Johnson C. Smith University’s College of STEM Hosts 2011 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics National Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 22, 2011 --

As the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education movement continues to grow, Johnson C. Smith University’s College of STEM, is pleased to announce that it will host a National STEM Conference September 29 through October 1. The theme of the conference is ‘Enhancing Our Global Impact through STEM Innovation’ and its goals are to provide professional development opportunities, to share best practices in STEM, and to influence future agendas in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. The conference is sponsored, in part, through funding provided by the National Science Foundation.

“STEM education has become a major movement in the United States as we strive toward maintaining our global competitiveness,” said Dr. Ronald Carter, President of Johnson C. Smith University. “Johnson C. Smith is committed to strengthening and designing programs that allow students to build their capacity in STEM. As one of our nation’s oldest and strongest Historically Black Colleges and Universities, we are excited about hosting this conference and continuing this important conversation about STEM.”

Mark Prensky will give the keynote address. A writer, consultant, futurist, visionary and inventor in the critical areas of education and learning, Prensky is the founder of Games2train, an e-learning company. Clients include IBM, Bank of America, Nokia, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Los Angeles and Florida Virtual Schools. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-Hill, 2001) and “Don’t Bother Me Mom — I’m Learning” (Paragon House, 2005.) His professional focus has been on reinventing the learning process, combining the motivation of video games and other highly engaging activities with the driest content of education and business. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between games and learning. Prensky’s innovative combination of educational tools and game technology — including the world's first fast-action videogame-based corporate training tool — is being accepted throughout schools, government and corporate America.

The STEM Conference will be held at the Hilton Charlotte University Place and will feature several national keynote speakers, as well as plenary and breakout sessions and networking opportunities. In addition, conference attendees will be transported to the campus of Johnson C. Smith University to receive a firsthand glance at the university’s community of research through intimate interaction with student researchers and industry partners during a STEM Showcase.

“It is undeniable that STEM education has become a major movement,” said Dr. Janice Kennedy Sloan, Program Administrator for JCSU’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Undergraduate Program. “We are excited to bring this national conversation to Charlotte and to Johnson C. Smith University’s campus.”

The culminating event of the conference will be held at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, NC, where some of the world’s leading researchers from academia and within the STEM industries are fostering collaborations in the targeted disciplines.

Conference registration is currently open. To register, please visit www.jcsu.edu and click the STEM Conference tab. For more information about the Conference, please call 704.371.3499 or email stemconference@jcmail.jcsu.edu.

Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University is the premier independent urban university located in the heart of Charlotte, N.C. It offers a progressive curriculum with 26 fields of study to nearly 1,500 students. The University prepares students for success through excellent academic programs with a focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global responsibility.

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