Last spring, an article in the April/May 2018 issue of Science Scope highlighted a community partnership between a middle school in Massachusetts and a group of scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). In the article, Engineering Partnerships, the authors describe a successful, engaging engineering design project developed by a classroom teacher and a WHOI scientist who studies deep-ocean microbes.

Creating these types of partnerships can be highly rewarding for both students and educators. That is why organizers of the 8th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA this coming July in San Francisco, have devoted an entire strand on the subject. Sessions in the “Building STEM Ecosystems: Community Partnerships” strand will highlight select preK–16 partnership initiatives that have been successfully implemented and have demonstrated positive outcomes. School administrators will learn ways to assess the effectiveness of these partnerships.

Sessions in the strand will also guide participants on how to leverage local resources and build partnerships with community organizations such as government agencies, engineering firms, factories, farmers, agricultural extension offices, doctors, and hospitals. These partnerships provide STEM experiences that allow students to develop the skills and mind-sets needed to answer complex questions, investigate global issues, and develop solutions to real-world challenges.

The Earlybird Registration deadline for the 8th Annual STEM Forum & Expo is May 13; register early to save. This unique, focused event, held July 24–26, 2019, at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, provides resources for educators and organizations seeking to learn more about STEM education, associated outreach programs, partnerships, schools, and curricula. In addition to the Community Partnerships strand, the forum will also feature strands and sessions geared toward elementary, middle, high school, and post-secondary educators. Attendees are eligible to earn graduate-level credit.

Visit the conference website for more information on the STEM Forum & Expo. We hope to see you this July in San Francisco!

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