WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) saluted America’s scientists and innovators as the nation observes National Science and Technology Week, a weeklong celebration of American leadership in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. National Science and Technology Week coincides with the third biennial USA Science & Engineering Festival, the world’s largest STEM event, held April 26 - 27 in Washington, D.C. The Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Senator Coons and Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) in January declaring Congress’ support for the Festival and designating April 21 through April 27, 2014 as National Science and Technology Week.
“If our nation is to remain a leader in scientific research, innovation, and the development of new technologies, the next generation of American workers must be better educated and more skilled – especially in science, technology, engineering, and math,” Senator Coons said. “A quality STEM education is the best gift we can give our children to ensure they are prepared for the jobs that will power our 21st century economy. National Science and Technology Week and the USA Science & Engineering Festival are great opportunities to highlight the exciting work America’s scientists and innovators are doing and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders to pursue careers in the sciences.”
The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the country’s only national science festival. It was developed to increase public awareness about the importance of science and to encourage youth to pursue careers in science and engineering by celebrating science in much the same way as we celebrate Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes and pop stars. The Festival is a grassroots collaboration of over 1,000 of the leading science and engineering corporations in the United States. For more information, visit www.USAScienceFestival.org.
The Independence School in Newark held its own STEMfest Thursday evening featuring the nationally-renowned science and engineering roadshow, “Mind Trekkers,” and presentations by two of the area’s leading experts in science and technology. Dr. Nicholas Petrelli, Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, talked to students about the future of cancer care in Delaware, and Dr. Vijay Kumar, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering & Applied Science, discussed the latest innovations in drone technology.
“Delaware and our region are a hub of scientific research and innovation,” Senator Coons said. “From the University of Delaware to DuPont, technology developed in Delaware is changing the world. We have to continue investing in STEM education in our schools and fantastic programming like last night’s STEMfest that inspire our students’ imaginations.”