X-STEM Extreme STEM Symposium

Co-Author Ruth Kiefer

On April 24, 2014, some of the greatest science visionaries of our time will share their passion for science and engineering with 3,000 students from the greater Washington D.C. area. X-STEM, or Extreme STEM, is the world’s first Extreme STEM symposium for K-12 students.

The symposium will feature interactive workshops, presentations, and talks from an impressive list of professionals and scientists. Their goal: to inspire and empower the next generation of STEM professionals.

Topics will range from space exploration, social networks, oceanography, storm chasing, math, and even superheroes.

Dr. John Holdren, Science and Technology advisor to President Obama.

Dr. John Holdren will open the event. Dr. Holdren is the Senior Advisor to President Obama on Science and Technology. If you want to get students excited about STEM, why not start at the top?

Dr. J. Craig Venter, world leading biologist.

Dr. J. Craig Venter; the leader of the private effort to map the human genome that served as a linchpin to the Human Genome Project will also present. In 2007 his team of scientists sequenced his own genetic information in the study. Venter is also famous for creating synthetic biology when his synthesized genome was transplanted into a bacterium. Like many breakthroughs in science, his synthetic biology work has come under controversy. Whether you like it or not, his work is astonishing.

"While the last century could be termed the nuclear age,” said Venter, “I propose that this century will be fundamentally shaped by advances in biology, and the field of genomics -- the study of the complete genetic make-up of a species."

Dr. RobertLang, physicist and origami expert.

Attendees will also hear from physicist and origami expert, Robert J. Lang. Lang says, "Both the art form and scientific applications of origami draw upon the same fundamental physical and mathematical laws. However, those laws are applied to different goals: aesthetic (in the art form of origami), and functional (in the scientific application)."

X-STEM will also serve as a unique opportunity to meet private and commercial space flight astronauts, the explorer of the Titanic, oceanographers and whale researchers, astrophysicists, and the youngest person to pilot a plane solo around the world.

X-STEM is presented by Northrop Grumman Foundation and MedImmune. It will kick off the USA Science & Engineering Festival which will run from April 26^th to 27^th, 2014.

Students can select from 60 mind-blowing talks on some of the hottest topics in science. Space is limited. Teachers, parents and students can sign up now:
http://www.usasciencefestival.org/schoolprograms/x-stem-extreme-stem-symposium.html

Thursday, April 24, 2014, 9:00am to 5:00pm
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
Pre-registration required. General Admission $25, Teacher and Student Rate $15.

Sources XSTEM 1, XSTEM 2, XSTEM 3, XSTEM 4