FIRST Founder Keynotes U.S. News and World Report STEM Summit Today - June 27
Leaders from FIRST®, LEGO® Education and Time Warner Cable to Speak at U.S. News STEM Solutions Summit
FIRST Robotics Programs, LEGO Education and TWC’s Connect a Million Minds to Highlight How to Engage Young People in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Challenges
View the live streaming schedule online (all times are CDT). Follow the conversation at the Summit on Twitter at #STEMsolutions12.
MANCHESTER, N.H., June 27, 2012 – The first-ever Leadership Summit on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) presented by U.S. News & World Report, June 27-29 in Dallas, Texas will feature leaders from FIRST, LEGO Education and Time Warner Cable (TWC) who are collaborating on programs that ignite kids’ interest in STEM and address the shortage of STEM-related skills in the workforce.
Iconic inventor and FIRST founder Dean Kamen, Jon Dudas, president of FIRST, Stephan Turnipseed, president, LEGO® Education, North America, and Tessie Topol, senior director of Strategic Philanthropy & Community Affairs at TWC, are part of a roster of STEM thought leaders who will explore successful pathways to STEM careers during the three-day event.
Kamen, Dudas, Turnipseed and Topol will engage attendees in thought-provoking discussions and collaborate with other conference speakers – including corporate executives, policymakers, and technology experts – on specific outcomes that will advance the future STEM workforce.
“We need to foster ideas and opportunities that will bolster our competitive edge and drive economic growth,” said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer, U.S. News and World Report. “By harnessing the power of thought leaders such as Dean, Jon and Tessie, we can probe complex issues and build upon successful ideas that will help young people thrive in future STEM careers and build a stronger workforce.”
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend U.S. News STEM Solutions 2012: A Leadership Summit, co-presented by Innovate+Educate and STEMconnector.
Kamen will be a keynote speaker at the U.S. News STEM Solutions 2012 on June 27, from 5:30-6:30pm. Kamen will engage participants on how to make science cool for kids during a keynote conversation with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Global Cultural Ambassador and the NBA’s leading all-time scorer; Mortimer B. Zuckerman, chairman and editor-in-chief, U.S. News & World Report; and Glenn Miller, vice president of Technical Operations, Lockheed Martin Corporation.
The discussion will feature highlights from FIRST Championship 2012, an international STEM celebration honoring kids’ accomplishments in FIRST robotics programs for kids K-12.
Kamen founded FIRST, a not-for-profit, more than 20 years ago. Since its inception, FIRST has provided more than one million student robotic experiences as part of its mission to inspire young people to become science and technology heroes.
Dudas and Turnipseed will participate in the session, “Leading by Example: The Need for STEM Mentors”, on June 28 from 3:45-4:45pm. The session will focus on the importance of mentors for guiding young innovators in their exploration of STEM careers. Participants will also include Norman L. Fortenberry, PhD, executive director, American Society for Engineering Education; Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012; and Melissa Gregson, managing director, STEM Initiative, Teach For America, who will moderate.
The robotics programs at FIRST offer students the chance to work with professional engineering mentors on robotics challenges, and networking opportunities to find internships with leading companies such as BAE, Boeing, and Johnson & Johnson.
Topol will participate in the keynote panel “Making STEM Cool After School”, on June 29 from 8:20-9:30am, with Wes Bush, Chairman, CEO, and President, Northrop Grumman Corporation and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Jr. The session will highlight TWC’s Connect a Million Minds program as an effective corporate/nonprofit partnership engaging youth in STEM opportunities.
Connect a Million Minds in STEM
FIRST and TWC became strategic partners in support of Connect a Million Minds, TWC’s five-year, $100 million cash and in-kind philanthropic initiative to address America’s declining proficiency in STEM. Topol spearheaded the initiative and has grown the program to include a STEM contest with will.i.am called Wouldn’t It Be Cool If. TWC, Kamen and will.i.am unveiled contest winners and honored them for their inventive ideas during FIRST Championship 2012.
U.S. News STEM Solutions 2012 will also feature live student robotic demonstrations by Dallas-area students involved in the FIRST Robotics Competition. For more information, visit http://usnewsstemsolutions.com/.
About FIRST®
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and nearly $15 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for high-school students, FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL® ) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.
FIRST®, the FIRST® logo, FIRST® Robotics Competition, FRC®, FIRST® Tech Challenge, FTC®, and Gracious Professionalism® are registered trademarks of the United States Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST®). LEGO® and MINDSTORMS® are registered trademarks of The LEGO Group. FIRST® LEGO® League, FLL®, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League, and Jr.FLL® are jointly held trademarks of FIRST and The LEGO Group. ©2012 FIRST. All rights reserved.
About LEGO Education
Since 1980, LEGO Education (LEGOEducation.com) has delivered hands-on, curriculum-based resources for teachers and students worldwide. LEGO Education believes a hands-on, minds-on approach helps students actively take ownership of the learning process and develop 21st-century skills such as creative thinking and problem solving through real-life, engaging experiences.
About Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) is among the largest providers of video, high‐speed data and voice services in the United States, connecting more than 15 million customers to entertainment, information and each other. Time Warner Cable Business Class offers data, video and voice services to businesses of all sizes, cell tower backhaul services to wireless carriers and, through its NaviSite subsidiary, managed and outsourced information technology solutions and cloud services. Time Warner Cable Media, the advertising arm of Time Warner Cable, offers national, regional and local companies innovative advertising solutions. More information about the services of Time Warner Cable is available at www.timewarnercable.com, www.twcbc.com, www.navisite.com, and www.twcmedia.com.