9th Annual Hawaii STEM Conference aims to empower, showcase state’s next generation of STEM leaders

/
During the Hawaii STEM Conference, students and educators will be offered a myriad of hands-on STEM activities, competitions, and access to the latest technologies.

During the Hawaii STEM Conference, students and educators will be offered a myriad of hands-on STEM activities, competitions, and access to the latest technologies.

HONOLULU, Hawaii – (April 5, 2018) – On April 10 and 11, Hawaii’s largest showcase of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education – the annual Hawaii STEM Conference – will return to the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu. Its aim: To empower, inspire and celebrate Hawaii’s next generation of STEM leaders.

The conference is presented by STEMworks™, a statewide program spearheaded by Women in Technology, an initiative of Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB).

Now in its ninth year, the conference is expected to attract over 1,000 students and teachers from K-12 schools on the islands of Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Hawaii Island, and Oahu, along with prominent speakers, industry leaders, and event partners.

During the Hawaii STEM Conference, students and educators will be offered a myriad of hands-on STEM activities, competitions, and access to the latest technologies.

“We’re thrilled to once again offer this two-day event that celebrates students’ STEM achievements and opens their eyes to the many rewarding and challenging STEM careers,” said Isla Young, MEDB’s Director of STEM Education and Workforce Development. “It’s always exciting to see students and teachers exploring the latest technology tools and resources designed to inspire problem solving, critical thinking, innovation, collaboration and communication. Our hope is that Hawaii’s youth will gain important STEM skills to help them successfully meet tomorrow’s challenges, ultimately empowering them to improve their community and our world.”

Registration for educators is still open at www.hawaiistemconference.org. This year’s conference will feature:

  • Over 61 hands-on student sessions being presented by education teams and industry experts from Air Force Research Laboratory; Blue PlanetFoundation; Camp CenterStage/Maui OnStage; Chaminade University; DevLeague; Education Incubator; Elemental Excelerator; Hawaii Energy; Hawaii Technology Academy; HawaiiKidsCAN; Honolulu Community College-PCATT; Innovative Educator Consulting & Wonder Workshop; Iolani School; Kapiolani Community College-STEM Program; King Kekaulike High School; Maui High School ACOM; Maui Science Center; Microsoft; Molokai High School, Hawaiian Immersion Language Program; Momilani Elementary School; Monsanto Hawaii; Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance; Science Camps of America; STEMscopes; UH College of Engineering; and UH Institute for Astronomy.

  • A timed, high-energy mixer – the 5×5 Sessions – providing students the opportunity to engage with five different STEM industry professionals in a “speed networking” format to learn about STEM career pathways, personal experiences and insights. Three industry experts – Steve Auerbach, Katie Taladay, and Meli James – will also speak about STEM, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

  • 8 student-centered STEM competitions designed to challenge students’ skills and creativity: ArcGIS Online US School Competition, Game Design, Music Competition, Piper Design Challenge, Photography Competition, T-Shirt Design Competition, and THINKit Pet Protection.

  • 6 On-Site Competitions that will be fast paced and incredibly exciting: HACC4Edu hackathon, Quack-a-thon/Cybersecurity, Product Pitch, Royer Studios, Video Competition, and 3Cs Competition.

  • A STEMworks™ Playground offering students and teachers the opportunity to immerse themselves in over 77 mini STEM sessions.

Those who will be heading to the Hawaii STEM Conference this month shared:

“During the conference, I look forward to talking with people who have similar interests and learning more about the fields I want to get into,” said Kimara A., an 8th grader from Lokelani Intermediate School. “Last year, I attended the conference for the first time. This year, I wanted to come again because the event was so fun and interesting. I experienced things that I have never thought about doing before.”

“I’m so glad I’m back with STEMworks™,” exclaimed Charleen Ego, STEMworks™ Digital Media Teacher at Farrington High School. “The technology, workshops and resources are the best in the state, if not the nation, and the experience of collaborating and meeting people at the Hawaii STEM Conference cannot be beat!”

During the Hawaii STEM Conference, students and educators will have first-hand exposure to advanced technologies and the latest software training.

During the Hawaii STEM Conference, students and educators will have first-hand exposure to advanced technologies and the latest software training.

Trisha Roy of Baldwin High School shared, “I’ve attended the Hawaii STEM Conference for seven years and each time I look forward to learning new things going on in the STEM industry, making connections with my STEM colleagues, and giving students the opportunity to be exposed to everything STEM. I think the conference is such a valuable experience because of the opportunities it gives students to make connections with the STEM industry – whether through learning new things, meeting industry professionals, or discovering a new passion.”

“I look forward to sharing our STEM program, Robotics and Coding, Robots and IPAD applications, such as OSMO, with other educators,” said Julia Davison-Wyse, a 2nd grade teacher at Pukalani Elementary School. “This is my first Hawaii STEM Conference so I am excited to learn about the newest programs, what other teachers are doing, and what I can bring home to share with my students.”

“As our youth become more proficient in STEM skills, their opportunities will be unimaginable” said Young. “The jobs of the future are going to be created by businesses that don’t exist today and our youth will be the ones that will shape our destiny. It’s one of the many reasons why this Hawaii STEM Conference is so important. This annual event helps to equip our youth with STEM skills and empowers them to reach further than they ever thought they can go.”

The 9th Annual Hawaii STEM Conference is sponsored by: Creative Industries Hawaii/DBEDT, Kaiser Permanente, Bank of Hawaii Foundation – Mike Lyons Maui Community Award, Microsoft, Verizon, Hawaii Energy/Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaiian Electric Company, SketchUp, Hawaii Geographic Information Coordinating Council, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, Transform Hawaii Government, USS Bowfin Submarine/Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association, Sempra Renewables and Engie.

About STEMworks™ 

The flagship program of the Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology, STEMworks™ is a service-learning initiative designed to engage, inspire, and motivate K-12 students and underrepresented groups toward STEM careers to create a better world. STEMworks™ trains students and teachers in industry-standard software and engineering design practices using hands-on curriculum, regional conferences and workshops. The goal is to work with educators, industry partners and community members to build a thriving STEM education-to-workforce pipeline throughout Hawaii.