03/11/2004

Minutes: February 24, 2004 UAEDI STEM discussion group

March 1, 2004

To: STEM Discussion Group Members
From: Otto Loewer
RE: Minutes of STEM Meeting

The following are the minutes are for the February 24, 2004 UAEDI STEM discussion group. I will be sending out additional commentary on this meeting at a later time.

I do wish you to consider being part of the STEM database. Please note the following:

The consensus of those at the STEM Discussion group was that the STEM Database’s name was misleading. It should be called something like:

“A database of various types of resources available to assist in enhancing pre-college science, technology, engineering and math education in Arkansas”

If you possess some of these resources (physical, intellectual, financial, etc.), please submit your entry to this Arkansas database. Thanks!

Otto

Meeting Notes
UAEDI - STEM Discussion Group
February 24, 2004

Attendees

Otto Loewer, Christina Scarlat, Carolyne Garcia, Kazem Sohraby, Ada Hollingsworth, Susan Lancaster, Debbie Korth, Janet Parsch, Barry Goode

Databases

Meeting began with a discussion of the STEM database. Christina demonstrated the STEM and UA Capabilities databases. Otto noted that response to the invitation to be in the STEM database has been very low. Why aren’t people participating and what could/should we do about it? Several participants noted that lack of participation may be tied, in part, to the on-going legal problems concerning public education in Arkansas.

Kazem noted that participation would be incremental and as more people were included, more would want to join. Janet suggested that we might use the resources of the Academic Libraries of Arkansas to solicit participants from other campuses. She will put out a query to the ALA. It was also suggested that soliciting participation by topic area (e.g., nanotechnology) might elicit greater response.

It was agreed that, while the STEM database was a worthwhile project, it might be best to let it mature at its own pace for a while and devote resources to special initiatives.

Special Initiatives

Two possible special initiatives were discussed: the BEST competition and nanotechnology. Bill Springer, who leads the BEST program in Northwest Arkansas, was teaching and could not attend the meeting, so Carolyne gave a brief presentation about BEST. Bill is preparing an NSF proposal that would incorporate components of BEST and Project Lead the Way as a way to increase interest in math/science among Arkansas students. Otto noted that several members of the STEM Discussion Group would be helpful in this project. Bill Springer will serve at the project “champion.”

Barry Goode, Vice President for Instruction at North Arkansas Community College, presented a potential initiative related to nanotechnology. After summarizing the current state of nanotechnology and its importance, he said that this was a critical time and we had the potential to keep Arkansas from falling behind in this revolutionary area. He indicated its importance as a workforce development issue and the necessity of a “pipeline” from K-12 through the 2-year schools in conjunction with the U of A. The group agreed that this was an important area and Barry would make an excellent project “champion.” A special interest group will be formed to explore possible avenues for working in this area.

Minutes: February 24, 2004 UAEDI STEM discussion group