NetSci High Group Photo
Our NetSci High Workshop was a blast! Twenty high school students from New York and Boston, as well as teachers, graduate students and scientists came together for a hands-on workshop at BU from August 21-25. Students experienced an immersive introduction to network science, completed small group projects, and prepared for an academic year of research.
NetSci High Summer Workshop Nearing
The NetSci High Workshop at Boston University will soon be upon us! We will welcome 20 high school students, teachers and graduate students to Boston for an exciting week from August 21 through 25.
All accepted students and teachers to the program have been e-mailed the link for online Registration as well as a Parent/Guardian Permission Form and detailed program information.
NetSciEd Satellite Symposium on Education
With a focus on preparing the next generation of network scientists and addressing the urgent need to improve STEM education overall, the first symposium to specifically address how network science will transform STEM education was held on June 18 in conjunction with the 2012 International School and Conference on Network Science (NetSci 2012) . The Satellite Symposium titled Education: Infuse Network Science into K-12 and Undergraduate Education (NetSciEd) included preeminent speakers from education practice and research as well as the network science community. The symposium was an exciting and highly successful step toward establishing this much-needed focus on Network Science Education.
For more details on the symposium, with included presentations, visit the NetSciEd Satellite Symposium on Education @ NetSci2012
NetSciEd Satellite Symposium @ NetSci 2012
In anticipation of preparing the next generation of network scientists, as well as addressing the urgent needs in improving STEM education overall, we are hosting the first symposium to specifically address how network science will transform STEM education in the coming years. The Satellite Symposium Education -- Infuse Network Science into K-12 and Undergraduate Education (NetSciEd) will include preeminent speakers from education practice and research as well as the network science community, culminating in a highly interactive panel discussion to determine directions in support of research and practice in the use of network science to improve education.
Topics to be discussed include:
- Network Science in K-16 Practice and Policy
- Network Science in Informal Education
- New Directions in Learning Science
- Developing Metrics for Effective Educational Collaboration Networks
A white paper will be developed from the input of all participants to characterize the session and be used to help communicate ideas and needs of the educational community to academic and government decision- and policy-makers.
This symposium will take place on June 18th at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, in conjunction with the 2012 International School and Conference on Network Science (NetSci 2012). The attendance to the NetSciEd symposium is free of charge for NetSci 2012 attendees.
For more information visit: NetSciEd Satellite Symposium
New Program Engages High School Students in Science Research
Boston University’s Center for Polymer Studies and The New York Hall of Science have been funded $1.2M by the National Science Foundation’s Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Program. CAS Professor of Physics Gene Stanley (director of the Polymer Center) and Polymer Center Senior Research Scientist Paul Trunfio will head the project for BU. The project, Network Science for the Next Generation, known as “NetSci High,” will provide extensive opportunities for disadvantaged high school students to engage in year-round cutting-edge science research and industry internships.
Participants are 120 disadvantaged high school students from the Boston area and New York area, 30 science research graduate student mentors from partner laboratories, and 30 high school STEM teacher-mentors. An exciting new area of research applies network science, including cyber-infrastructures and computational and database approaches, to solve some of the most complex problems facing our society today. This shift in research with its extensive reliance on information technology tools and datasets, requires a corresponding shift in the education community that helps prepare the next generation of STEM workforce.
Highlights of this funded 3-year program include:
- 1-week Summer Camp for all participants, introducing tools of network science and explorations of team-based research projects
- 4-week intensive summer research experience at participating laboratories
- Academic year research program utilizing collaborative IT tools, periodic special workshops, industry lab tours and “virtual visits”
- ITEST NetSci Research Conference held at BU where students present the results of their work at the end of the year long experience with keynotes and an “IT Opportunity Fair” hosted by local industry partners
- Summer IT internships with industry and academic partners
This experience is funded to repeat for three years, with 30 high school students in the first year, 40 in the second, and 50 in the third (and appropriate scaling of other participants). A challenge of this project is one of transforming the way we educate our citizens to keep pace with not only the amount of data we collect, but to appreciate how networks of data interact to identify, clarify, and solve complex 21st century challenges in the environment, medicine, agriculture, urbanization, social justice and wellbeing. This project will provide a pathway to integration of science research and IT skills for high school students who would not otherwise have opportunities provided through this project. Additionally, high school teachers and graduate student mentors (ITEST Fellows) will be key participants. For 30 ITEST Fellows, they will gain valuable experience in the issues surrounding K-12 science education and gain an appreciation for education outreach. Up to 30 high school teacher mentors will broaden their STEM understanding and, through their participation, the project aims to inform their current teaching in terms of content and practice.
For more information, contact Paul Trunfio at trunfio@bu.edu
See also: NetSci High 2012 Flyer
