News

Next Leader for Iowa STEM

Alongside Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Co-Chair Diane Young, Iowa Department of Education McKenzie Snow announced Justin Lewis as the STEM Bureau Chief under the Division of Innovation effective March 1. As Bureau Chief, Mr.

The 2021 Future Ready Iowa Summit was held at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines on September 16, 2021.

Transforming Education for the Workforce

The 2021 Future Ready Iowa Summit – Transforming Education for the Workforce was held for leaders across Iowa to amplify the public conversation about connecting education and the workforce with a focus on expanding work-based learning and computer science as critical aspects of STEM education, indeed education as a whole.

Group picture of 2021 Teacher Awardees at STEM Day at the Fair.

Nominations Open for Iowa STEM Teacher Award

The STEM Council is partnering with Kemin Industries for the eighth year of the Iowa STEM Teacher Award. Nominations opened August 22, 2021, and will be accepted through Sunday, October 10, 2021.

10th Anniversary Reception for the Iowa STEM Council with people grouped at tables.

STEM Council Celebrates 10th Anniversary

For ten years, the STEM Council has been focused on increasing interest and achievement in STEM studies and careers, as well as providing opportunities that inspire Iowa’s young people to become innovative, enterprising contributors to our future workforce and the quality of life in our communities.

Children participate in a hands-on STEM activity at the State Fair.

Inspiring STEM Learners at the Iowa State Fair

After a year away, STEM Day at the Fair was back on the Iowa State Fair Grand Concourse this year with 15 exhibiting partners, five stage acts and STEM career cutouts to inspire the next generation of thinkers and innovators.

Group picture of sixteen STEM leaders from across the Midwest who met in Des Moines.

Midwest STEM Leaders Huddle in Des Moines

The eighth annual convening of Midwest STEM leaders occurred on August 21 in Des Moines. The series, launched in 2013 at the request of executives at Pioneer (now Corteva), Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace), and John Deere embraces their reality that STEM talent pipelines for many employers do not stop at state borders. The goal is therefore to spread best practices region-wide.

Two students and a teacher participating in STEM Best education at their school.

STEM Council Welcomes 22 New STEM BEST Partners

The STEM Council welcomed 22 STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program models for 2021. With the addition of 22 new partners, 80 programs have been created since STEM BEST launched in 2014.

2,000 educators participating in Storytime STEM-Packs training via Zoom.

Preparing Educators to Scale World-Class STEM this Fall

The STEM Council’s Scale-Up Program finds and delivers top STEM learning programs to nearly 100,000 young Iowa learners each year with impact that extends far beyond the traditional classroom.

Blake Fehringer of Le Mars Community Schools worked at Interstates and Ayn Thoreson of Spencer High School worked at GKN this su

STEM Teacher Externs Translate Industry Experience to Classroom

As the 2021 STEM Teacher Externships Program winds down, 70 Iowa STEM Teacher Externs are preparing to incorporate their summer work experience into classrooms across Iowa this fall.

Registration Opens for 2021 Future Ready Iowa: Transforming Education for the Workforce Summit

Registration is now open for the 2021 statewide Future Ready Iowa Summit focused on “Transforming Education for the Workforce” to be held on September 16, 2021, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Cover of report entitled "Building on Iowa's Vision for Computer Science Education"

Amplifying the "T" in STEM

Folks at the Iowa Capitol get it: computer science is right there with reading, writing and arithmetic when it comes to essentials for thriving in modern society. Whether at work, at home or at play, computer technology permeates every aspect of our lives.