New pathway for partnerships: STEM Council's Seal of Approval

The STEM Council's Seal of Approval will expand the STEM umbrella in Iowa to support non-STEM Council programs and events.

The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council recently added a new recognition system to the Iowa STEM toolbox, referred to as the STEM Council's Seal of Approval, which recognizes the great STEM happening organically across Iowa.

Programs and events that align with STEM Council goals, such as community hack-a-thons, conferences, afterschool programs, citizen engagement, showcase events and more may apply for the Seal of Approval. Its dual function is to recognize and help elevate quality STEM outside of the STEM Council purview and expand opportunities for Iowans to identify and participate in great STEM by connecting to the STEM Council.

Five applicants worked through a beta-version of the application with a committee of the STEM Council. Eventually, all five earned designation as the first recipients of the Seal of Approval and were announced at the Iowa STEM Summit on March 30, including:

  • STEM Family Free Night at The Iowa Children's Museum;
  • Exploring Iowa Archaeology program of the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist;
  • Lewis Central Middle School's eighth grade STEM program;
  • Math Counts and Science Rocks at the Vermeer Yellow Iron Academy;
  • And, the Nature STEM Camp program, a joint venture of Sibley-Ocheyedan School District, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Osceola County and City of Sibley Recreation Department.

Each program or event that applies is unaffiliated with existing STEM Council programs and will be considered based on the program's alignment to STEM Council goals, the needs of the community and its benefits and offerings to meet those needs. The Seal of Approval can be leveraged for promotion, external funding and other types of support.

For more information on the STEM Council's Seal of Approval or to apply, visit www.iowastem.gov/seal.

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