National Lab Day (NLD) is a nationwide initiative to foster scientific and computational experimentation and innovation in young Americans. It is an unprecedented effort to bring exciting, hands-on, discovery based lab experiences to student through the partnership of teachers with volunteers and STEM-based professionals. NLD aims to connect teachers with scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians who can help make STEM come alive in our nation’s schools.
NLD emerged from a collaboration in 2009 among the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the NSF, the American Chemical Society and other federal agencies, professional groups and foundations.
Through the website, www.nationallabday.org, college students, parents, volunteers and STEM-based professionals will be matched to teachers’ projects. For example, a teacher might request help in starting a robotics club, they may need judges for science fair projects, or even professionals to come in for career day talks. Computer scientists are especially important in this endeavor, since out of the 1000+ projects, there are only about 20 projects specifically aimed at CS. This is an opportunity to work with teachers and students in K-12 classrooms and show them the joy and beauty of computational thinking and the amazing applications of computer science.
Visit the website today, look at the Projects posted, and visit the “Community” tab to search for teachers in your area who need your help. Ask your graduate students to get involved (even your undergraduates might be good for this project). For more information, contact Jan Cuny at jan@nationallabday.org or Camsie Matis at camsie@nationallabday.org.