Science, technology, engineering and math took the spotlight last week at the first city-wide Science Week, a series of activities designed to highlight the importance of the STEM fields to Western New Yorks innovation economy, including the emerging life sciences and advanced manufacturing industries. <\/p>\n
Science Week was presented by UB, SUNY Buffalo State and Erie Community College, along with the city of Buffalo and the Buffalo Public Schools (BPS). <\/p>\n
The idea for Science Week was conceived by SUNY Trustee Eunice Lewin, who approached UB and the areas other SUNY institutions, as well as the city, the schools and SUNY central administration, for help in bringing the initiative to life. <\/p>\n
It featured national speakers, professional development workshops for teachers and hands-on science activities in BPS classrooms. <\/p>\n
Among those science activities were student-led wind tunnel and shake table demonstrations on Friday at Burgard High School, one of 12 Buffalo schools participating in the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership. ISEP, funded by a $10 million National Science Foundation grant, is a coalition of partners, led by UB, that aims to transform how science is taught. It helps fill classrooms with hands-on activities that make science exciting for kids, as well as providing professional development for teachers. <\/p>\n
About 300 Burgard students joined guests and dignitaries, including scientist and City Honors senior Yankang Yang who served as master of ceremonies; BPS Superintendent Pamela Brown; Alexander N. Cartwright, UB vice president for research and economic engagement; Buffalo State Interim President Howard Cohen; ECC President Jack Quinn; Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown; Common Council Majority Leader and Burgard graduate Demone Smith; Assemblyman Sean Ryan; Rep. Brian Higgins; Life Technologies scientist Mwita Phelps; and guest speaker Shirley Malcom. Malcom, head of education and human resources programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is internationally known for her work on STEM education. <\/p>\n
Another ISEP school, Native American Magnet School 19, opened Science Week on Monday with in-class science activities in three classrooms. <\/p>\n
Thursday was Nano Day and nearly 450 students from Buffalos public and charter schools heard presentations and interacted with polymer worms, computer hard drives and hydrophobicity exploration at sessions at Roswell Park Cancer Institute hosted by SUNYs College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering <\/p>\n
Wednesday was Teacher Development Day, with Buffalo State and SUNY hosting morning sessions on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Master Teacher Program and the TeachLive Lab.Nearly 50 BPS teachers joined other area teachers, SUNY, UB and Buffalo State leaders for the discussions and demonstrations.In the afternoon, about 175 BPS science teachers took part in four round-robin sessions at McKinley High School that focused on best practices in the classroom.It included a poster session by ISEP teachers. <\/p>\n
Perhaps the best endorsement for STEM comes from UB students studying in the fields. The students, most of whom are graduates of the Buffalo Public Schools, produced videos for Science Week.<\/p>\n
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