Caption: LSU STEM Pathways Gold and Silver STEM Seal Scholarship recipients from the High School Class of 2023. Pictured from top, left to right: Alexis Cronan (Gold), Kameron Arceneaux (Gold), Brady Gibson (Gold), and Michael Dunlap (Silver). Not pictured are Andrew Dang (Gold), Caleb Hall (Silver), and Carlo Travis (Silver).

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE:
LSU STEM PATHWAYS GOLD AND SILVER STEM SEAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The LSU Cain Center for STEM Literacy is happy to announce that this year we awarded three Gold STEM Seal Scholarships, valued at $1,500 each, and three Silver scholarships, valued at $750 each, to first-year LSU students from the high school class of 2023. To qualify for the scholarship, students had to earn the silver or gold STEM seal on their high school diploma, maintain a 3.5 gpa, secure a letter of recommendation, and write an essay.

PROMOTING STEM ENGAGEMENT: OCEAN COMMOTION AND SUPER SCIENCE SATURDAY

The 25th Anniversary of Ocean Commotion, organized by Louisiana Sea Grant, gathered students from various parishes to explore the wonders of STEM. Over 100 Exhibitors, including the Capital Area STEM Network Center and the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy, played an essential role in this educational endeavor. The event had a total attendance of 2,012, with 1,714 students and 298 adults. This event exemplified the impact of STEM education, with attendees hailing from diverse backgrounds, including public, charter, and private schools.

Capital Area STEM Network Center and the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy, joined a variety of LSU departments, organizations, local companies, and universities a Super Science Saturday. This event led by LSU’s Department of Chemistry creates a hands-on STEM extravaganza. Held on October 28, 2023, the event attracted a remarkable 800+ attendees, including students from kindergarten to 12th grade, parents, and science enthusiasts. It was a celebration of community-driven STEM education.

Both Ocean Commotion and Super Science Saturday underscore the collective effort to make STEM education accessible and engaging. Exhibitors played a vital role in bringing science closer to the community, providing opportunities for exploration and learning.

FUN FREE STEM COMPETITION FOR

STUDENTS IN GRADES 5–8

Searching for extracurricular science opportunities for your middle schoolers? Your solution is here with the You Be the Chemist Challenge, where your students collaborate to answer science questions, create a video, and compete for scholarships. The top teams will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Challenge in Houston, TX. Participation is free, offering both in-person and virtual options. Teams of 3–4 will tackle timed questions and craft a themed video response as they devise an innovative solution to a problem as part of the task. Registration for the 2023–2024 Challenge cycle closes on December 29, 2023.

Learn more and register for the You Be The Chemist Challenge:

Join the March 2024 LSU Regional Competition for prizes and advancement.

Contact Nicole Foster at nfoster1@lsu.edu for inquiries.

FIRST STATEWIDE IGNITE TRAINING SESSION STARTING IN JANUARY

Training Session 1: CS Fundamentals for Ambassadors and K–5 Teachers

Dates and Locations Vary

The Capital Area STEM Network Center is offering a free 40-hour Ignite workshop for Louisiana K–5 public school and public charter school teachers. This workshop introduces essential computer science principles through hands-on, project-based learning, utilizing resources such as Code.org, Scratch, Micro:bits, and robots. You can join us to become one of 1,000 educators ready to enhance your computer science teaching skills, whether you participate at the K–5 teacher level or become an Ignite Ambassador responsible for re-delivering the Ignite workshop to teachers in your district or school. Upcoming sessions will be available in multiple locations statewide. Stipends are available to participants who meet all requirements.

COLORING THE UNIVERSE AT LIGO

Saturday, January 13, 2024

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
LIGO Science Education Building

19100 LIGO Lane 
Livingston, LA 70754

Rubin Observatory offers free, classroom-tested investigations for grades 6–12, enabling the exploration of real data using interactive tools. This workshop guides you in accessing and teaching LIGO’s “Coloring the Universe” investigation with a focus on NGSS alignment. It covers topics commonly taught in introductory astronomy units and classes: electromagnetic radiation, digital image processing, and the use of filters to understand star and galaxy properties.

The session starts with a phenomenon and models assessment tools. Participants also delve into the Rubin Voices Trading Cards Activity, addressing student STEM belonging and career identity, while discussing its integration into the classroom. Teachers receive educational materials, and full workshop participants earn certificates for their professional development hours. We recommend bringing a laptop for an optimal experience. The agenda includes a tour and lunch provided by LIGO. For inquiries, please contact education@lsst.org.

APPLY FOR A YEAR-LONG SPACE SCIENCE PROJECT ENDING WITH PARABOLIC FLIGHT

Are you a devoted 6th–12th grade classroom teacher passionate about STEM and space sciences? The Embedded Teacher Program (ETP) annually selects ten teachers in two cohorts of five for a year-long immersive space science project culminating in a parabolic flight. ETP prioritizes Title I, rural, and underrepresented communities. Applicants should have over 5 years of STEM teaching experience, a dedication to project-based learning, district support for innovation, and a willingness to engage with stakeholders.

Selected participants receive cost coverage for workshop, lodging, parabolic flight, and travel related to the flight. Apply by March 1, 2024, for the 2024 cohort. Selection notifications will be sent by April 1, 2024, with the workshop scheduled for May 23–25, 2024, at UT Austin Center for Space Research. For inquiries, contact info@spaceforteachers.org.

GIS DAY BATON ROUGE 2023

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Main Library at Goodwood

7711 Goodwood Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Geographic information systems (GIS) provide visualization of all sorts of data. Learn about GIS, ArcGIS, EBRGIS, and more at GIS Day 2023.

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