SEM Link Awarded a NASA Summer of Innovation Mini-Grant to support Math and Science Career Academy

OAKLAND, Calif. - Aug. 29, 2013 - PRLog -- Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link Inc.(SEM Link) was awarded a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Summer of Innovation (SOI) Mini-Grant Award to support its Math and Science Career Academy (MSCA) programs that will take place from August through December 2013 in Atlanta and the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) and San Francisco Bay areas. The NASA SOI Program supports student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by strengthening the capacity of community and school-based organizations that engage middle school students in STEM during the summer and academic year. The program included NASA themed curriculum units in life science, earth and space science, engineering and physical science. For more information about the SOI program visit their website (http://soi.spacegrant.org/).

SEM Link’s Math and Science Career Academy provides opportunity for K-12 students to engage in hands on STEM activities, explore STEM careers and learn about real world applications of STEM.  The program activities supported by this funding which will engage middle school student in hands on STEM activities connected to the NASA SOI themes are an Engineering Design Challenge, Science Fiction Film and Writing Festival and Science Cafés. The Engineering Design Challenge will take place at selected schools and community organizations in all three of the urban areas that SEM Link serves.  The Science Fiction Film and Writing Festival will take place September 9-October 12 in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The festival activities include a Science Fiction Writing Contest-(September 9-27, 2013), Science Fiction Writing Workshop (http://semlinkscifiwriting.eventbrite.com/)(September 14) and a Science Fiction Film Festival and Writing Contest Awards Ceremony (http://semlinkscififest.eventbrite.com/)(October 12). The Science Café’s, which will take place in Atlanta, will provide opportunities for families to meet and interact with STEM professionals.  At this event they will learn about research and/ or real world applications of STEM and engage in a hands on STEM activity in the STEM discipline of the speaker. “ When people see NASA they automatically connect it to STEM from the space shuttles, Mars Rover and all the innovations that come from NASA STEM professionals” said Ms. Tokiwa T. Smith, SEM Link Founder and Executive Director “ The program activities supported by this funding will not only expose youth to STEM but allow them to believe that it is possible to pursue a STEM career fair and work for an organization like NASA”