VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WashingtonExec, together with Leidos and Northrop Grumman Corporation, and more than 25 key organizations representing education, government and industry, will hold a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Symposium aimed at increasing the national capital region STEM pipeline on March 8 at the Nysmith School in Herndon, Virginia from 9:00am to 3:00pm. The event will provide more than 600 K-12 students, parents and educators with the opportunity to view exciting exhibits and engage with inspiring thought leaders about STEM opportunities accessible in the region.
The all-day symposium leads up to the third annual USA Science and Engineering Festival, the country’s only national science fair, on April 26 & 27 at the Walter E. Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The festival’s mission is to increase public awareness about the importance of science and to encourage youth to pursue careers in science and engineering.
Over 20 non-profit organizations, government agencies and corporations will showcase unique and local educational programs at the symposium. Exhibitors include: the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), FIRST Robotics, Leidos, Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Children’s Science Center, the U.S. Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot Program, the Fairfax County Association for the Gifted, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, among others.
“We are delighted to collaborate with WashingtonExec on the inaugural STEM Symposium,” said Rob Zitz, Leidos National Security Sector Senior Vice President. “Science and technology will play an ever increasing role in the world. To keep pace, our nation will need a workforce ready to pursue careers in the STEM fields. Events like the symposium play a vital role, allowing students to interact with industry leaders to hone that skill set at an early age.”
The STEM Symposium is part of a long-term initiative by the WashingtonExec STEM Council, comprised of 20 leaders dedicated to increasing student interest, parent advocacy, educator creativity and employee engagement in the STEM fields. Industry professionals will have the chance to establish and strengthen professional relationships while simultaneously gauging the local K-12 STEM pipeline.
“This event brings together an essential mix of people to make a difference in improving STEM outcomes in our community: government, industry, academia, schools, parents and most of all, the students themselves,” said Ed Swallow, Vice President of Business Development at Northrop Grumman Information Systems Federal and Defense Technology Division and Chairman of the WashingtonExec STEM Council. “This is an opportunity for discovery and creating energy around exciting careers for the workforce of tomorrow.”
Notable keynote speakers include co-Chairmen Rob Zitz of Leidos and Ted Cope, the Director of Basic and Applied Research at the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
“We are proud to facilitate the first event of its kind in our region for students to get up-close-and-personal with some of the area’s most notable STEM professionals - representing corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies,” said JD Kathuria, President and Founder of WashingtonExec.
Dr. Sandy Magnus, former NASA astronaut and Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Michele Weslander Quaid, Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector & Innovation Evangelist at Google, Ann Barron-DiCamillo, Director of the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) and Assistant Deputy Director, National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Bala Sundar, STEM parent and Chief Executive Officer of SyApps, are among the panel speakers.
Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to hear from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) student Archis R. Bhandarkar, a 2013 qualifier for the Siemens Regional Finalist for his research in computational biomechanics. Bhandarkar is also a graduate of the Nysmith School for the Gifted – the symposium’s venue sponsor.
Leidos is the presenting sponsor and Northrop Grumman Corporation is the founding sponsor of the STEM Symposium.
This event is open to the media. Advance registration is required. For additional information, visit: www.stemsymposium.com.
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WashingtonExec is a daily news blog and weekly online e-magazine with a readership that encompasses the Greater Washington, D.C. area’s top entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders within the private, public and academic sectors. The WashingtonExec STEM Council represents over 20 organizations in the National Capital Region (NCR) with a deep commitment to impacting local educational outcomes.
