Investment allows the program to continue into its second year in Iowa

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Iowa Governor's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council received $20,000 from Google to support "Code Iowa," a program of the STEM Council focused on computer science in Iowa.

This is the second time Google has funded "Code Iowa," which focuses on increasing Iowa's participation in Code.org's international effort called, "The Hour of Code." Last December, more than 450 schools took part in the event, and 50 schools signed up through the STEM Council to become a "Certified Code Iowa Partner." Google's first, $20,000 contribution allowed the STEM Council to award five schools across Iowa with $4,000 technology awards for participating in the "Hour of Code" during Computer Science Education Week.

"'Code Iowa' came to life through Google's support, and their contribution has inspired more of Iowa's young women and men to consider a career in computer programming, web development and more," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, co-chair of the STEM Council. "With the help of Google, we will be able to focus our efforts on meeting the demand in Iowa for a stronger, STEM-literate workforce, specifically in computer science."

According to Code.org statistics, Iowa currently has nearly 4,500 open computing jobs with only 358 computer science graduates to fill them, which is a demand 3.1 times the state average.

"The demand for more STEM-talented workers in Iowa is very similar across all STEM fields, but it is safe to say that the demand for jobs in computer science is needed consistently by nearly all of Iowa's businesses," said Dr. Chris Nelson, Kemin Industries president and CEO and co-chair of the STEM Council. "We see technology in almost every aspect of our daily lives, and businesses have become reliant on it for their success. Google's gift will, in the long run, allow the STEM Council to benefit businesses across the state."

Google began in 1998 as a search engine that has grown to include features such as Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google+ and more. These additions came with a demand for more employees able to work in fields like engineering and design to developer relations and technical solutions. In fact, Google opened a data center in Council Bluffs in 2007 and has invested $2.5 billion in Iowa and created more than 300 jobs.

"Google has grown tremendously in the last 17 years with the help of a talented workforce that is interested and educated in the computer science realm," said Chris Russell, Google Council Bluffs Data Center Manager. "With a data center in Council Bluffs, Google is committed to helping grow Iowa's workforce needed to fill the computer science-related jobs in our facilities, as well as those roles across the state."

This year, Computer Science Education Week is Dec. 7-13, 2015. Those schools that plan to participate during that week and submit a proposal to the STEM Council and Code.org will be eligible for technology awards. Interested schools must create a plan on how they will organize every student to do the "Hour of Code" at their school at www.IowaSTEM.gov/CodeIowa by Nov. 16, 2015.

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Sharing Resources for Informal Science Learning Opportunities in Agriculture

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today signed a partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) that will provide more than 500 member museums and science-technology centers with resources to incorporate agricultural science and research in their programs.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Vilsack and ASTC President and CEO Anthony (Bud) Rock at USDA headquarters in Washington. ASTC and its members provide social and interactive learning experiences that are tailored to the unique needs of their communities. Under the agreement, USDA will provide ASTC with resources for programs, exhibits, and other education and outreach activities based on the department's work at its network of Research Centers, Land-Grant Universities, Tribal Colleges, Forest Service, National Arboretum, and other programs.

"USDA is at the forefront of scientific and technological research, ranging from using satellites to sense soil moisture from 400 miles above the Earth to creating biomass-based energy sources," said Vilsack. "This partnership with science and technology centers is another step to ensuring we maintain the pipeline of students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math education."

"Science centers and museums are ideal places for inspiring people to interact with agriculture and all its facets, ranging from biofuels and sustainability to conservation and trade," said Anthony (Bud) Rock, ASTC President.

USDA is helping to lead transformational change across the country in energy, nutrition, trade, research, conservation, and in building a bio-based economy from the ground up. For more than 150 years, USDA has reached a widespread audience through its extension activities and fostered an understanding of the dynamic science and future of agriculture, and to encourage more students to consider the field. Today's agreement builds on this foundation.

"We are facing a shortage of scientists in agriculture," Vilsack said. "I want to commend USDA's Chief Scientist, Dr. Catherine Woteki, who was instrumental in bringing this agreement into being. Having developed her own interest in science by visiting museums as a young girl, she recognized the potential of museums to inspire the next generation of scientists and to help recruit them into the exciting field of agriculture. This will be a key factor in meeting the challenge of feeding 9 billion people by the year 2050."

Photos of today's signing ceremony will be posted on the USDA Flickr Photostream.

Free event for area Iowa & Illinois STEM Teachers, School Administration & key STEM Stakeholders to collaborate and share information & ideas and see local STEM education facilities. Free pizza and pop will be provided by the QCESC for meeting attendees.

• Saturday, October 3rd "CORNcon" 8am-6pm at St. Ambrose University, McCarthy Hall, Davenport, Iowa
  Link to flyer
  For Adults and Kids
  Adults: QC Security Conference
  Kids: Kids Hacker Camp for ages 7-17
  
  REGISTER at: www.corncon.net
• Nov. 7 Quad Cities STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Festival.
  Interactive style conference for youth in grades 3-8 from 8:00 AM - Noon at Western Illinois University Quad City Campus.
  Link to further information

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today applauded a new report from the White House Broadband Opportunity Council that details coordinated steps to expand access to high speed internet in poorly connected areas over the next 18 months. The report says more than 25 percent of US households do not have high speed internet because of income or geography. The Broadband Opportunity Council is chaired by Penny Pritzker, Secretary of the US Department of Commerce and Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture.

Earlier this summer, Loebsack joined with fellow Members to call on the Council to modernize regulations for Rural Utility Service's (RUS) Telecommunications Program to better facilitate high speed rural broadband development. The report calls for the RUS program to revise their regulations, which will open additional funding opportunities. Loebsack is a member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over broadband issues.

"Ensuring everyone has access to high speed internet, no matter where they live, is important for rural economic development, education, job growth, businesses, farmers, and families across Iowa," said Loebsack. "I have met with many small businesses, farmers, and rural telecommunication companies who have stressed the importance of expanding high speed internet to rural areas. Broadband also gives small and rural schools the power to vastly expand their educational options, providing students with a cutting-edge 21st Century education regardless of geography.

"I am pleased President Obama, along with Secretaries Pritzker and Vilsack, laid out this plan to make sure Iowans and others in rural areas are not left behind. Expanding broadband is critical for all Iowans."

Moving forward, the federal government has made four specific commitments in response to the report to expand high speed internet, including:

·         Changing federal programs to allow broadband as an eligible expense in communities participating in the programs;

·         Creating an online inventory with details on federal assets such as telecommunications towers;

·         Streamlining applications for broadband to allow faster deployment and boost competition;

·         Creating an online information hub for communities to learn about federal broadband loan programs.