Kicked off today with a science event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium including stadium tour and screening of the film SCIENCE FAIR
Program aims to increase science fair participation of high school students in Atlanta
March 20, 2019 (ATLANTA) – DREAM to STEAM – a 12-month Teacher Fellowship Program for twenty-four Atlanta-area high school science and math teachers working to increase student participation in science fairs in their schools — launched today at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS).
The program kicked off with a special science event for hundreds of students, members of the public and VIPs at MBS who got a special science tour of the stadium, watched a screening of the 2018 documentary film from NatGeo SCIENCE FAIR, and joined a discussion about the important role science fairs play in encouraging students to pursue careers in STEAM.
DREAM to STEAM is a partnership between the Atlanta Science Festival, SEM Link and True North Media, with grant funding from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
“The problem solving and critical thinking skills that students learn as part of a STEAM education are so important to their ability to be prepared for careers in today’s economy, but many of Atlanta’s children simply don’t have the access,” said Ayana Gabriel, program officer, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “By funding DREAM to STEAM, students who wouldn’t typically have access to this type of experience get to participate, inspiring the same excitement, joy and love for science that you see in the film.”
“Atlanta Science Festival is honored to support our teachers, and to build schools’ capacity to increase student participation in science fairs,” said Jordan Rose, Executive Co-Director, Atlanta Science Festival. “Science fair projects are where students can really get energized about science, because they have ownership of the questions they are investigating. We are thrilled to be at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, an awesome venue with so much STEAM embedded in its design, construction, and operations – it’s the perfect place for students to connect to science in the real world.”
The twenty-four participating teacher fellows come from public high schools in Atlanta, Clayton County, Dekalb County and Fulton County and have been selected by district leaders. These teachers will attend a special summer training workshop and be provided stipends, curriculum and other materials to support their work with students over the course of the program.
Additionally, teachers that show the biggest increases in the quality and quantity of science fair projects by the end of the DREAM to STEAM program may receive additional funding to support science fair initiatives in their schools.
For more information about DREAM to STEAM, please visit https://scienceatl.org/sciencefair
ABOUT
Atlanta Science Festival. In its sixth year, the Atlanta Science Festival, presented by Delta Air Lines, is a two-week celebration of science and technology with more than 100 engaging events held across Metro Atlanta, March 9-23. These include hands-on activities, facility tours, presentations, and performances at a variety of locations. The grand finale of the Festival is an all-day interactive Exploration Expo at Piedmont Park on March 23. Founded by Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the organization is dedicated to bringing people together through the wonder of science with its spring festival and year-round Science ATL programming. To learn more, visit AtlantaScienceFestival.org and ScienceATL.org
SEM Link. Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link, Inc. (SEM Link), a tax-exempt national nonprofit organization, founded in 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia on the premise that exposure to members of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) communities is critical to student achievement and career exploration in math and science. SEM Link ‘s two core programs, Experimental Design Program and Math and Science Career Academy, enhance the STEM educational experience for K-12 students by providing them with opportunities to engage in hands-on STEM activities, explore STEM careers and learn about real-world applications of STEM. SEM Link’s is supporting this project through its Experimental Design Programs; which teaches high school students how to design and conduct experiments for STEM Fairs utilizing research, laboratory and scientific literacy skills gained through digital and group learning opportunities.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Formed in 1995, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation invests in early childhood development, education, green space and the arts, and leads giving programs for each of the Blank Family of Businesses, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PGA TOUR Superstore, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch and West Creek Ranch. Over the past decade, the Foundation has invested more than $40 million into efforts to improve the quality of life in Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhoods through catalytic projects that ignite positive change and transform both people and place in these communities. Mr. Blank, chairman of the Foundation, co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001. Through the Foundation and his family’s personal giving, Mr. Blank has granted more than $360 million to various charitable organizations.
True North Media. Based in Minneapolis, True North Media is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization launched in 2018 dedicated to using the power of entertainment and other forms of media to create long-term social, narrative and cultural change. True North provides expert strategic, creative and management services to philanthropists, foundations, and other mission-driven organizations or companies interested in developing, campaigning or acquiring powerful film, television, digital and other interactive media content to impact the world for good.
