May 12, 2010

Be a STEM Ambassador – Join Your Peers Across the Nation

Help elevate hands-on learning to a new level

What is National Lab Day?
National Lab Day is more than just a day. It's a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support that will foster ongoing collaborations among volunteers, students and educators. Register at www.nationallabday.org.

Volunteers — university students, scientists, engineers, other STEM professionals and, more broadly, members of the community — will work together with educators and students to improve labs and discovery-based science experiences for students in grades 6-12. In the first week of May, with your support, we will celebrate this collaboration with National Lab Day activities across the country.

How can BHEF members participate?
Join BHEF "STEM ambassadors" around the country in providing high quality, hands-on, discovery-based lab experiences to middle and high-school students in your community. BHEF members are critical to the success of National Lab Day.

President Obama announced National Lab Day as part of the "Educate to Innovate" campaign to improve the performance of America's students in STEM.

Visit the National Lab Day Web site and register as a member of your organization and as a member of BHEF.

Teachers across the country are signing up, in hopes that a scientist or engineer in their community will be able to help improve a lab or provide a lab experience for their classes. That's where YOU can play a critical role. Please spread the word throughout your company and encourage your employees to volunteer his or her time.

What kinds of support might your employees provide?
Members of your organization might install software or identify useful Web resources, fix and find equipment, implement hands-on projects, help with science fairs, chaperone field trips, help with lesson development, be an advisor for an after-school program, or be an overall mentor—the list is limitless. Help your employees connect with teachers through the National Lab Day registry and find out!

Please let us know how you are contributing to National Lab Day so we can promote your efforts! Send e-mail to pamela.lessard@bhef.com.

Contributing to science, technology, engineering and math education for students in your community is what National Lab Day is all about.