Drexel to Host National STEM Best Practices Conference

Drexel will host some of the brightest science, technology, engineering and math teachers from across the country on September 19 as part of a National Science Foundation event surrounding the announcement of a best-practices report called “STEM Smart: Lessons Learned from Successful Schools.”

More than 30 exhibits demonstrating well-designed STEM education programs, discovered in the NSF report, will be on display and teachers will be on hand to demonstrate the best strategies for keeping K-12 students engaged in these challenging subjects. In addition, Drexel President John Fry, Congressman Chaka Fattah, Congressman Frank Wolf, the mayor’s education officer Lori Schorr will be speaking at the event and NSF Director Subra Suresh will deliver an address called “Innovate to Educate: STEM Learning for Tomorrow’s World.”

The event will be held from 9a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Mitchell Auditorium at the College of Engineering’s Bossone Research Center.

"As a leader in science, technology, engineering and math programming, Drexel is proud to partner with Congressman Chaka Fattah and the National Science Foundation to host a national conference on our campus,” Fry said. “I'm very excited about bringing national attention to STEM education and related research to support the training of tomorrow's leaders in an area of critical economic importance."

Congressman Fattah selected Drexel to host the event because it has taken a leading role in STEM throughout the region. The College of Engineering played an active role in STEM education regionally, as the host of several science and engineering summer camps, the Greater Philadelphia Area Sea Perch Challenge and several K-12 events during Engineers Week.

"I am pleased to bring this important conference to Philadelphia,” Fattah said. “American global leadership has been and will be driven by innovative thinking. To that end, it is absolutely critical that the next generation of citizens and leaders have the strong science, technology, engineering and math skills necessary to lead the way. This report lays out a path forward to ensure that all students are prepared to meet this great challenge of the 21st century."

Registration for the event is free at www.Successfulstemeducation.org. 

News media contact:
Britt Faulstick, news officer, Office of University Communications,
215-895-2617 (office), 215-796-5161 (cell), britt.faulstick@drexel.edu