Author: aaswpadmin

Broadcom Coding with Commitment

The Alabama State Science Fair gives special thanks to the Broadcom Foundation, and its innovative Coding with Commitment Initiative.

Check us out of Facebook at Alabama Academy of Science Facebook Page!

Broadcom Coding with Commitment Launches at

ALABAMA SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

 New Recognition Honors a Student or Student Team that Combines STEM Knowledge with Computational Coding to Address a Community Problem

Broadcom Foundation announces Broadcom Coding with Commitment, a special recognition for a middle school student or student team competing in the ALABAMA SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR fair. 

The Broadcom Coding with Commitment is open to 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade students or teams in any science fair category who combine STEM knowledge with computation or coding in the project’s research, design, or development to express a passion for helping or improving the community.

The foundation’s new recognition requires judges to consider a student’s access to STEM resources and computing tools so that the judges might equitably weigh projects by all students including those whose access to resources may be more limited.

“The Broadcom Coding with Commitment acknowledges important trends we see in science fair and coding spaces: young people are seeking to solve problems that impact them personally or in their community such as health, sanitation, energy, climate change and other challenges set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Paula Golden, President of the Broadcom Foundation. “Young people are connecting science with technology to research as well as create solutions to these problems. Broadcom Coding with Commitment is intended to illuminate how coding is both a language and skillset they can apply in problem solving, and an invaluable tool for college and careers. Broadcom Coding with Commitment will also encourage young people to think globally when they act locally.”

The winning student or student team will be publicly recognized at the YOUR FAIR Awards Ceremony with a $250 gift certificate and Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Official RP 400 Personal Computer Kit.    

Stay connected on Twitter, Facebook andYouTube and YOUR FAIR SOCIAL LINKS.

WHEN:           APRIL 9th and 10th

WHERE:         LINK

WHO:              Virginia Vilardi, Science Department Chair, Wetumpka High School

Jack Shelley-Tremblay, Chair, Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama

Paula Golden, President of Broadcom Foundation

Dr. John Shelley-Tremblay, President-elect of the Alabama Academy of Science, is serving as the organizer for this year’s Alabama Science Fair. This is the official culmination of the 2020-2021 Science Fair for the state of Alabama, and the winners from this year’s regional fairs will compete for the chance to go the the International Science and Engineering Fair in the summer of 2021. All of this year’s competitions are virtual due to COVID-19.

According to Dr. Shelley-Tremblay, “The AAS has always provided support and structure for the science fairs in the State of Alabama, and the Director of the Science Fairs, Virginia Vilardi of Wetumka High School, is a Member of the AAS Executive Board. This year, we are particularly excited to take a more direct role in the success of this vital STEM education activity for students in our state by hosting the event online in partnership with the University of South Alabama and Auburn University.”

Every year, individual and business sponsors help to make the State Science Fair a success. This year, in addition to giving using the traditional form (See below), interested donors may sponsor the State Science Fair using the AAS online giving portal. All proceeds will be under the control of the State Science Fair Committee, and will go directly to support prizes for students who are winners at the State Level.

The AAS would like to encourage all citizens of the state and local business that wish to employ highly qualified workers in the STEM disciplines to give as generously as the can. The challenges for completing research projects during COVID-19 are particularly difficulty for middle and high schoolers who are often physically isolated and may be cut-off from their normal research environments and mentors.

Sponsors will be identified on the web site and in all Science Fair Printed materials, unless the sponsor wishes to remain anonymous. Sponsors will be recognized verbally at the opening ceremony and awards ceremony.

You can give by printing and mailing this form,

Or by using this online form.

ASEF questions? Contact Dr. Virginia Vilardi at virginia.vilardi@elmoreco.com (334-799-0104) or Dr, Jack Shelley Tremblay jstremblay@southalabama.edu (251) 460-6883 or: (251) 460-6320

Senior Academy: March 18

Junior Academy/Gorgas: March 19

Meeting of the 10 Sections of the AAS will also take place in special Zoom meeting rooms.

All live events will be broadcast through a secure Zoom meeting format.

 This month is Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated throughout the latter half of September and the first half of October. It is a way to promote the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic-Americans! 

AAAS STEM Education is working on two collections of resources to engage with Spanish-native language communities:

1. Created Spanish-language STEM/CTIM (ciencias, tecnologías, ingenierías, y matemáticas) resources for teachers, students, families, and caregiers. Check out the resource library collection: https://www.sbfprize.org/recursos
2. We continue to compile free CTIM educational resources: Recopilación de recursos – AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books.