Microsoft, NASA and other prestigious local, national partners join MEDB for empowering annual STEM event
On April 17-18, 2015, hundreds of students and educators throughout the state and industry professionals, offering some of the most innovative technologies in the world, will converge on the island of Maui for the 6th Annual Hawaii STEM Conference. Held at the Wailea Marriott Resort, this popular event empowers students and educators with first-hand exposure to advanced technologies, the latest software training, and real world challenges in the form of fun, hands-on team competitions.
The Conference is sponsored by MEDB’s Women in Technology (WIT) project in partnership with the County of Maui.
Since it began in 2009, the Hawaii STEM Conference has grown in stature and popularity, annually attracting prominent national partners and sponsorship from top tech companies like Google, National Geographic, Apple for Education, SketchUp, Opterra and ESRI. This year, the Conference welcomes for the first time Microsoft and NASA.
This year, 500+ students and teachers representing 30 intermediate and high schools across the islands are expected to attend. For many, it will be their first experience at a regional technology conference, complete with 31 student breakout sessions, 12 software competitions, a formal awards banquet, and exhibit presentations.
The 2015 Conference will also welcome keynote speakers:
- Titan Gilroy, Titan Manufacturing
- Erika Bergman, Co-founder of GEECs (Girls Engineering and Exploration Counselors) and National Geographic Explorer
- Lauren Thompson, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard
Innovative agenda. Impactful learning.
Kicking off the event on Friday, a timed, high-energy mixer – the 5 x 5 Sessions – will give students the opportunity to engage 5 different STEM industry professionals every 5 minutes to learn about STEM career pathways, personal experiences and insights.
Throughout the 2 days, hands-on student sessions will be offered by education teams and industry experts from Microsoft, DevLeague LLC, UH Hilo-SDAV, UH Maui College, Goma Games, STEM Pre Academy, Maui Economic Development Board, Relativity School, OpTerra Energy Services, Janus Group, STEMworks, Elemental Minds, EPSCRoR/SDAV Team, Hawaii State Department of Land & Natural Resources Aquatic Division, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, HouseMart/Ben Franklin Crafts, OnStage Maui, and representatives from King Kekaulike High School, Maui High School, Waiakea Intermediate School,
There will also be professional development sessions designed just for teachers to motivate and increase STEM learning in the classroom.
we will host a number of student-centered competitions before and during the Hawaii STEM Conference.A number of student-centered competitions before and during the Conference will also be held ranging from CAD and game design to video and GIS competitions.
“Events like this attest to the power of STEM,” said Isla Young, WIT Program Director. “Our hope is that by empowering our students – our future STEM stars – and educators with STEM abilities they can apply these skills to service-learning projects that can impact our community, if not the world.”
For more information on the 2015 Hawaii STEM Conference, visit http://womenintech.com/HawaiiSTEMConference or contact WIT Program Director Isla Young at isla@medb.org or 808-250-2888.