The DISCOVERY INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

STEM SHOWCASE 2011

Standing room only as a robot attempts to place a tube over the peg. The competition was intense!

crowd
Edge of your seat excitement!

dr. lavoie

The STEM Showcase 2011 took place on June 4th 2011 at Cuesta College. It was a fantastic experience for all ages.

Now more than ever we need to support and encourage our young people to take an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). A systemic and sustainable P-16 pipeline is absolutely essential to successfully compete in the global economy of the 21st Century.

Thanks to all the great presenters, supporters, photographers, sponsors and attendies!"

-- Derrick Lavoie, Ph.D.
Director, Discovery Institute

team work
Cooperative problem solving

AHS robotics Special congratulations to the Greyhounds of Atascadero High School, Team 973, whose star robot "Titan" recently won the First Robotics World Championships! Titan also won the STEM Showcase Robotics Competion against Arroyo Grande and Orcutt Acadmy.

First Robotics Championships FINAL MATCH [HQ]

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/05/05/1590320/atascadero-high-robotics-team.html

http://www.pgecurrents.com/2011/05/02/high-school-team-wins-robot-competition-with-pge-support/

kids amazed
Mezmerizing Demonstrations!

This year's participating schools:

Arroyo Grande High School
Orcutt Academy
Atascadero High School
Templeton Middle School
Dana Middle School
Nipomo High School

The Discovery Institute for the Advancement of Science and Technology Education, in partnership with Cuesta College, California Polytechnic State University, and the County Office of Education, hosted the STEM SHOWCASE 2011

rocket1
Teacher Jill Southern and the Templeton
Rockety Club blast off. Awesome!!!

Some proud members of the Templeton Rocket Club

vex NHS Team
Nipomo High School VEX Team

VEX Robots from Nipomo High School

controllers
Elementary students controlling vex robots

Orcutt Academy Robotics

Eagle Robotics Team

KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Dr. Russ Genet

"Telescope Robotics - Building the
World's Largest Portable Telescope"

russ genet

Russell Merle Genet, PhD, is a Research Scholar in Residence at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), Adjunct Professor of Astronomy at Cuesta College, and the Director of the Orion Observatory. Pioneer of the world’s first fully robotic observatory (featured in the PBS special, The Perfect Stargazer, and the 51st President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Russ now teaches astronomy and guides research seminars at Cuesta College, and teaches short courses about the cosmos and humanity for Cal Poly, Cuesta College, and the Orion Institute. He has also authored a dozen books and over 100 scientific papers (see Publications). Russ is designing and building the world's largest portable telescope.

portable telescope

This telescope will be positioned in the narrow, high-speed shadow paths of asteroids and other solar system objects as they occult background stars and the shadow races across the planet at 1000 miles an hour.

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS:

Poster from Templeton High School - Ross Shaefer

Poster from Dana Elementary School

All pictures contributed by guest photographers:
Renee Olshefski and Noelle Menigoz

Hands-On STEM activities provided by Cal Poly Students:
Patty Galindo and Catie Carmody

Snyder Presenting
Jeff Snyder, District Representative for Senator Sam Blakeslee, presented Certificates of Appreciation to all participating students. Sean Murphy of AHS is shown.

pattersonaward
SLO County Supervisor, Jim Patterson (left), presented the Greyhounds (represented by Sean Murphy) with a special award plaque for winning the FIRST World Championship.

happy awardee
Derrick Lavoie and Marco Chang hand out awards
to many happy student participants.

joseph
Joseph Seyedan from Templeton Middle
school receives his award.
He built his own hydrogen car!

AHS Having fun
Here is a bit of a lighter moment

STUDENTS RECEIVING CERTFICATES OF APPRECIATION FROM SENATOR SAM BLAKESLEE

Templeton Middle School	Dana Elementary School:	Orcutt Academy:	Nipomo High school:	Atascadero High School:
Logan Forbes Cooper Christopher Stephan Van Harmelen Nicole Meindl Emma White Joseph Seyedan Cole Henry Emily Migliazzo Matt Jangaard Spencer Edwards Brendan Humphrey	Eric Sahagun, Jr. Amy Strader Camille Lopez-Ambrosio Jarold Renardo Megan Minor Abbey Giuffrida Anika Lynn Smith Josef Ramirez Eloy Diaz Jeiffer Araujo Emily Barry Amy Strader Tristan Porterfield Cole Wheedon	Harrison Miller Mason Souther Peter McLean Sam Lees	Nefi Lazalde Victoria Kaml Mikkel Sandberg DJ Llorente Blankenburg	Sean Murph Marc Stollmeyer Dustin Wyke

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THIS YEAR'S SPONSORS

We extend a special thank you to the following local businesses in SLO who supported
the students presenting at the STEM Showcase this year.

Please help us offer this event next year by making a tax deductible donation to the STEM SHOWCASE 2012