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Posted: 2/20/19

Cong. Cuellar, TAMIU Host 10th Annual STEM Alliance Week Feb. 25 - March 1

 

TAMIU Stem Alliance Logo
 

A week-long series of educational and community events aimed at promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields is happening at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) as part of the 10th Annual STEM Alliance Week, Feb. 25 – March 1. 

Congressman Henry Cuellar, (D-TX-28) in collaboration with TAMIU, is hosting the annual four-day event designed to encourage Hispanic students to consider careers in STEM fields. The TAMIU STEM Alliance brings together a collaborative network of educators, business partners, and affiliates that foster an interest in STEM careers to build-up future STEM professionals. 

During STEM Alliance Week, students will partake in a series of presentations and demonstrations. Some events will be open to the community. Corporate sponsors for this year’s event include Valero, Wells Fargo and the FedEx Corporation.

STEM Alliance Week begins Monday, Feb. 25 with professional development opportunities for Math and Science teachers, including an informative presentation on a training academy for future astronaut candidates by Sanna Lukander, CEO of the Fun Academy, a Finland-based early education company, and College of Education Dean Dr. James O’Meara.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the community is invited to partake in several free, STEM exploration events, including several Lamar Bruni Vergara (LBV) Planetarium showings, a career fair and a forum on the Rio Grande and its ecosystem conservation.

Panel presenters are the Rio Grande International Study Center, the Laredo Water Museum and City of Laredo Recycling Project. Interactive demonstrations will be provided by Laredo College’s Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center and Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Community events are scheduled as follows:

  • 10 – 10:45 a.m. – New Horizons: Solar System Exploration, LBV Planetarium
  • 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. – Space Next: The Future of Manned Space Exploration, LBV Planetarium
  • 1 – 2:45 p.m. – A Sky Chart Activity: Imagination of Generations with Constellation, LBV Planetarium
  • 3 – 3:45 p.m. – Black Holes: The Violent Death of Stars, LBV Planetarium
  • 1 - 4 p.m. – TAMIU Spring 2019 All Majors Fair – in partnership with South Texas Workforce Solutions, Student Center Ballroom
  • 6 – 7:30 p.m. River and Ecosystem Conservation Forum, Student Center 236.

On Wednesday, Feb. 27, a Robotics Competition for fifth graders from area schools will take place.

On Thursday, Feb. 28, several STEM groups will hold presentations for area high school 10th graders, with interactive demonstrations by the Hitachi High Technologies America, the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, Texas Instruments Inc., the National Weather Service and more. Thursday’s afternoon activities also include a keynote address and video presentation by Congressman Cuellar.

STEM Alliance Week concludes Friday, March 1. STEM activities for sixth graders will include presentations and demonstrations by STEM groups, along with presentations by Congressman Cuellar and a video presentation by NASA astronaut Joseph M. Acaba.

Acaba has taken part in three missions, logging a total of 306 days in space. He holds a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Arizona and a Master of Education degree from Texas Tech University. After a two-year candidate training program, he took part in the Hardware Integration Team aboard the Space Station Branch.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326.2180, e-mail prmis@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.

Additional information is also available at www.tamiu.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.