STEAM Ahead

~ Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) ~

Check out the following information for ...

• Events & Activities
• Contests
• Resources for Families & Educators
• Volunteer Opportunities

Click on pictures and/or links for more information!

The Fairbanks' 4th Wild Salmon Day Celebration is at Chena River Wayside. This is a free, family-friendly community picnic where we talk salmon, eat salmon, and commit to protect salmon. We'll live music, singing, drumming, storytelling, tables and activities to join in from your local community organizations. and of course we'll have free salmon and food!

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute is offering weekly free public tours during the summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tours take about 1.5 hours and start at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the entrance of the Elvey Building on UAF’s West Ridge.

Visitors will learn about exciting science from monitoring whale populations with unmanned aircraft to how the iconic satellite antenna atop our building downlinks remote sensing data, and much more! These tours are family-friendly, educational, and offer insight into world-class research happening at the University of Alaska Fairbanks with local and global impacts.

For more information, to request accommodation, or to learn about other attractions for UAF visitors, visit www.gi.alaska.edu/about/visitor-information or the Geophysical Institute’s Facebook event page. Contact the GI Public Information Office at 907-474-7787 or uaf-gi-public-info@alaska.edu. Tours are free and for the public. All ages are encouraged to attend. No registration required.

17th Annual Renewable Energy Fair

at Chena Hot Springs Resort

August 13, 2023

10 am - 5 pm

Free Admission

Join Fairbanks Arts in the Bear Gallery for our August exhibitions: Stitched for the Future by Lyndsi R. Harris and The Majesty of Alaska by Tiffany M. Davis.

The exhibitions are on view in the Bear Gallery from August 4–26. First Friday is August 4 from 12–7 p.m., with an opening reception from 5–7 p.m. The rest of the month, the gallery will be open Monday–Saturday from 12–6 p.m.

Stitched for the Future was created to explore worldwide endangered species and conservation efforts. The pieces are stitched on non-traditional embroidery surfaces, mostly birch tree bark and hand-tanned salmon leather, but all are only sustainably harvested materials.

The Majesty of Alaska is a collection of oil paintings on canvas that capture Alaska’s jaw-dropping views with vibrant color. Each painting holds a hidden surprise for the viewer to find.

These exhibitions are free and open to the public, thanks to support from our donors and members. For more information, visit fairbanksarts.org.

The event will be held on August 26, 2023, at the Carlson Center (2010 Second Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska) from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Emergency Preparedness and Youth Safety Day is a partnership between the FNSB Emergency Operations Department, Kinross Fort Knox, and the Volunteers in Policing (Citizen Corps) Association.

FNSB is excited to join Kinross Fort Knox and Volunteers in Policing. Past Youth Safety Day in Fairbanks raised awareness for health and safety hazards that can affect our youth. Bike helmets were provided to each youth attendee, who also participated in safety workshops and educational seminars. Local Emergency Responders and the Fort Knox Emergency Response Team attended so the community could get to know fire and police personnel. The event included various children's activities.

This year's event will continue to blend all of the previous Youth Safety Day elements, including interactive activities, safety workshops, and educational seminars, and provide all-hazards safety and disaster preparedness demonstrations, simulations, and training at no cost!

For more information, click here!

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONWIDE CALL FOR STUDENT PERFORMING ARTISTS

The U.S. Department of Education is seeking student performing artists (such as bands, choirs, color guards, dancers, drumlines, poets/spoken word artists, soloists, theatrical performers) currently enrolled in elementary, middle, or high schools, who exemplify resilience, diversity, and excellence and are interested in showcasing their talent. No formal training or experience is necessary.

Have you ever wished you could build your own #school?

ORISE is giving you an opportunity to put those wishes to paper! We ask that you think through the process of creating your very own STEM #academy.

K-2 GRADERS have the option of filling out the My STEM Academy worksheet found at the link below.

3-12 GRADERS: You must create an advertisement intended to recruit new students and families to your school! You get to choose the way in which you advertise your school; it can be through a graphic, pamphlet, video commercial, etc. The plan can be hand drawn or made with a digital platform. We ask that you include a narrative in the perspective of a student on the 1st day of school at your STEM academy somewhere in your advertisement. Lastly, one of the most important aspects of your school are the details (e.g., who are the teachers, what classes are offered, etc.). Don’t forget to include details!

6-12 STUDENTS have an additional challenge to include into their school advertisement. Your advertisement must also include a school philosophy statement explaining your school’s view on STEM and how it is incorporated into the school.

Click the link below to learn more

https://bit.ly/31eaEJc

#ShapingScience #STEM

The 11th annual Power Pledge Challenge is kicking off this August 3rd through 12th. Educators

can sign up to receive a presentation from the Renewable Energy Alaska Project and complete class challenges throughout the semester for chances to win prizes.

For more information, click the link https://akenergysmart.org/power-pledge-challenge/

Source: AK STEAM Collaboration Summer Newsletter

The photography contest is open to all ages.

The photography theme is: “Innovation Right Here.”

Geoscience innovations are all around us. They shape the ways we interact with the Earth, water, atmosphere, and other living things, often right in our own backyards. How are the geosciences exploring new technologies or practices where you live? Use your camera to capture an image that shows how geoscience innovation is improving life in your community.

Download entry form

Deadline: October 13, 2023
For more information, click here!

The video contest is open to all ages.

Submit a brief, 30-90 second, original video on how people are exploring new Earth science technologies and practices that can lead to healthier, more sustainable communities around the world.

Your video entry might take almost any form. A public service announcement? An animated cartoon? A video incorporating your own original music? An audio interview with a family member or even a professional geoscientist? Some other format? You decide. Show how people of various backgrounds around the planet are pushing the barriers of geoscience for Earth and people!

Deadline: October 13, 2023
For more information, click here!

The visual arts contest is open to any interested person in grades K-5.

The visual arts theme is: "Earth Science Innovations."

“Innovations” are new inventions, actions, and ideas that can improve people’s lives. Earth scientists are always trying out innovations to change and improve how people interact with land, water, air, and other living things. Some innovations deal with areas such as food, water, clothes, buildings, energy, recreation, natural hazards, and many others. Use your artistic skills to produce an original work of art that shows how Earth science innovations improve how people interact with planet Earth.

Deadline: October 13, 2023
For more information, click here!

The essay contest is open to any interested person in grades 6-9.

The essay should focus on the topic “Geoscience Innovations Solving Problems.“

The world faces challenges in several areas including health, safe water, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, climate change, industrial development, and poverty.

Geoscience professionals are continually innovating with new technologies and practices — affecting the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere — to solve problems and create healthier, more sustainable communities. Describe how one geoscience innovation is making the world a better place.

The essay must be no more than 300 words. Longer essays will be rejected unread.

Download entry form

Deadline: October 13, 2023
For more information, click here!

STUDENT INSPIRED

The Congressional App Challenge is the most prestigious prize in student computer science. Participation in the challenge has grown exponentially and has reached underserved, diverse, and rural student populations.

CHANGE CONGRESS

The Congressional App Challenge is transforming how Congress views computer science and STEM. Since the challenge was first announced, Congress’ mentions of computer science and coding have increased 2,000%!

For more information, click here!

Using the Engineering Design Process (EDP) and project management skills, students showcase their solutions to a citywide sustainability issue. This year’s challenge asks students to build 100% electrically powered city with energy generated from sources that keep your citizens and the environment healthy and safe.

For more information, click here!

Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, August 31st, 2023.

ATTENTION TEACHERS! Are you stuck in the back-to-school slump? Kick it with the Cricut! The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants to hear your ways to get yourself and your students back into the swing of things! To enter the contest, follow ORISE on social media, fill out this (very short) survey, and comment your back-to-school engagement strategies.

Details:

• The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, August 31st, 2023.
• Teachers must teach in the United States, a U.S. Territory, or a DoDEA school to be eligible to win.
• Teachers are eligible to win 2 ORISE competitions in a 12-month period.

If you have any questions, please contact STEMEd@orau.org.

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) is seeking to spur and reward the development of lesson plans that introduce the concept of biomedical engineering to students in grades 6-8.

Participants in this Challenge will be required to create and submit a lesson plan for at least two 90-minute classes. The lesson plan should be able to be adapted into four 45-minute classes and be customizable to different learning levels. Activities should require easy to obtain resources/materials.

Click here to submit your lesson plans on Challenge.gov.

Submission Deadline: June 20, 2023 to September 30, 2023, 11:59 PM EDT

Judging Period: October 9, 2023 to December 1, 2023

Winners Announced: December 11, 2023

Questions? Contact info@nibib.nih.gov

FNSBSD Educators!

Check out the Stealth Science Student Engagements (Guest Speakers) Resource List!

Starting on July 31, 2023, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development will award up to $1,000 in Federal COVID Relief funding to Alaska classroom teachers’ projects requesting resources to support students in response to COVID-19. Funding for eligible projects will be applied shortly after a project is approved.

Teachers can learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/DonorsChooseAK.

Funding for eligible projects will be applied shortly after a project is approved.

The Permafrost Discovery Gateway has a new education-focused website for K-12 teachers. The Gateway is an online platform for analyzing and visualizing global geospatial permafrost products. One of the goals of the Gateway is to inspire future generations of permafrost and climate scientists through a collaborative earth science standards-based curriculum that ties to integrative real-world big data and connects with the global community.

Find virtual tours of a permafrost tunnel, teacher training materials, and K-12 standards-based lesson plans to help teachers integrate the Permafrost Discovery Gateway into Earth science on the Gateway's education site.

https://pdg.open.uaf.edu/

Source: AK STEAM Collaboration Summer Newsletter

For high school Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors (dependents of active duty military parents stationed at Eielson AFB or Fort Wainwright)! You have the opportunity to more high school course options through DoDEA Virtual High School!

Click this link for more information:

https://docs.google.com/.../1cwwZ215mMpbm9Dr3FaGn.../edit...

Register today!

Accepting applications now! - Deadline: September 15, 2023

CHS Foundation provides $500 grants each year to pre-kindergarten-12th grade teachers who have classroom projects that use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies and more. Eligible projects include classroom and schoolyard gardens, embryology projects, aquaculture projects and agricultural literacy reading programs to name a few. Teachers have until June 1 the following year to complete the project and submit a final report. Only state-certified classroom teachers employed by a school district or private school teachers are eligible to apply.

The CHS Classroom Grant application deadline is September 15, 2023.

• Online application form
• CHS Foundation Classroom Grant Guidelines and Application

The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State developed online learning modules for school personnel to increase understanding and awareness related to the unique challenges faced by military-connected students and families, and to provide school personnel with strategies and resources to support military-connected students. For more information click here!

Email: georgia.sandgren@k12northstar.org
Website: k12northstar.org/military
Location: 520 5th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Phone: (907) 452-2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/militarystudentsupport