optimized for speed.

Parameterization of phytoplankton absorption for NASA/PACE retrievals

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is a NASA Earth-observing satellite mission that is scheduled for launch in 2023. The NASA/PACE spacecraft will carry three state-of-the-art instruments to monitor changes in oceanic and atmospheric particulates. Two of these instruments, the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) and the Spectro-Polarimeter for Planetary Exploration one (SPEXone) will take ultraviolet (UV) pictures of the Earth. This is the first time that NASA will make such UV pictures to study changes in the plankton population, offering new opportunities to study how our oceans are changing on a global scale, which is both exciting and challenging. A proper exploitation of the UV data collected by the NASA/PACE sensors requires models that simulate the sensitivity of the “UV color” of the ocean to the particulates suspended in the seawater. The purpose of this project is to help create such models by providing parameterizations of phytoplankton absorption spectra. To this end, we are looking for an intern who will be tasked with using statistical models to help parameterizing an existing dataset of 700+measurements for phytoplankton absorption spectra.

RSP Data Management, App Development, and Code Conversion

NASA GISS Airborne Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) is often flown in field deployments. It remotely collects data to measure aerosol and cloud properties. During a field deployment RSP needs to be monitored to make sure it is healthy and collecting data properly. In addition, we can do real time retrievals so our team can contribute to the discussion of interesting scenes we observe so that perhaps we can look into it deeper. Currently, the data is processed using code written in IDL (Interactive Data Language). IDL is not commonly known language and also it is not easily portable as it requires license which most people do not have. We would like to convert this code to Python. This way the code becomes more usable and shareable. Other programming codes may need to be converted to Python as well. After the flight the data is placed on GISS web site. The site needs to make it easy for others to select relevant data of their interest. It shows ground tracks and filters data given criteria of interest. It also needs to display the data (pseudo image and plots) for a quick analysis. The intern may work on the RSP website and app.

Algorithm development for satellite retrievals of oil slicks & other substances

The retrieval of oceanic properties from satellites is a very important component of climate research. In preparation for the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, ocean Ecosystem mission (to be launched in 2023), we are developing an advanced retrieval scheme that, in addition to measurements of intensity, exploits the polarization state of the light measured by its state-of-the-art optical sensors. The retrieval scheme belongs to the class of “inverse methods”, which can be applied as solvers to the widest class of problems and have the advantage of rigorously determining the uncertainties associated with each retrieved parameter. In our case, the Python LMFIT “inversion wrapper” drives a “forward” radiative-transfer engine (written in Fortran) and will enable the retrieval of parameters descriptive of the ocean surface like its refractive index, with the primary application of detecting oil slicks or biogenic films. Through the interaction with the GISS RSP group, the intern will have the chance to be exposed to several aspects of remote sensing for climate research, from the preparation for airborne and spaceborne campaigns to their execution and subsequent data analysis.

Code development remote sensing of snow properties

The retrieval of snow properties and their evolution in polar regions is a very important component of climate research. We are in the process of developing a new retrieval scheme that exploits the polarization state of the light measured by satellite sensors (POLDER), in addition to measurements of intensity only (like those of MODIS). Such a retrieval scheme is composed of a “forward” radiative transfer engine (written in Fortran), driven by an “inversion” wrapper available as part of a Python package. Inverse methods can be applied as solvers to the widest class of problems and have the advantage of adding a detailed error budget estimate of the state parameters to the retrieval of their values. In this case it will enable the retrieval of parameters descriptive of the snowpack like grain shape and size, the concentration of light-absorbing impurities, but also the simultaneous determination of the properties of aerosols that might be present in the scene above the snowpack.

Fire in the Climate System

The project will use a climate model and observational datasets to understand and simulate processes that determine how wildfires impact climate and air pollution. The goal is to advance the understanding of how anthropogenic and natural pollutant emissions influence atmospheric chemistry, climate, and air pollution. Data from the NASA GISS climate model will be analyzed for aerosol and gas concentrations and be compared to aircraft and satellite measurements. We will investigate science questions that either address climate change or air pollution.

Merging and analysis of multi-sensor imagery over polar regions

Advanced satellite retrievals of snow properties benefit from the synergistic exploitation of data originating from multiple sensors. For this reason, such data needs first and foremost to be co-located and merged into custom files for practicality of use when input to the retrieval algorithms. Continuing the work performed by previous interns, we will exploit available processing tools to co-locate several-years' worth of datapixels from the MODIS, POLDER, and CALIPSO sensors and run statistics of interest on pixel-based properties. Ideal candidates for this project are students with strong interdisciplinary skills, including experience with the analysis of geophysical datasets and their visualization, but also well versed in code development. High proficiency in Python is a requirement, and knowledge of system architecture concepts is considered an advantage since the batch processing of large amounts of data requires to be optimized for speed.

Parameterization of phytoplankton absorption for NASA/PACE retrievals

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is a NASA Earth-observing satellite mission that is scheduled for launch in 2023. The NASA/PACE spacecraft will carry three state-of-the-art instruments to monitor changes in oceanic and atmospheric particulates. Two of these instruments, the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) and the Spectro-Polarimeter for Planetary Exploration one (SPEXone) will take ultraviolet (UV) pictures of the Earth. This is the first time that NASA will make such UV pictures to study changes in the plankton population, offering new opportunities to study how our oceans are changing on a global scale, which is both exciting and challenging. A proper exploitation of the UV data collected by the NASA/PACE sensors requires models that simulate the sensitivity of the “UV color” of the ocean to the particulates suspended in the seawater. The purpose of this project is to help create such models by providing parameterizations of phytoplankton absorption spectra. To this end, we are looking for an intern who will be tasked with using statistical models to help parameterizing an existing dataset of 700+measurements for phytoplankton absorption spectra.

RSP Data Management, App Development, and Code Conversion

NASA GISS Airborne Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) is often flown in field deployments. It remotely collects data to measure aerosol and cloud properties. During a field deployment RSP needs to be monitored to make sure it is healthy and collecting data properly. In addition, we can do real time retrievals so our team can contribute to the discussion of interesting scenes we observe so that perhaps we can look into it deeper. Currently, the data is processed using code written in IDL (Interactive Data Language). IDL is not commonly known language and also it is not easily portable as it requires license which most people do not have. We would like to convert this code to Python. This way the code becomes more usable and shareable. Other programming codes may need to be converted to Python as well. After the flight the data is placed on GISS web site. The site needs to make it easy for others to select relevant data of their interest. It shows ground tracks and filters data given criteria of interest. It also needs to display the data (pseudo image and plots) for a quick analysis. The intern may work on the RSP website and app.

You’re Invited to the Next NASA STEM Stars Episode!

PAXC Leaders share their #NASAinterns experience with the #Artemis Generation!

Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14 AT 2:00 PM ET
LOCATION: https://youtu.be/W3OwMgAwOIo

PAXC stands for Promoting Agency Cross-Center Connections. PAXC is the student-led organization that connects students from all NASA centers to each other. PAXC organizes a number of engaging events for young professionals at NASA including guest speakers, center visits, game nights, and so much more! Come meet our PAXC leaders and learn how they stay connected as #NASAinterns! You will learn:

• What is PAXC and their role at NASA
• How students connect with other #NASAinterns through PAXC
• What our interns are working on at their NASA centers
• The many paths to a NASA internship
• Advice to the #Artemis Generation as students apply to a NASA internship

STEAM Scholarship Opportunities

NASA CSGC is seeking Summer 2023 Internship

NASA CSGC is seeking Summer 2023 Internship candidates. Priority given to applications received by April 16, 2023. To learn more about the opportunities available, or to apply, go to CTSpaceGrant.org or email .

Welcome to STEAMfest 2021!

STEAMfest Videos

Watch NASA’s Perseverance Rover Land on Mars!

Teaching Space with NASA Talks

Hear from experts and education specialists about the latest missions and science happening at NASA as they answer your questions! Click Here to View Channel

Spacefarers: How Humans Will Settle the Moon, Mars, and Beyond

Countdown to Mars: Dr. Paula Welander

Countdown to Mars: Dr. Mackenzie Day

Countdown to Mars: dr. Sarah Stewart Johnson

Join us for STEAMfest 2022!

Healthy Living Expo

At HCC, students build knowledge and skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics! Students, faculty and staff joined us in-person on Monday, November 7–Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Featuring Live Cooking, Demonstrations, Lunch, Exhibits, Panel Discussions & More!

Welcome to our Virtual STEAMfest 2020!

Beginning on Sunday, November 8th, Housatonic Community College (HCC) will present an exciting, online program to celebrate advances in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. The 4th annual ‘STEAMfest’ event is going virtual this year, with something exciting planned for every day of the week – look for the Key Word of the Day to enter our daily Givaway!

On Friday: enjoy the intersection of art and technology with a series of fascinating stop-motion films. The films will go on view at 7pm, visit museum.housatonic.edu/film for the film link.

Lost & Found is a stop motion short film that tugs at the heartstrings. A clumsy crochet dinosaur must unravel itself to save the love of its life.

Click Here For Film

Two Balloons: Two adventurous lemurs navigate their dirigibles halfway around the world to a place where happenstance and fate threaten to disrupt their reunion.

Click Here For Film

STEAMfest Sponsors

Thank you to Sikorsky- a Lockheed Martin Company and Pitney Bowes for their long-term support of HCC students and being champions of STEAM at Housatonic Community College

Join us for STEAMfest 2023!

At HCC, students will build knowledge and skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics! Students, faculty and staff, please join us in-person on Wednesday November 8, 2023

FeaturingDemonstrations, Exhibits, Panel Discussions & More!

Earth Day Film

Celebrate Earth Day this year with an award-winning film: The Biggest Little Farm. With breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, the film provides a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet. Presented by Housatonic Museum of Art, the FREE screening will take place online on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd - 24th.

The Biggest Little Farm chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature's conflicts, the Chesters unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination.

“This poignant nature documentary follows the Chesters’ journey to return to the land and run an organic, biodynamic farm. As viewers, we get a front row seat to the ups and downs of agricultural life and a new appreciation for the ecosystems that farms establish,” said Robbin Zella, Director, Housatonic Museum of Art.

The film is part of a virtual Earth Day Celebration presented by Housatonic Community College. A special thanks to Connecticut Film Festival for organizing this screening, and to Pitney Bowes, Avangrid, and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company for their support of Housatonic Community College’s STEAM programs and Earth Day presentation.

Click on the video below for the trailer!

Earth Day Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Pitney Bowes, Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin and Avangrid for supporting students at Housatonic Community College and helping to advance their knowledge and skills in STEAM.

Earth Day Posters

Earth Day Student Artwork

Artwork by Michelle Huh

Artwork by Aeemay Dabiran

Please contact Professor Janet Yarrow, Coordinator of Earth Day 2021 for more information on this event at .

HCC HONORS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Hispanic people are those who come from a Spanish speaking country or have ancestors that come from a Spanish speaking country.

Spanish speaking countries include: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

There are over 60 million Hispanics living in the USA.

If there is a common thread in Hispanic cooking, it is the use of a variety of seasonings.

Seasonings, including an assortment of herbs and spices, play a key role in Hispanic cooking and the main reason why Hispanic recipes are brimming with flavor.

Here are some popular seasoning combinations used in Hispanic recipes.

• Adobo is a mixture of garlic, oregano, black pepper and turmeric.
• Sazon is a mixture of salt, paprika, turmeric, cumin, oregano, black pepper.
• Safrito is a mixture of tomatoes, green pepper, onions, cilantro, olive oil
• Garlic is found in almost all dishes, sometimes in many different forms in a recipe.

Herbs and spices not only provide flavor, but also provide a variety of health benefits due to their phytochemical content. The judicious use of seasonings in Hispanic cooking increases the overall healthiness of the meals.

Recipes

Sixth Annual
STEAMfest 2022

Fifth Annual
STEAMfest 2021

Fourth Annual
Virtual STEAMfest 2020

Earth Day 2021

Hispanic Heritage Month

You’re Invited to the Next NASA STEM Stars Episode!

PAXC Leaders share their #NASAinterns experience with the #Artemis Generation!

Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14 AT 2:00 PM ET
LOCATION: https://youtu.be/W3OwMgAwOIo

PAXC stands for Promoting Agency Cross-Center Connections. PAXC is the student-led organization that connects students from all NASA centers to each other. PAXC organizes a number of engaging events for young professionals at NASA including guest speakers, center visits, game nights, and so much more! Come meet our PAXC leaders and learn how they stay connected as #NASAinterns! You will learn:

• What is PAXC and their role at NASA
• How students connect with other #NASAinterns through PAXC
• What our interns are working on at their NASA centers
• The many paths to a NASA internship
• Advice to the #Artemis Generation as students apply to a NASA internship

Third Annual
STEAMfest 2019

November 6-7
10:00am - 2:00pm
Beacon Hall Event Center, Room 214

• An electric car exhibit will be in the courtyard
• Free reusable bags distributed to first 100 people of the day.
• Smoothies available at 10am.
• Experience what virtual reality is all about, learn about careers in ecology, the environment and with animals, play a newly released video game and then speak with the video game designer, get your blood pressure measured, stick your hand in the compost filled with worms, learn about sustainability, green products, solar panels and bees and honey, see 3-D demonstrations.
• Listen to discussions on organic gardening, the pollinator pathway, how to turn trash into beautiful art, micro plastics in our waterways, and watch a chef demonstrate healthy prep and cooking.
• Learn more about the legalization of cannabis in CT.

Coordinator: Professor Janet Yarrow.

Wednesday November 6th
10:30am Alexandria Wallace-Currie on beekeeping, local honey, pollinator pathway
11:00am Artist Daniel Lanzilotta on turning trash to art
11:30am Analiese Paik, Sustainne CEO on bringing sustainability into your life
12:30pm Educational Discussion on Cannabis Legalization in Ct.
5:00pm Readings of original work focused on climate change in the Performing Arts Center.

Thursday, November 7th
10am Analiese Paik, Sustainne CEO on sustainability
10:30am Artist Daniel Lanzilotta on turning trash to art
11:00am Chef Raquel demos healthy food cooking
12:30pm Dina Brewster, organic farmer discusses organic farming
1:00pm Sikorsky: Creating energy efficient products, reducing pollution and hiring for green jobs.
1:30pm Video game designer on how to become a video game designer
5:00pm Yoga (Room TBD)

Evening Session: November 6, 5:00pm
Performing Arts Center

Theater Arts alum, Kevin Green and his partner members of Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop for an evening of readings of original works focused on Climate Change. Some dramatic, some comedic, some outright frightening in their realistic possibility, all critically relevant to our examination of climate change and its effect on us all, big and small.

Performances begins at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 6, approximately 45 minutes. The event will include a post-performance Round Table Discussion. Dinner provided for those who attend.

Evening Session: November 7, 5:00pm
Beacon Hall 117B

Prof Steven Mark will lead a gentle yoga session. Please bring your yoga mats ( some yoga mats are available).

Second Annual
STEAMfest 2018

The Second Annual STEAMfest was held November 7-8, 2018

The STEAMfest 2-day event included:
  • Guest keynote speaker, Dr. Marie Robert from Yale School of Medicine
  • Alumni and Student Panel
  • STEAM Interactive Demonstrations
  • Student Research Presentations & Posters
  • STEAM College Fair

For a list of other STEAM events, click here to access the STEAM calendar.

How To Register For The STEM Excellence Pathway Training Emerging Workshop

Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway

Are you looking for a way to improve STEM Education at your school? The Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway is a free, strategic planning process to improve STEM education at your school or district.

The Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway is built on the belief that school systems, individual schools, departments, and individual teachers can improve their STEM education practices through a positive, collaborative approach. It is designed to help the widest possible range of school districts and schools adopt best practices in STEM education.

Register your district, school, or program with the Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway.

Complete the Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway tool to identify your current status.
Based on your responses, prioritize up to three goals, and create a plan and a timeline. As you select goals, consider resources that may be available or attainable.
Implement your action plan to help reach your goals. After the time interval you have selected, reevaluate to track

For Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway Training and Registration Dates: Contact Robin L. Avant

STEM Pathways Newsletter Fall 2019

To read further about the Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway, please click here.

Check Out Our STEAMfest From Last Year!

Third Annual
STEAMfest 2019

November 6-7
10:00am - 2:00pm
Beacon Hall Event Center, Room 214

• An electric car exhibit will be in the courtyard
• Free reusable bags distributed to first 100 people of the day.
• Smoothies available at 10am.
• Experience what virtual reality is all about, learn about careers in ecology, the environment and with animals, play a newly released video game and then speak with the video game designer, get your blood pressure measured, stick your hand in the compost filled with worms, learn about sustainability, green products, solar panels and bees and honey, see 3-D demonstrations.
• Listen to discussions on organic gardening, the pollinator pathway, how to turn trash into beautiful art, micro plastics in our waterways, and watch a chef demonstrate healthy prep and cooking.
• Learn more about the legalization of cannabis in CT.

Coordinator: Professor Janet Yarrow.

Wednesday November 6th
10:30am Alexandria Wallace-Currie on beekeeping, local honey, pollinator pathway
11:00am Artist Daniel Lanzilotta on turning trash to art
11:30am Analiese Paik, Sustainne CEO on bringing sustainability into your life
12:30pm Educational Discussion on Cannabis Legalization in Ct.
5:00pm Readings of original work focused on climate change in the Performing Arts Center.

Thursday, November 7th
10am Analiese Paik, Sustainne CEO on sustainability
10:30am Artist Daniel Lanzilotta on turning trash to art
11:00am Chef Raquel demos healthy food cooking
12:30pm Dina Brewster, organic farmer discusses organic farming
1:00pm Sikorsky: Creating energy efficient products, reducing pollution and hiring for green jobs.
1:30pm Video game designer on how to become a video game designer
5:00pm Yoga (Room TBD)

Evening Session: November 6, 5:00pm
Performing Arts Center

Theater Arts alum, Kevin Green and his partner members of Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop for an evening of readings of original works focused on Climate Change. Some dramatic, some comedic, some outright frightening in their realistic possibility, all critically relevant to our examination of climate change and its effect on us all, big and small.

Performances begins at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 6, approximately 45 minutes. The event will include a post-performance Round Table Discussion. Dinner provided for those who attend.

Evening Session: November 7, 5:00pm
Beacon Hall 117B

Prof Steven Mark will lead a gentle yoga session. Please bring your yoga mats ( some yoga mats are available).

Second Annual
STEAMfest 2018

The Second Annual STEAMfest was held November 7-8, 2018

The STEAMfest 2-day event included:
  • Guest keynote speaker, Dr. Marie Robert from Yale School of Medicine
  • Alumni and Student Panel
  • STEAM Interactive Demonstrations
  • Student Research Presentations & Posters
  • STEAM College Fair

For a list of other STEAM events, click here to access the STEAM calendar.

Partners

Achieving the Dream, Inc.
Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit that is dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Evidence-based, student-centered, and built on the values of equity and excellence, Achieving the Dream is closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success nationwide by: 1) guiding evidence-based institutional improvement, 2) leading policy change, 3) generating knowledge, and 4) engaging the public. Conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations, today, Achieving the Dream is leading the most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for student success in higher education history. With over 200 institutions, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams - working throughout 35 states and the District of Columbia – the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network helps more than 4 million community college students have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams.

Visit their website: www.achievingthedream.org
Follow on Twitter @AchieveTheDream
Follow on LinkedIn LinkedIn

NSF HSI STEM

TIES

A STEM Learning Ecosystem (SLE) is a way to remove barriers to the access of STEM education. By bringing together an entire community, a comprehensive, integrated initiative provides the architecture for cross-sector learning by identifying STEM educators in the private and public sectors and link them to in-school and out-of-school initiatives — building STEM-rich learning environments. TIES designed and continues to provide lead support to the SLE as a global endeavor for existing and new ecosystems. Learn More.

Jobs For the Future
Jobs for the Future is a national nonprofit that works to ensure educational and economic opportunity for all. We develop innovative career pathways, educational resources, and public policies that increase college readiness and career success, and build a more highly skilled workforce. With over 30 years of experience, JFF is the national leader in bridging education and work to increase mobility and strengthen our economy.

The Middle-Skill STEM Pathways Initiative increases the number of underrepresented college students who succeed in STEM education that leads to well-paying middle-skill jobs. Jobs for the Future helps states and community colleges collaborate with local employers, public schools, and other community partners to align policies and practices to develop highly structured academic pathways, with comprehensive student supports, into STEM careers that require less than a four-year degree.

Visit their website: www.jff.org
Find on Twitter @jfftweets

ACCESS
Contact: Gwen Brantley

Mission Statement

The mission of Achieving College and Career Enrichment Skills for Success (ACCESS) is to provide educational and supportive services to elementary, middle, and high school students to prepare them for college and to pursue a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics. Additionally, we expose and encourage our students to enter careers in the trades and manufacturing.

Goals

Our goal is to assist children envision their future and strive for academic excellence in primary and secondary educational institutions. We stimulate enthusiasm about science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM), encourage students to graduate high school and pursue degrees in STEAM fields and we raise awareness of the importance to give back to the community through service projects.

What is a STEM Learning Ecosystem?
A STEM Learning Ecosystem encompasses schools, community settings such as after-school and summer programs, science centers and museums, and informal experiences at home and in a variety of environments that together constitute a rich array of learning opportunities for young people. A learning ecosystem harnesses the unique contributions of all these different settings in symbiosis to deliver STEM learning for all children. Designed pathways enable young people to become engaged, knowledgeable and skilled in the STEM disciplines as they progress through childhood into adolescence and early adulthood.

Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem
Bridgeport, CT
The Greater Bridgeport STEM Ecosystem recognizes the importance of strong STEM competency across generations and the role STEM skills play in promoting a vibrant local economy. All of our partners are working to understand what it means to become a member of the STEM Learning Ecosystem Community of Practice and how will our community, businesses, and education systems benefit from it. Local nonprofits, universities, the science museum, the regional business council, STEM employers, and the Bridgeport School District all participate in this work and are engaged in strategizing to develop a shared vision, planning and prioritizing design principles including promoting STEM literacy for all, strengthening the local STEM workforce pipeline, and promoting intergenerational STEM learning opportunities. We will pursue this work with a focus on developing local students’ social emotional, technical, creative, logical, critical thinking skills, and exposure of STEM concepts beginning in elementary school. Partners are already providing an array of programs including academic enrichment, youth development, college prep, camps, job training and re-training including technical and trades skills training, and professional development for educators. We aim to build connections across these activities to amplify our impact for the children and families we serve.

External Links

www.stemtosteam.org

www.ctstemfair.org

www1.ctdol.state.ct.us

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STEAM Photos and Videos

Check out some STEAM related videos!

Mission Statement

Housatonic Community College wants to properly prepare our students for the economic future by educating and producing a strong foundation in STEAM. Students at Housatonic Community College can choose from over 40 associate degree or certificate options under the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math disciplines. We as a college want our students to be up-to-date and equipped for a seamless transfer to a four year institution and for the future labor market. Student success is the result of college and professional readiness. Housatonic Community College is in gear to move full STEAM ahead!

Members of STEAM

Dean Robin Avant
Dean of Academic Affairs

Kofi Adomako-Ayisi
Instructional Support Specialist (English)

China Byrd
Behavioral Social Science Support Staff

Rachel Cain
Professor of Biology

Stella Litwinowicz
Assistant Professor of Engineering and Math

Kyle Pepin
Associate Professor of Manufacturing & Engineering

Marina Philips
Professor of Math

Janice Schaeffler
Associated Professor of Mathematics - First Year Studies/STEAM Outreach/Data Coordinator

Kimberly Wood
Director of the Student Services Center,

Janet Yarrow
Associate Professor of Nutrition/Anatomy and Physiology/STEAM Co-Principal Investigator