Stone Age to Space Age - Southern New Mexico Academies for Young Scientists

(SA-to-SA- SNM AYS)

For Young Scientists (SA-to-SA- SNM AYS) program will bring a diverse menu of science, technology, engineering and mathematics opportunities to 500 fifth graders that will continue through seventh grade for these participants. These opportunities include: out-of-school opportunities (8 week sessions), Special STEM Saturdays, Family Festivals, and Summer STEM programs. The overarching theme of SNM AYS is Adaptation to the Environment, a theme that allows participating students to experience and learn about a wide range of science topics that integrates math, engineering, and technology concepts. This theme also allows us to utilize the resources and expertise of our program partners that include: the Las Cruces Public Schools, The New Mexico Sate University College of Education, the X-Prize Corporation & Starchasers (businesses), and the informal science programs, Southern NM Science Engineering, Mathematics, and Aerospace Academy (SNM SEMAA), the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park (CDNP), Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP) and the Suborbital Center of Excellence Mobile Laboratory.

Included in our project is a strong parental component that encourages the families of our participants to collaborate and be a part of the team that enables their child to be successful in the STEM subjects as well as a professional development piece for all of the educators that are in the lives of these SA-to-SA participants.

The project will serve 500 fifth grade students the first year and the same students in the sixth and seventh grades. These students are predominantly Hispanic students and at least 35% of these students have English as a second language. The families of these students will be included as well as a minimum of 30 educators.

Contact
Dr. Susan W. Brown, Principal Investigator
New Mexico State University
NSFAYS Project
susanbro@nmsu.edu