Arkansas STEM Coalition (Science Technology Engineering Math education)

If you are a public school in Arkansas teaching at least one grade from 3rd-6th, you are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in STEM equipment and materials for your school! Applications are due on September 20, so learn more and download applications today: https://arkansasstemcoalition.com/programs/excellence-in-stem-grant/

One could say the brain is the most important part of the body– without it, where would we be? Despite being so important, the brain is an incredibly complex part of the body that even scientists don’t understand. This year, the focus of World Brain Day is the brain’s involvement in disability, aiming to increase healthcare outcomes for people with disabilities.
https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/get-involved-with-world-brain-day #:~:text=The%20 WFN%20 marks%20World%20

On July 20th, 1969, American astronauts were the first people to land on the moon, commemorated every year with National Moon Day. National Moon Day not only commemorates the American effort, but also the efforts of dozens of other countries in getting humans into space. Learn more about National Moon Day here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/moon-day

Thirty two years ago, a solar eclipse covered 9,000 miles of land in complete darkness for up to seven minutes. This eclipse, because of its rarity in location and length, was dubbed ‘the eclipse of the century’.

Americans produce 35.7 MILLION tons of plastic each year, with about 5 pounds of trash each day. That adds up quickly, and usually ends up in places like streets or oceans. Plastic Free July looks to bring down those numbers by creating a challenge to eliminate single use plastics for the month of July. Learn more and join the challenge here : https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

Have you ever wondered what an asteroid is? Asteroids are bodies of rocks orbiting the earth at incredibly fast speeds, ranging from millimeters across to miles in width. Asteroids occasionally fall out of orbit and can hit Earth. World Asteroid Day is celebrated on June 30th every year, on the same date as the largest asteroid impact in Earth's history. To learn more, check out https://asteroidday.org/

Despite making up half of the population, women only make up 15.9% of engineers. That’s why, on June 23rd, we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. Taking time to recognize the contributions of women in engineering not only recognizes their hardships, but creates important role models for years to come. Find out more at https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Missions/15543/International-Women-in-Engineering-Day-celebrates-the-talent-of-women-engineers

The first ever American roller coaster, named the Switchback Railway, was created on this day in 1884. Its commercial success saw the spread of the roller coaster, which was originally put into operation at Coney Island, NY. La Marcus Thompson invented a patent for his roller coaster, which was 600 ft. long and started at a height of 50ft. Click here to learn more about the Switchback Railway:
https://www.wrhs.org/blog/opening-day-first-roller-coaster-in-the-usa-june-16-1840/ #:~:text=The%20Switchback%20Railway%20that%20debuted,line%20converted%20for%20that%20purpose.

June 5th celebrates World Environment Day, which takes on a variety of environment related issues. World environment day stresses the importance of preserving and taking care of the world we live in through minimizing negative environmental impacts. This year, World Environment Day is focusing on plastic pollution, introducing initiatives to reduce the amount of plastic going into our landfills, oceans and forests. To learn more, check out
https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/

The first cloned horse was born on May 28th, 2003. The horse was named Prometea, and was created by fusing an empty egg with an adult skin cell and creating an embryo. The foal was genetically identical to its mother, confirmed by a DNA test. Click here to learn more:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4026-worlds-first-cloned-horse-is-born/

When was the last time you folded a paper airplane? On National Paper Airplane Day, you can fly one yet again. The reason why paper airplanes work is a combination of lift from the wings and thrust from the pilot - that's you! Lift from the air around it pushes up on the wing of the paper airplane, causing it to glide instead of fall. For history and crafts for Paper Airplane Day, check out: https://www.foldnfly.com/lounge/national-paper-airplane-day.php

Biological diversity is key to a successful environment. Successful biodiversity minimizes extinctions due to habitat changes or loss, especially due to human intervention. As a result of increasing loss of biodiversity, a global biodiversity framework treaty was signed and adopted by many countries in December 2022. Called the Kunming-Montreal Framework, the goal is to provide measures to minimize loss of biodiversity by 2050. To learn more, check out: https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day

Telecommunication is essential to growing an underdeveloped country, creating a focus for this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Offering digital resources to create a safe and affordable online experience can help grow a country’s economy and enrich their population. Find out more here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/telecommunication-day

Nurses are essential to hospitals, taking vitals, recording symptoms and keeping track of patient progress. Nurses work alongside doctors to create detailed plans of treatment to keep their patients happy and healthy. President Ronald Reagan created National Nurses Day on May 6th, 1982, to celebrate the work of nurses across the country. Find out more at : https://www.nursingworld.org/education-events/national-nurses-week/history/

On the first Friday in May, we celebrate National Space Day. Space Day aims to get kids excited about space, and curious about the world beyond our stratosphere. The first person in space was Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, who circled the Earth for 108 minutes in April 1961.

For fun recent history, check out this space-day blog from Nasa in 2007:
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/F_Ready_for_Space_Day_06.html

Check out the first of three stories from NPR's Marketplace Business News on the CHIPS act and how it - and other federal programs - are affecting the economy. You can listen here: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/381444600/marketplace

Then tune in on May 1 and 2 to hear the other two stories about this important STEM investment!

📸 from reporter Heather Long

On April 26, Arbor Day is celebrated worldwide. Arbor Day, coming from the Latin origin of the word “tree”, aims to plant trees to help the environment. Trees output oxygen, create biodiversity and minimize water runoff. The Arbor Day Foundation plants thousands of trees worldwide– to find out how you can add to that number check out https://www.arborday.org/a-tree-can-be/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_campaign=08616-brand&utm_term=arbor%20day&utm_content=brand&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw2K6lBhBXEiwA5RjtCUqk7nVvltjYeEgqjrGQgkIeMjY9u-lmOLaoiXXBs8HYAvCriC77gxoCBZsQAvD_BwE

You might have heard different categories for the strength of earthquakes, but do you really know what they mean? The Richter Scale was invented by Charles Francis Richter in 1935, forever shaping the terminology we use to categorize earthquakes. The Richter Scale uses logarithmic measurements, meaning that each scale is 10 times more powerful than the previous (I.e a category 5 earthquake is 10x more powerful than a category 4). This simplified the language of natural disasters, and is still used today. Find out more at https://www.britannica.com/science/Richter-scale

April 25th celebrates the discovery of the helix structure of DNA, and our shared connection as humans. While you may know the names of Watson and Crick as the scientists who discovered the helix structure of DNA, there was a third figure who played a huge part in its discovery. Rosalind Franklin’s x-ray crystallography work was the evidence that allowed for Watson and Crick to win the Nobel Prize , and went uncredited for many years. Learn more about World DNA Day at https://www.genome.gov/dna-day, and more about the discovery of DNA structure here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/06/3/l_063_01.html #:~:text=Created%20by%20 Rosalind%20 Franklin%20using,information%20for%20all%20living%20thing

A laboratory is the place where so much begins– from vaccines to cancer research to an understanding of our own bodies. On April 23, we celebrate the place where so much happens in the field of stem, by celebrating the laboratory itself. Learn more about where research is conducted here: https://www.britannica.com/science/laboratory-science

Creativity and innovation are at the heart of any problem solving, and a key to success in STEM fields. A variety of approaches and an open mind help spur projects on their way to completion. The United Nations looks to bolster creativity and innovation and stresses its importance on World Creativity and Innovation Day, looking at creativity’s impact on peace, sustainability, and economy. Find out more here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/creativity-and-innovation-day

Earth Day, one of the biggest international holidays of its kind, is celebrated across the world. Earth Day promotes a healthier planet for us all through 150,000 partners across 192 countries. The campaigns range from limiting plastic pollution to sustainable fashion and everything in between. Get involved in your neighborhood, or learn more at https://www.earthday.org/

On April 8, 2024, almost all of Arkansas will experience a total solar eclipse between 1:45 PM and 2:00 PM. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and for a few minutes, the Moon will block out the Sun completely, making it seem like night. It only happens every 375 years in any given location, so be sure and mark your calendar! Learn more and find resources at www.ArkansasSTEMCoalition.com/2024eclipse/

National Robotics Day looks to share the joy of robotics with people of all ages, with outreach and other programming. Robotics are used to automate industries and carry out tasks across all industries and manufacturing sectors. As the technology becomes more advanced, so do the options for robotics. Get involved and find out more at https://www.nationalroboticsweek.org/

Citizen Science Month is the public’s contribution to scientific studies, voluntarily involving themselves or creating their own scientific studies for public benefit. Citizen Science has long been used to collect important information and data for various STEM fields, and raising awareness for STEM research. To learn more, check out https://scistarter.org/citizensciencemonth

The Bunsen burner is a symbol of chemistry, used in classrooms all across America.
The Bunsen burner, named after Robert Bunsen who designed it in 1855, creates a single open flame burner that is ideal for an even heat. It has been used as laboratory equipment in thousands of experiments since its invention.
Click here for more information:
https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history-news/national-bunsen-burner-day #:~:text=March%2031st%20was%20National%20 Bunsen,a%20 typical%20symbol%20 of%20 chemistry.

March 30th celebrates National Doctor’s Day, the date of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery. The surgery, to remove a tumor on a man’s neck, was performed by Dr. Crawford Long in 1842. Today, National Doctor’s Day is supported by the Southern Medical Association Alliance, as the surgery was held in Georgia. It celebrates the accomplishments and hard work of doctors across America. To learn more, check out https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/doctors-day.html

We still need help - especially on Monday afternoon, March 25 - getting eclipse glasses out to schools. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44AAAB2AA6F4CF8-47120466-2024 #/

Celebrating the creation of the World Meteorological Convention on March 23, 1950, World Meteorological Day discusses the importance of weather, climate, and water. These topics impact our everyday lives, and the study of them keeps us safe and comfortable. In the past, World Meteorological Day has had themes from how to reduce weather extremes to meteorology in sports. To learn more, check out: https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/world-meteorological-day