STEMx Launched at U.S. News STEM Solutions Summit in Dallas

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwire - Jun 27, 2012) - Today, Battelle (www.battelle.org) and 13 state STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education networks officially launched STEMx (www.STEMx.us) at the U.S. News STEM Solutions Summit in Dallas, Texas. One year in the making and sponsored by Battelle, STEMx connects state networks and partners to accelerate the growth of policies, practices and partnerships that are needed to expand the number of STEM teachers, increase student achievement in STEM education and, ultimately, grow tomorrow's innovators.

STEMx connects states and their stakeholders from across K-12 and higher education, business, government, philanthropy and the community to impact STEM education and workforce development. The Network's core work of education, engagement and exchange will be propelled by an accessible technology platform enabling states to share, analyze and disseminate quality STEM education ideas, tools and practices. Through this process, STEMx will amplify innovative and transformative work already underway in member states.

"We are proud to support STEMx -- a game-changer in education," said Eric Fingerhut, Vice President for Education & STEM Learning at Battelle. "STEMx is uniquely positioned to impact STEM teaching and learning at a grassroots level through the sharing of STEM-specific resources and tools across the United States. The Network's objective to transform and advance STEM education and workforce development deeply resonates with Battelle's core education mission and our work in STEM education to date."

STEMx member states at launch are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

The launch began with a marquee, talk show-style panel featuring Global Cultural Ambassador Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as host. Guests on "The STEMx Show" included Jeffrey Wadsworth, PhD, CEO of Battelle; Brad Smith, General Counsel & Executive Vice President of Microsoft Corporation; Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Vice Chancellor, State University of New York; the Honorable Joyce Beatty, Former Democratic Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives; and Steve Zipkes, Founding Principal of Manor New Technology High School.

In the spirit of the high-tech nature of STEMx, attendees were treated to a ribbon cutting featuring roving and aerial robots programmed by students and faculty from the University of Texas at Dallas. Students and faculty from University's School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics' Center for STEM Education and Eric Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science's Sensing, Robotics, Vision, Controls and Estimation (SeRViCE) Lab contributed to the "high-tech launch," including Dr. Nikki Hanegan, Director of the Center for STEM Education and Research and Professor of Biology and STEM Education Research; Dr. Nicholas Gans, Professor of Electrical Engineering; Joshua Baggett, a graduate student pursuing a Masters in Science Education; Amanda Slaybaugh, an undergraduate Mathematics major; J. Pablo Ramirez, a PhD student in Electrical Engineering; David Tick, a PhD student in Computer Engineering; and Ben Nilson, a Master's student.

The afternoon concluded with ten breakout sessions on subjects including educational innovation, public policy, public-private partnerships and community engagement. Each session featured a cross-section of representatives from the eleven initial STEMx member states, showcasing the collaborative work STEMx states have engaged in over the last few years.

About Battelle
As the world's largest independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world's most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management; National Security; Health and Life Sciences; and Energy, Environment and Material Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $6.5 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 22,000 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories, which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and a nuclear energy lab in the United Kingdom.

Battelle also is one of the nation's leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.