Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Holds Parent STEM Workshop

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) will hold its second annual Parent STEMpowerment Workshop on Nov. 17, in the Kossiakoff Center on its Laurel, Md. campus. The free workshop, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., is designed to help parents of elementary and middle school students prepare their children to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The event, developed for parents with little or no exposure to STEM fields, will provide resources to support children in the pursuit of STEM careers and impart a better understanding of the importance of STEM.

Representatives from the Maryland State Department of Education; the University of Maryland; Johns Hopkins University; MATHCOUNTS; Maryland Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (Maryland MESA); and Northrop Grumman are among the speakers presenting on topics such as how STEM activities can improve scholastic performance and putting children on the road to STEM success. STEM professionals, leaders of STEM activities, and college students will also be part of the panel discussions.

“Parents are a critical part of the STEM equation, but they’re often forgotten or left out of STEM initiatives that focus mainly on the student or teacher,” says APL STEM Program Manager Dwight Carr. “That’s why the Applied Physics Laboratory looks hard for unique ways to inform and support parents as well as students and teachers. The event was very successful last year, and we hope to empower even more parents this year.”

APL will offer translation services at the event for Spanish-speaking attendees; in addition, the “Parents” section of APL’s STEM website is also now available in Spanish. The website provides a variety of information, tools and activities for students, teachers and parents. It also features APL’s bimonthly comic strip “Fifth Period,” featuring quirky, yet curious teens conducting STEM-related activities and experiments.

APL created its STEM Program Management Office in 2011 to engage, educate and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals; APL’s STEM mission is to help the nation face the critical challenge of creating a workforce educated and trained in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Learn more at http://www.jhuapl.edu/STEM/.