Kentucky NSF EPSCoR, Discovery Education to Host STEM Leadership Forum

Next month, the state's first-ever STEM Leadership Forum will take place on the University of Kentucky campus.

The event is co-hosted by Kentucky's National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and Discovery Education.

“Kentucky NSF EPSCoR is excited to partner with a national organization like Discovery Education to bring professional training for school district administrators and leaders," said Czar Crofcheck, UK biosystems and agricultural engineering professor, who serves as co-investigator for education and workforce development for NSF EPSCoR. "An event like this has the potential to have an impact across the Commonwealth."

“Discovery Education is excited to partner with the talented team at EPSCoR to host this powerful event,” said Catherine Lawless, Discovery Education’s manager of education partnerships. “Building inclusive, engaging cultures of STEM education in K-12 schools takes a tremendous amount of collaboration, and together, Discovery Education and EPSCoR are positioned to help Kentucky’s schools create the STEM learning experiences students need to prepare for future success.”

Approximately 50 participating school administrators from across Kentucky will learn about how K-12 STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) can drive regional economic success, and share best practices for creating high-quality STEM experiences. The forum will take place 8:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday, March 10, at UK's E.S. Good Barn Building.

The STEM Leadership Forum is supported by NSF EPSCoR's new $24 million project, Kentucky Advanced Partnership for Enhanced Robotics and Structures (or KAMPERS). In addition to supporting next generation advanced manufacturing, this collaborative partnership across eight Kentucky colleges and universities also supports the development of a greater STEM-literate workforce.

KY NSF EPSCoR, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is a vital part of a coordinated effort to invest in scientific research for a better quality-of-life and a growing economy for Kentuckians. NSF EPSCoR assists to strengthen research and education in science and engineering. The vision of the KY NSF EPSCoR is to advance, encourage and develop long-term improvements in scientific discovery, innovation and education throughout the Commonwealth.

Discovery Education is the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms and is inspired by Discovery Inc., whose networks include Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Science Channel.