News
For immediate releaseBoston, Massachusetts, March 27, 2009
DOME Foundation Spring Symposium was held on Friday, March 27, 2009 at School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Over 145 people participated in the recent DOME Spring Symposium. Participants included K-12 administrators; K-12 teachers; engineering and technology industry professionals; representatives from STEM professional organizations; workforce development professionals, representatives from non-profit organizations in the Boston metropolitan area; faculty and students from The Engineering School and local colleges. The Symposium was co-sponsored by SEAS, Harvard University and Metro North Regional Employment Board.
Welcome address delivered by Dr. Frans Spaepen, Interim Dean and John C. and Helen F. Franklin Professor of Applied Physics, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University.
Dr. Frans Spaepen was introduced by Dr. Marie Dahleh, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University
A keynote speech was given by Dr. Richard K. Miller, President, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. President Miller was introduced by Dr. Sharpe, Co-founder, VP & Chairman of the Board, DOME Foundation.
The Symposium included a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Jake Foster, Director, Science and Technology/Engineering Education, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and included the following panelists (see panelist’s brief bio below):
- Dr. Michael Cima, MIT, Faculty Director, Lemelson-MIT Program
- Dr. Ellen Gannett, Wellesley College, Director, National Institute on Out-of-School Time
- Dr. Connie Chow, Science Club for Girls
- Tim Porter, The Boston Children’s Museum, Senior Project manager
- Terri Munson, Stand and Deliver Mentoring Program Coordinator, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
The Symposium program included break-out groups moderated discussion (moderators: Dr. Norean R. Sharpe, Babson College; C. Sura O’Mard-Gentle, Principal, Ralph Waldo Emerson School; Dr. Marie Dahleh, Harvard University; Sharon Caulfiled, Bunker Hill Community College; Lisa Aucoin, Raytheon; Mweusi Lumumba Willingham, Headmaster, The Engineering High School – all members of the DOME Foundation Board with active participation of the participants).
The reporting out break-out discussions session was moderated by Lisa Aucoin, Director, Integrated Defense Systems, Raytheon Corporation; DOME Foundation Board of Directors. The closing remarks were given by Larisa Schelkin, Co-founder, CEO & President, DOME Foundation.
A break-out session for engineering societies was moderated by Reed Brockman, PE Senior Structural Engineer/Inspection Specialist, AECOM; Chair, National Engineers Week Committee in Boston.
The goals of this Symposium were:
- to increase networking among local schools, colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, industry & corporations for the purpose of increasing resources and opportunities for students in math, science, and engineering programs
- to assist the educators in navigating the benefits and requirements of out-of-school programs
- to facilitate improving connections and communication between the schools and program providers.
Our objective was to obtain input from educators and administrators on the challenges and goals they face in increasing the participation of students in math, science, and engineering that could be served by out of school programs targeted at grades 6 through 12.
DOME is most interested in
- increasing the visibility of local needs in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math;
- building bridges between K-12, academia, corporations/businesses, workforce development professionals, government agencies, non-profits and professional associations and all who are interested in increasing participation in STEM (Science, technology, engineering and math);
- emphasizing the importance of diversity in STEM
- connecting/diffusing research findings on recruiting & retaining women and students from underrepresented groups in STEM with practice.
The DOME Foundation Board hopes that this symposium will result in enhanced STEM education partnerships and more focused efforts to fund and support existing programs, as well as new programs, in science, technology, engineering and math that can be effective and sustainable.
The Diversity and Outreach in Math and Engineering (DOME) Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was founded and incorporated in Massachusetts in 2007. The DOME Foundation mission is: To broaden awareness of and to increase participation in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines by underrepresented populations to meet the needs of a globally competitive workforce.
For more information, contact Larisa Schelkin and Dr. Norean Sharpe.
Additional information:
- Speakers BIO (DOC)
- Lemerson-MIT Survey on STEM (DOC)
- Please, find out more about the National Academies new publication "Learning Science in Informal Environments".