Moms Night Out Spreads STEM Education in Second Year

(CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - April 10, 2012) - The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) will offer Moms Night Out for STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), a satellite event for the second USA Science & Engineering Festival, at 27 sites across Iowa on the evening of April 23, 2012.

Moms Night Out for STEM (MNOS) was a brainstorm by IMSEP and the Iowa State University - College of Engineering to inspire primary caretakers, particularly moms, to get 'hands on' with their children's math and science education.

The two inspirations for MNOS events are the importance of STEM in the future success of today's youth and the importance of moms (as well as dads and other caregivers) in shaping their child's self image and interest in STEM.

"Parents figure prominently in the equation for children to see STEM careers in a more positive and desirable light," said Jeff Weld, Director of IMSEP. "Moms Night Out for STEM gives parents and caretakers the opportunity to embrace STEM as a pursuit for their children's future, rather than a scary subject they didn't like in school."

A typical Moms Night Out for STEM event may kick off with a keynote by a local STEM professional who may discuss the many ways parents influence children's interest in and attitude toward science and mathematics. Hands-on activities for adults designed to be done at home and other activities and sharing of resources will round out the evening.

"STEM education is so important for the future of our state, country and world. Our youth will be faced with solving and innovating worldwide challenges such as having enough clean water, sustainable energy, safe food practices, and more," said Camille Sloan-Schroeder of Iowa State College of Engineering. "With parents and caregivers being the most influential people in a child's life, we hope to create an environment where they can get the tools they need to inspire the next generation of innovators."

Iowa's Moms Night Out for STEM satellite event is one of dozens of events conducted across the nation in celebration of the second USA Science & Engineering Festival, to be held in Washington D.C. on April 28-29, 2012. Types of organizations participating in this event include museums, schools, labs and libraries where moms and other caregivers can go to network and learn the best ways to inspire a love of STEM in their children.

Twenty-seven events occurring simultaneously across the state on one night would not be possible without the help many volunteers and with the support of premiere sponsor, John Deere, with promotional support from Iowa Public Television (IPTV).

This event is free and open to the public.  A list of Moms Night Out for STEM locations is listed below. To register for the event nearest you, visit http://www.iowamathscience.org/registration-MNOS-2012 .

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Participating Moms Night Out for STEM events.

City	Location	Contact	Contact Information
Ames	Iowa State University College of Engineering -  Marston Hall Atrium - ISU Campus	Camille Sloan Schroeder - Manager - Iowa State University Engineering Pre-collegiate Programs	camilles@iastate.edu 515-294-9965
Ankeny	Iowa Labs Facility - DMACC Campus -   2006 S Ankeny Blvd	Brindusa Velica or Marla Staude	brindusa-velica@uiowa.edu marla-staude@uiowa.edu 515.725.1600
Atlantic	Cass County Community Center - 805 W 10th St	Susan Oliver - Cass County Extension	smmck@iastate.edu 712-243-1132
Burlington	Burlington Public Library - 210 Court Street	Angela Pilkington	apilkington@burlington.lib.ia.us 319.753.1647
Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls Public Library -    524 Main Street	Sheryl McGovern	Mcgovern.sheryl@gmail.com 319.268.5541
Cedar Rapids	Mount Mercy University -  1330 Elmhurst Drive NE	Dr.  Elizabeth Kleiman, Mount Mercy University	ekleiman@mtmercy.edu 319-363-1323 x1289
Cedar Rapids	Science Station - Lindale Mall - Suite 200  4444 First Avenue NE	Norah Hammond, General Manager & Education Director	Norah@sciencestation.org 319.363.4629 Co-hosting MNOS event with Rockwell Collins Child Development Center & Rockwell Collins
Coralville	Iowa Children's Museum -  1451 Coral Ridge Ave.	Deb Dunkhase, Executive Director	ddunkhas@theicm.org 319.625. 6255 ext. 210
Council Bluffs	New Horizon Presbyterian Church -  30 Valley View Drive	Natalie Harris   - Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa,	nharris@gsiowa.org 712.328.2338
Davenport	The Putnam Museum - 1717 W. 12th St.	Nichole Myles, Director of Education	myles@putnam.org 563.324.1054 ext. 210
Des Moines	The Science Center of Iowa - 401 West MLK Jr. Pkwy.	Kimberly Peterson, Preschool Director	jKimberlyp@sciowa.org 515.274.6868 ext. 203
Des Moines	Blank Park Zoo -  7401 SW 9th Street	Anne Shimerdla, Director of Operations and Education	amshimerdla@blankparkzoo.org 515.974.2573
Dubuque	Mazzuchelli Middle School - 2005 Kane St	Amy Jones, Electrical Engineer, John Deere Dubuque Works	JonesAmyK@JohnDeere.com
Fontanelle	Nodaway Valley Middle School-  112 First Street	Deb Hall,  Adair County Extension Office	debhall@iastate.edu 641.743.8412
Fort Dodge	Fort Dodge Public Library - 424 Central Avenue	Tonya Martinson, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa	tmartinson@gsiowa.org 1.800.798.8141
Holstein	Ridgeview Community School  -  519 E Maple Street	Rita Frahm, Ida County Economic Development	rfrahm@heritagebankna.com 712.371.9438
Mason City	Music Man Square -  308 South Pennsylvania Avenue	Gail Castillo - ISU Extension and Outreach - Cerro Gordo County	gail@iastate.edu 641.423.0844
Milford	Iowa Lakeside Laboratory -  Dickinson County -  1838 HWY 86	Jane Shuttleworth, Education Coordinator	jane-shuttleworth@uiowa.edu 712.337.3669 ext. 7
Muscatine	Muscatine High School 2705 Cedar Street	Tim Bower, John Deere	Email: BowerTimothyW@JohnDeere.com Work Phone:  (309) 756-1131
Ottumwa	Indian Hills Community College - Advanced Tech Bldg - Room 122	Marsha Parker, John Deere Ottumwa Works	ParkerMarshaJ@JohnDeere.com 641.683.2494 (Daycare available)
Sioux City	Sioux City Public Library  Morningside Branch - 4005 Morningside Avenue	Jeanette Bobeen, Youth Services Manager	jbobeen@siouxcitylibrary.org 712.255.2933 ext. 231
Storm Lake	Storm Lake Public Library -  609 Cayuga Street	Elizabeth Huff, Youth Director	elizabeth.huff@stormlake.lib.ia.us 712.732.8026 Bi-lingual Activities
Traer	North Tama Elementary  - 605 Walnut Street	Lisa Chizek, 5-6 grade science teacher	ljchizek@gmail.com 319.478.2265
Wapello	Louisa County Extension Office 317 Van Buren St	Tessa Pugh, Louisa County 4-H Youth Coordinator	tessa@iastate.edu 319-523-2371
Washington	Washington Public Library 115 W. Washington Street	Ted Neal, University of Iowa - College of Education	ted-neal@uiowa.edu Telephone: 319.560.5401
Waterloo	George Washington Carver Academy - 1505 Logan Avenue	Albert Wiggins, Associate Principal	wigginsa@waterloo.k12.ia.us 319.433.2501
Waterloo	Bluedorn Science Imaginarium - 503 South Street	Jordan Walker, Science Educator	jordan.walker@gmdistrict.org 319-233-8708

 

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The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) is the operations arm of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council created to promote excellence in science and mathematics education and application in technology and engineering with the help of STEM education stakeholders across Iowa. For more information, contact the IMSEP office at (319) 273-2959, imsep@uni.edu or visit www.iowamathscience.org.