Eastern Michigan University announces new STEM initiative partnership
Eastern Michigan University partners with the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum to promote education in science and mathematics related subjects to the Ypsilanti community.
Professor Amy Flanagan Johnson, EMU chemistry department, heads the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiative. The project is titled: “Engaging Children and Their Families in Authentic STEM Activities: A Cross-sector Partnership to Promote Equity in Informal Science Education.”
“All of us involved with the project are excited to begin working together, and we are committed to exploring ways to improve access to informal science education for children and their families in the greater Ypsilanti community,” said Johnson in a press release.
According to the press release, the project intends to:
- Develop and implement a formal partnership between EMU and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum to provide quality science education experiences for children and their families in the greater Ypsilanti community. The partnership will use stakeholder input from sources such as parents, school representatives, STEM content experts, and community librarians to inform and strengthen the impact of the collaboration.
- Develop and implement quality informal science education activities for the families in the community that help children recognize how STEM concepts connect to their everyday lives, and provide them with an authentic understanding of what STEM knowledge is and how it is developed.
- Collect survey, interview, observation, and artifact data to determine how the activities and interactions that this partnership collaboratively designs and implements will impact children's interest in and understanding of STEM topics and the nature of science.
Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Award nominations open
Nominations opened for the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Award Monday, Jan. 9, and will close Wednesday, Feb. 1.
The purpose of the award is to recognize an EMU faculty member who has gone above and beyond their required work for either students or the university.
Faculty can be recognized in six different categories including: Teaching I, Teaching II, Research I, Research II, Creative Activity and Service.
The winner of each award will receive a $3,500 stipend and recognition at the Academic and Student Affairs Awards Ceremony, March 29.
Each category as specific qualifications and requirements that can be found on EMU’s website.
According to EMU’s website, the evaluation process goes as followed:
1) Nomination materials, collected in a single nomination document, will be uploaded to and stored on the EMU infoready website. Once uploaded the document may not be changed or resubmitted.
2) The Electors will independently review and assess the materials submitted by the nominees.
3) The Electors will vote to identify the top nominations from each of the six categories.
4) The Interim Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research will compile the recommendations and comments and forward them to the Provost's Office by the due date.
5) Award winners will be announced March 29 at the awards ceremony.
