Texas EcosySTEM Newsletter
Education Service Center Region 11 July 2020
What is an EcosySTEM?
Learning Ecosystems provides the architecture for cross-sector learning, offering all young people access to STEM-rich learning environments so they can develop important skills and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math throughout Pre-K-20. Strong STEM Learning Ecosystems feature dynamic collaborations among schools, out-of-school time programs, STEM expert institutions (such as museums, science centers, institutions of higher education, and STEM professional associations), the private sector, community-based organizations, youth, and families.
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SPOTLIGHT on STEM Stories
Runaway star might explain black hole's disappearing act
At the center of a far-off galaxy, a black hole is slowly consuming a disk of gas that swirls around it like water circling a drain. As a steady trickle of gas is pulled into the gaping maw, ultrahot particles gather close to the black hole, above and below the disk, generating a brilliant X-ray glow that can be seen 300 million light-years away on Earth. These collections of ultrahot gas, called black hole coronas, have been known to exhibit noticeable changes in their luminosity, brightening or dimming by up to 100 times as a black hole feeds.
Replacing lithium with sodium in batteries
An international team of scientists from NUST MISIS, Russian Academy of Science and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf has found that instead of lithium (Li), sodium (Na) "stacked" in a special way can be used for battery production. Sodium batteries would be significantly cheaper and equivalently or even more capacious than existing lithium batteries. The results of the study are published in the journal, Nano Energy.
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ESC Region 11 Spotlight
Showcase Your STEM Event
If you have a STEM event or program you would like to feature in a STEM newsletter, please send your information and a picture to Cheryl Bowden. We would love to help you show off the great things happening around the region.
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Find STEM and STEAM Events in Your Area
Did you know you can access a database of STEM events by zip code? By tapping into The Connectory, you can do just that and even more. In short, The Connectory is the most comprehensive portal for STEM/STEAM offerings. Through this portal, connections are made to STEM/STEAM learning opportunities that inspire young people to explore, discover, and create. It's free and waiting for you to see for yourself!
Are you a provider or a volunteer? You can sign up in the portal to let people know about your programs and to sign up to support programs and activities in your area!
TEA STEM Toolkit
The Texas Education Agency has developed tools to support districts in developing a local STEM program that is aligned to the high-quality indicators identified by the state. The STEM tools are designed to support a district in planning and implementing a K-12 STEM program. All resources are provided at no cost to districts.
Become a ESC Region 11 STEM Advocate
Being a STEM Advocate is easy! Use the link to join our STEM listserv! We will share our monthly newsletters with you and you can share out the great STEM things happening with your campus and in your district.
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ESC Region 11 Texas EcosySTEM
Learning Ecosystems provides the architecture for cross-sector learning, offering all young people access to STEM-rich learning environments so they can develop important skills and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math throughout Pre-K-20. Strong STEM Learning Ecosystems feature dynamic collaborations among schools, out-of-school time programs, STEM expert institutions (such as museums, science centers, institutions of higher education, and STEM professional associations), the private sector, community-based organizations, youth, and families.
Email: cbowden@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/STEM
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: 817-740-7755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esc11science/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @ESC11Science