About the STEM Initiative

The STEM Initiative in Maine is beginning with the statewide STEM Summit January 24, 2008 at the Augusta Civic Center, in Augusta ME. The purpose of the STEM Summit is to raise the awareness of key constituencies of the importance of STEM education for Maine youth's future, its connection to the economic prosperity of Maine and to commit to improving STEM education in Maine.

Through the leveraging capacity of people and organizations at the STEM Summit, we intend to engage in the development of a STEM plan to promote broader and greater numbers of STEM partnerships and the necessary funding vehicles to support it through collaboration with business, the legislature, PK-12 and higher education, researchers, foundations and associations.

This STEM Summit is the launch of the Maine STEM initiative including the STEM Network and STEM Education Fund. For those unable to attend,and those in attendance who could only attend a few sessions, the talks will be available shortly on this website.

The planning group for this phase of the STEM initiative includes the following:

STEM Summit Planning Group
Anita Bernhardt – Maine Department of Education
Dr. Francis Eberle- Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
Anne Gauthier – National Semiconductor
Tad Johnston – Maine Department of Education
Bette Manchester – Maine Learning Technology Initiative
Bob Petit – Media Paths
Dr. Catherine Renault – Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
Susan Valaitis - Institute for Broadening Participation
Walter Warner - Maine School of Science and Mathematics
Dr. John Wright – University of Southern Maine