Partners Meeting - Science ATL

Partners Meeting

Dog representing ALEX, mascot of Atlanta Science Festival

The 2020 Atlanta Science Festival and Science ATL Partners Meeting Is Now Bigger and Better Than Ever…

So far, 2019 has been a big year for the Atlanta Science Festival and the Atlanta science community as a whole. But we think 2020 is going to be even bigger. That starts with our revamped Partners Meeting coming up on Tuesday, August 27 at Monday Night Garage!

To make room for the growth of our Festival and expansion into year-round science programming with Science ATL, we’ve expanded this event to a half-day and are filling the afternoon with thought-provoking talks, brainstorming, opportunities to spark collaboration, and more. Attendees will hear from Atlanta-area leaders in informal STEM education and learn more about techniques for engaging your audiences. And, of course, we will still be discussing our beloved Atlanta Science Festival!

Have a beer or two on us and join us and many other like-minded Atlantans who care about out-of-school science education at this exciting event! Feel free to spread the word to anyone else you think may be interested. Please note, this event is for individuals representing organizations that wish to connect with others in the science and STEM/STEAM education space.

Thank you to our friends at Monday Night Garage, Connect ATL STEAM Ecosystem, and InterPlay Atlanta for helping to make this event happen!

AGENDA

1:00 – 2:15 PM

Welcome from Science ATL

Keynote:
Catalyst for Change: The Power of Out of School Time STEM Learning
Sabrina Gomez, Education Strategist

2:15 – 2:45 PM

Reflection Activity with Ruth Schowalter

Coffee Break

2:45 – 3:45 PM

Connect ATL STEAM Ecosystem
Errika Moore, TAG-Ed

3:45 – 4:15 PM

Exploration of Informal STEM Education Across Atlanta
Ruth Schowalter, InterPlay

4:15 – 4:45 PM

Being a Part of the 2020 Atlanta Science Festival
Meisa Salaita, Science ATL

4:45 PM

Drinks & Networking

Facilitators

Sabrina Gomez is a STEM Education Strategist with the STEM Next Opportunity Fund where she leads a national community of practice of the 50 State Afterschool Network and provides technical assistance to foster partnerships and policies that develop and sustain high-quality opportunities for children and youth. As a former Senior Director at ExpandED Schools in New York City, she co-lead the STEM Learning Ecosystem Initiative and built public-private partnerships that increased access to high quality STEM education for underrepresented youth. Prior to ExpandED Schools, served as a teacher development coach for The New Teacher Project and taught middle school in New York City and Buenos Aires. Originally from San Jose, California, Sabrina earned a B.A. in History and English from the University of California, Los Angeles and a M.A. in Education Development from New York University. Sabrina enjoys exploring, practicing yoga, and spending time with family and friends.

Ruth Schowalter facilitates science, engineering, and business communication workshops with an emphasis on improving presentation skills appropriate for corporate, academic, and other professional settings. In her interactive workshops, she integrates improvisation, body movement, and other enlivening forms of expression, providing the right tools for meaningful conversations and memorable presentations. A certified leader in InterPlay, an improvisational system that fosters authentic and dynamic communication, Ruth guides workshop participants to integrate all aspects of themselves physically, intellectually, and emotionally through creative activities. She has an M.S. in Applied Linguistics and ESL and has been a lecturer at the Georgia Tech Language Institute since 1993.

Errika Moore currently serves as the Executive Director for TAG-Ed (Technology Association of Georgia Education Collaborative) which focuses on K-12 STEM Advocacy throughout the state of Georgia. She serves the community as the co-lead for the state of Georgia for the National Million Women Mentors initiative, as a member of the STEM Learning Ecosystem National Advisory Council, the Georgia Department of Education Computer Science Advisory Council, the CTAE Industry Advisory Council, the Ferst Readers Board of Directors, the Marist Women Build (Habitat for Humanity) Board of Directors, the Per Scholas Atlanta Advisory Board, the Literacy for All Steering Committee, the Leading Women @ Tech (Georgia Tech) Professional Development Advisory Board, the Banneker High School STEM Advisory Board, the OutTeach Board of Directors, the STE(A)M Truck Board of Directors and the Georgia Chief Science Officers Steering Committee. She is a member of IT Senior Management Forum, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the Atlanta Diversity Managers Affinity Group (ADMAG). [more…]

Meisa Salaita has made it her mission to help others see and appreciate the beauty of science by making it a part of everyday cultural experiences. Through her work founding and directing the Atlanta Science Festival, she spends her days convincing everyone else to fall in love with science as well. To that end, Meisa also writes, has produced radio stories, and hosted TV shows – all in the name of science. In addition to her work with the Festival, Meisa is a producer for The Story Collider, a science storytelling podcast. Meisa has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern, and was recently named by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of 20 Women Who Mean Business in Atlanta.