Get STEM Connected: Bring Free Education Resources into Your Library Programming

Presented by Amy Hirotaka, National Girls Collaborative Project

Keliann LaConte, Informal Education Lead, Lunar and Planetary Institute:

Lisa Curtis, Space Science Institute
Paul Dusenbery, Space Science Institute
Stephanie Shipp, Manager, Lunar and Planetary Institute
Susan Brandehoff, American Library Association

The purpose of the STAR_Net Project is to bring science and technology resources to libraries.

We are not attracting enough children to STEM careers.

A renewable resource is the talent, creativity and imagination of kids. This project provides informal education—outside of the classroom. It supports systemic education and lifelong learning. It supports that type of learning process. Science museums are visited by fewer girls and those in minority population than the rest of the population. Libraries can reach a broader audience. Testing was done in libraries and the reception was enthusiastic. This project is dedicated to hand on learning. Goals include:

Bring informal STEM learning experiences to the library

Support those library provided STEM opportunities.

Build and sustain a community of practice and cooperation between librarians and these professions.

Evaluate effectiveness.

Spokane Public Library received a grant for a Discovery Exhibit. They partnered with other groups and organization to provide hands on activities with the exhibit along with programming for all ages.

Libraries can find a wealth of resources and activity ideas at http://www.starnetlibraries.org/resources.html.

These include comprehensive programs—and also fun activities, such as puppets and a puppet show depicting the Antarctic and the Arctic—Polar Bears or Penquins? It can be used as an ongoing program of exploration or programmers can pick and choose. While an age range is suggested, activities can be adapted to a younger age.

The National Girls Collaborative Project is targeted to mostly after and out of school organizations to encourage girls in STEM learning. Learn more at: http://www.ngcproject.org/.

More information can be found at the parent organization website, FabFems, http://www.fabfems.org and resources can be found at: http://www.fabfems.org/resources.

NASA has upcoming launches of interest and with programming possibilities:

9/5/2013: LADEE is a robotic mission that will orbit our moon to gather detailed information about the structure and composition of the thin lunar atmosphere and determine if dust is being lofted into the lunar sky. A thorough understanding of these characteristics of our nearest celestial neighbor will help researchers understand other bodies in the solar system, such as Mercury, outer planets’ moons and larger asteroids. The mission was developed and built at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. LADEE is the first moon launch from Wallops Flight Facility and the first launch of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Minotaur V rocket. (From the website: http://www.nasa.gov/content/see-the-launch-of-nasa-s-ladee-mission-to-the-moon/#.UfQaBezCcrU. )
11/18/2013: Mars launch The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission is designed to explore Mars' upper atmosphere and ionosphere, and interactions with the solar wind…(from the website: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=MAVEN )
Each year NASA holds an Observe the Moon Night (www.observethemoonnight.org ). This year it will be on Oct. 12.