Business and Education Form Strong Bonds
Published Apr 15, 2007
Bill Nye the Science Guy and Hannah Barnett perform an experiment at the first annual Tech Valley Kids Summit, which was geared toward fifth- to eighth-grade students.
Dynamic partnerships between educators and business and industry leaders are grooming young people for the exciting careers in technology that have come to distinguish New York’s Tech Valley.
Nowhere is this worthy goal better demonstrated than in the Albany public schools, where the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce has partnered with General Electric to launch “Love SAM,” (Science and Math) for first- through fourth-graders. The program, powered by a $125,000 gift from General Electric, seeks to “create a spark in [students’] desire to learn about science and math,” says Diana Martin of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber.
Students will participate in activities such as creating biomes, linking up via computer with classes in other countries, enjoying chemistry labs in their classrooms, and watching industry professionals demonstrate the laws of physics with a pulley-system demonstration.
This year the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber also hosted the first annual Kids Summit – titled “Innovation Celebration.” The Summit featured Bill Nye the Science Guy, whose presentation wowed the audience of middle-schoolers from more than 50 participating school districts. An array of technology exhibits, as well as break-out sessions involving regional high-tech firms, rounded out the event.
The nearby Middleburgh Central School Technology Department – located at Middleburgh High School – shows off technology students’ best work at its annual “Technopalooza” event. Visitors can check out projects such as electric-powered sprint cars built by engineering students, and even have the opportunity to take home student-built raffled prizes such as ultra-light canoes and handsome picnic tables.
Perhaps one of the most impressive displays of the budding genius in Tech Valley is Dutchess County’s Scintilla Forum. This annual competition features the best and brightest college students from around the region as they present research projects in engineering, computer science, information technology and business to a carefully selected panel of judges.
But the learning doesn’t stop when the school year ends. For example, Cobleskill-area kids in the seventh through 12th grades can escape summer boredom at an innovative SUNY Cobleskill CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) camp.
“This year it really took off. We doubled [our numbers] and had a waiting list to get in,” says CSI camp leader Lynda McMaster-Schuyler, a doctor of environmental medicine.
Students are presented with a crime scene featuring a mock victim and complete slate of clues. Experts from the FBI, state police and other law enforcement agencies give them tips on cracking the case.
Likewise, Adirondack Community College welcomed scores of eager students to its 25th annual Summer Enrichment Program in 2006. Among the most popular offerings was a course patterned after a famous reality show. The class, titled “The Apprentice, Adirondack Style,” was led by Todd Shimkus, president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. The course challenged students to invent a new ice cream flavor, which would actually be manufactured and sold by a local ice cream shop. Other challenges included acting as a focus group for a new pediatric unit at a local hospital, and creating innovative radio ads to be used by a local business.
Story by Laurie C. Battles
Photo by Timothy H. Raab
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