SCI-TECH DAY; Register on April 3rd

SCI-TECH DAY
www.hiscitech.org/institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Donalyn Dela Cruz 216-4747


SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROS OFFER LEARNING DAY TO STUDENTS
On-site Registration Takes Place April 3rd

Honolulu, HI – Professionals from the science and technology industry are answering the call to share lessons in their fields on Friday, April 30, 2010 at three regional centers. Sci-Tech Day will be offered to students in grade levels 6th through 8th and each center will be limited to 80 students. The cost for this full day of ultimate learning is FREE and lunch is included.

Sci-Tech Day centers are Hawaii Community College, Leeward Community College, and Windward Community College. On-site registration at each of the centers will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

Sci-Tech Day will be a full day of learning on April 30th beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. There will be four classes in the following areas:


* Life Sciences/Biotechnology
* Renewable Energy
* Engineering/Product Development/Application Research
* Software Development/Digital Media

Students will receive an hour-long lunch period. Bento lunches for the students are being donated by L&L Hawaiian Barbecue/L&L Drive-Inn.

Hawaii Science and Technology Council and Institute President and CEO, Keiki-Pua Dancil, Ph.D., is the lead organizer of Sci-Tech Day. “Many of us in the Science-Technology Industry want to give back a day of education, especially in light of the continuation of Furlough Fridays,” said Dr. Dancil. “Science and math are not usually viewed as fun subjects, but we want to show students how science and technology are essential to our future and just how fun it really is.”

Studies indicate that the motivation to pursue science and/or math-based pathways drops dramatically when students transition from primary level education to secondary levels (i.e. grades 6th through 8th).

Contributing factors include an inadequate supply of qualified math and science teachers, negative stereotypes of certain professions, lack of family support and outdated or nonexistent infrastructure.

Curricula incorporating hands-on, project-based, inquiry-led instruction have been successful in fostering student retention in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM).

Interaction with local professionals provides role models and exposure to additional career options that may be unfamiliar to many students and their families.

Dr. Dancil has pulled together a variety of science and technology professionals to donate their time in teaching the courses. Each classroom will be supervised by volunteers.

“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors and volunteers who are helping to make Sci-Tech possible,” said Dr. Dancil. “It really is a collaborative community effort. Everyone understands the value of education for our keiki; they are our future.”

Sponsors of Sci-Tech Day include Hawaii Science and Technology Council and Institute, Leeward Community College, Windward Community College, Honolulu Community College, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue/L&L Drive-Inn, Hawaii National Bank, Women in Technology, Alaka‘ina Foundation, Shee Atika Technologies, LLC., Wall-to-Wall Studios Inc., and Go! Mokulele Airlines.

Peter Quigley, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs stated, “The University of Hawaii Community Colleges is pleased to partner with the community volunteers from our science and business sectors. Because of what this could mean for the children and because of Dr. Keiki-Pua Dancil's enthusiasm and commitment to this project, our involvement was an easy thing to say yes to.”

“Sci-Tech Day is a great learning event for our keiki and it fits with the University of Hawaii's commitment to STEM education,” added Quigley.

Information and applications for Sci-Tech Day are available on-line at http://www.hiscitech.org/institute.

Parents must turn in applications at the regional center on April 3rd between 9:00 a.m. to noon. Acceptance into the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each regional center is limited to 80 students in levels 6th through 8th grades.