Advanced Technological Education .

Welcome to the ATE Central Connection! Published the first Tuesday of each month, the ATE Central Connection is meant to disseminate information to and about ATE centers and projects, providing you with up-to-date ATE news, events, reminders, as well as highlighting new centers, projects, and resources. In addition, we will also highlight an educational topic with complementary resources found within ATE Central to help illustrate how ATE resources can be used in the classroom.

We want the ATE Central Connection to be a valuable tool; please e-mail info@atecentral.net with any suggestions about how to make the ATE Central Connection more useful for you or to suggest any information you would like to see in an upcoming issue.

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In This Issue

Featured Resources: Bio and Chemical Technologies

From A Bridge to Bio-Link's Future:

Biotech Careers: Resources

www.biotech-careers.org/resources

Bio-Link's career website features resources that would be useful for students contemplating the different careers available with a biotech degree or certificate from a community or technical college. Resources include information about College Navigator, a database from the United States Department of Education, internship and STEM program listings, and a link to the Bio-Link LinkedIn group, among others. Links to more information about job areas and specific biotech careers on the biotech careers website are also included from this page.

From Austin Community College Bio-Link Regional Advanced Technological Education Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences:

Introduction to Biotechnology I: Exercise Workbook & Lab Guide

atecentral.net/downloads/5418/IntroToBiotechnologyI.pdf

This workbook, provided by Austin Community College, prepares students for a job working in a biotechnology lab. An overview of biotechnology is provided along with general lab safety and preparation, and a variety of biotechnology laboratory practical experiences. Topics covered include: essential tools in the biotechnology laboratory, preparing solutions, DNA barcoding, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, recombinant DNA technology, and more.

From Expanding the Bio-Bench: Targeted Genome Editing:

Defining Water Management Report

www.innovatebio.org/event-items/event/ate-project-talks-incorporating-course-based-research-and-developing-genome

This webinar, published by InnovATEBIO, features two talks: one on incorporating course-based research experiences into high schools and community colleges in Southwest Nebraska, and another on developing curriculum with genome planning in a program with low enrollment. The first presentation focuses on a high school research experience that uses research on genes from dog saliva to teach biotechnology techniques in a way that helps students connect with biotechnology on a personal level. The second presentation discusses St. Louis Community College's biotechnology program and the challenges it faces due to low enrollment. This presentation goes into detail about the program's genome editing course and plans to continue developing the program despite challenges with enrollment. It runs 57:26 minutes in length.

Community Connection

ATE Impacts Book Showcases Technical Education and Celebrates 30 Years

We are pleased to announce the ATE Impacts 2024-2025 book, available for order online with digital copies accessible on the ATE Impacts site once released! This publication continues the tradition of showcasing the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education Community's work, featuring projects and centers across seven ATE areas, along with applied research. With a foreword by National Science Foundation Director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, the book aims to inspire broader participation in the ATE program among academic institutions, educators, and industry partners, thereby advancing understanding of technicians' importance to high-tech industries.

For 30 years, the NSF's Advanced Technological Education program has enhanced teaching, student knowledge, and technician skills while promoting diversity in STEM fields. The book serves to complement outreach efforts by ATE PIs and staff, sharing success stories with various stakeholders. Suggestions for utilizing the publication include promoting STEM education, engaging industry partners, educating faculty and staff, and showcasing the impact of ATE to broader audiences. Additionally, readers are encouraged to explore the ATE Impacts blog for further content and reach out with questions or feedback to impact@ateimpacts.net.

ATE Success Tips: Websites

Writing Effective Content

There are many approaches for writing and designing website content that accurately presents the mission, goals, and work being done by your project or center, as well as the ATE community at large. However, most visitors to your site will skim content and look at images rather than read every word. To create content that effectively reaches all facets of your audience, it's important to keep a few strategies in mind when writing for the web. Here are some ideas to consider when writing and designing content for your website.

  • Put the most important information first. Those who skim will usually just look at the first line of text, so it's a good idea to present the big picture in the beginning.
  • Simple statements often work best. Keeping your web copy simple, self-explanatory, and easy to understand may keep visitors from navigating away from your site.
  • Use bulleted lists when possible, as this breaks up content and creates easy-to-digest chunks.
  • Assume visitors will arrive anywhere on your website. Don't rely on your homepage as the official entryway - users may arrive anywhere. If interested, check out Google Analytics for more ways to track where people land on your website.
  • Consider whether the content on your site meets accessibility standards. Check out the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Quick Reference Guide for more information, or look into a network tool like HTML_Codesniffer that will check your code for you.

Did You Know?

Without Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funding, experts say many community college programs would have closed, faculty and staff laid off, and more students forced to stop their pathway towards accreditation. The latest research from the Accelerating Recovery in Community Colleges Network at the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Columbia University highlights that community colleges were able to withstand the challenges posed by the pandemic due to the emergency relief funding provided by Congress. The report indicates a significant loss in enrollments, but HEER funding mitigated these losses, totaling over $75 billion, with $25 billion directly allocated to community colleges. Despite the positive outcomes, challenges persist in sustaining support for students, particularly regarding food insecurity and mental health. Colleges plan to continue offering aid but anticipate reductions due to limited federal funds.

Select STEM Education Resources

A few online STEM resources from outside of ATE, that you may find of interest:

ACS Education Division

www.acs.org/education/resources.html

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Education Division is making educational resources available by topic to aid parents and teachers in student enrichment during this time of distance learning. ACS has bundled materials from the Reactions Video series, C&EN, magazines within the Education Division and a portfolio of hands-on activities for students in grades K–12 and beyond. These resources focus on five topics — The Earth, Water, Food, Health & Your Body, and The Periodic Table — and put a spotlight on the connection between chemistry and everyday life.

ChemAlliance

www.chemalliance.org

A great resource for professionals in the chemical industry, the ChemAlliance Website presents news and feature articles on regulation and compliance. ChemAlliance provides a wide range of tools to help users understand, evaluate, and comply with environmental regulations more effectively. A noteworthy portion of the site is the ChemAlliance Toolbox, a list of essential resources for understanding compliance regulations. Some examples from the list are a virtual plant tour, a current list of laws, and a glossary of terms. A search engine, help page, and discussion group round out this site.

Science History Institute

www.sciencehistory.org/education/educational-resources/

The Science History Institute is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history and heritage of the chemical and molecular sciences, technologies, and allied industries. This Web site illustrates how chemistry has shaped our world. Students can discover the chemical history of Innovations and Industry, Ancients and Alchemists, and much more. Through the Online Exhibits, visitors can view the pictures of Walter J. Hamer's collection of early batteries. In the Classroom Resources, educators will find online tools discussing molecular science and pharmaceutical achievers and many Chemistry Web Quests including Evidence for Atoms and The Great MTBE Controversy. Graduate students may want to take advantage of the many fellowships offered on the site.

Do you have some great STEM resources you'd like to share with ATE Central? Email us with your ideas at info@atecentral.net.

ATE Events

Upcoming Events
– Info Cybersecurity Workshops for Community College Instructors Online
– Gen American Association of Community Colleges Annual Conference Louisville, KY
Bio/Chem Bridging Fields: Uncovering Transferable Competencies for Biotechnology Online
Bio/Chem ATE Project Talks: The NOBLE Project and Antibody Engineering Online
Eng UND Aerospace Community Day Grand Forks, ND
– Ag/Env 2024 Wine Chemistry Workshop North Miami, FL
– Info Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Conference Nashville, TN
Eng Experience Northland Aerospace Open House Thief River Falls, MN
Gen It’s About Time, Part I: Scrutinizing the Extra Time for Assignments Accommodation Online
– Info 2024 Northeast 3CS (NE3CS) Bethlehem, PA
Bio/Chem Biotechnology Careers Online
– Ag/Env 2024 STEM Virtual Solar Institute Online
– Gen SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference Jacksonville, FL
Info Blue Marble Academic Program Online
Gen Webinar: NSF Annual and Project Reports Online
Gen It’s About Time, Part II: A Panel Discussion About Requests for Extra Time for Assignments Online
Info Bay Area Cyber League 2024 Spring Regional Competition Fremont, CA
Mfg "Girls Can, Too!" 3D Printing Project Lexington, KY
Ag/Env KidWind Workshops - Hydropower 101 Online
Eng GigaZone TechXpo Bemidji, MN
– Bio/Chem ABRF 2024 Annual Meeting Minneapolis, MN
– Eng AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2024 San Diego, CA
– Info Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Online
– Info ITSS Summit - Seattle, Washington Seattle, WA
– Eng VEX World Championship Competition Dallas, TX
Bio/Chem Utilizing an Interview to Determine a "Good Fit" Online
Bio/Chem ATE Project Talks: Speed Networking and Industrial Biomanufacturing Online
– Eng ASME Aerospace Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference Renton, WA
– Info Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Online
Gen How to Tell a Student No: Maintaining Empathy, Firmness, and Clarity in a Difficult Discuss Online
– Nano 2024 NACK Hands-on-Site Workshops University Park, PA
– Info Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Online
Gen Webinar: Preparing Forms for Your NSF ATE Proposal Online
– Info 2024 National 3CS and Southeast Regional 3CS (SE3CS) Tampa, FL
Bio/Chem Program Development, Articulations, Policy & Advocacy Online
– Ag/Env BETO BRIDGES Professional Development Instructor Workshop Lemont, IL
Info WWCode CONNECT 2024: Thrive in Tech Online
– Info Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Online
Gen How to Produce a Livestreaming Event (that is Accessible, Green, and Open Source) Online
Gen Webinar: NSF ATE Proposal Budget and Budget Justification Online
– Gen NISOD 2024 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence Austin, TX
– Info NICE Conference Dallas, TX
– Bio/Chem BIO International Convention 2024 San Diego, CA
– Bio/Chem BIO International Convention San Diego, CA
– Eng GRRATE Summer Institute - Archer Archer, FL
– Gen 2024 PTI Conference Portland, ME
– Gen Mentor Up Workshop Online
Gen Maker Faire NoVa Alexandria, VA
– Eng 2024 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit The Woodlands, TX
– Info GenCyber: Appalachian Solutions Teacher Academy Prestonsburg, KY
– Mfg Summer Teacher Institute Tampa, FL
– Ag/Env VESTA National Summit 2024 Knoxville, TN
– Mfg "Girls Can, Too!" Summer Day-Camp Georgetown, KY
– Mfg Fundamentals of Metallurgy, GMA Processes, & Welder Certification East Peoria, IL
– Mfg Fundamentals of Metallurgy, SMA Processes, Inspection, & Codes Wahpeton, ND
– Info CyAD Conference: Cybersecurity Across Disciplines Palos Hills, IL
– Nano 2024 NACK Hands-on-Site Workshops Williamsville, NY
– Eng Northwestern Michigan College ROV and Sonar Workshop Traverse City, MI
– Eng GRRATE Summer Institute - Downtown Gainesville Gainesville, FL
– Info ITSS Summit - Alexandria, VA Alexandria, VA
– Mfg Fundamentals of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Santa Clarita, CA
– Eng MATE ROV World Championship Kingsport, TN
– Info Security+ Online
– Eng GRRATE Summer Institute - Starke Starke, FL

For more events, please visit the ATE Central Events page or, if you have any upcoming events that you would like posted on ATE Central or in the ATE Central Connection, please submit them online.

News & Reminders

Second Annual Cybersecurity Across Disciplines (CyAD) Conference

The second annual Cybersecurity Across Disciplines (CyAD) Conference is set to take place in-person at Moraine Valley Community College on June 12-13, 2024.

This event invites community college faculty members, industry representatives, and educators from diverse disciplines to come together and delve into the critical intersections of cybersecurity. Whether you're from the manufacturing, healthcare, retail, engineering, or banking and finance sectors, this conference offers invaluable opportunities to expand your cybersecurity knowledge, integrate it into your curriculum, and collaborate on innovative approaches to cybersecurity education. With interactive presentations, hands-on workshops, and ample networking opportunities, the CyAD conference is designed to equip you with practical tools and insights, regardless of your prior cybersecurity experience.

Register online on the NCyTE website.

ATE Central Outreach Kit

The ATE Central Outreach Kit was developed as a tool to assist ATE Principal Investigators (PIs) and staff in effectively planning, monitoring, and executing outreach activities.

ATE Central has given the Outreach Kit a refresh with a new design and content, accompanied by a downloadable Template. The new kit is designed to guide you through a step-by-step process and helps you explore how to identify your primary audiences and stakeholders, determine the partners and resources that can support your efforts, and start considering aspects such as branding and messaging.

By utilizing the kit and template, you will make significant progress towards developing a comprehensive plan that enables you to achieve the objectives of your grant, effectively communicate your outcomes and impacts, and showcase the valuable work of your project or center to a diverse range of stakeholders.

The Outreach Kit can be found on ATE Central's website, under the Resources tab.

New Tool - Calendar Feed

The ATE Central Calendar Feed is an easy to customize tool that enables calendar feeds from the ATE Central Events Calendar to quickly be added to either the Outlook or the Mac Calendar app, and will then automatically display upcoming events of interest based on the keywords you include. You can use the feed to populate your personal calendar or to add lists of upcoming events to your ATE center or project website. For WordPress-based sites, free plugins like ICS Calendar will allow you to use a calendar feed to display a list of upcoming events on your WordPress site. You'll need to sign in to your ATE Central account to create a feed - and it's easy to change your selection of keywords to add or subtract areas of interest over time. We look forward to hearing from you as you utilize this new service and as always, we'd love to get your feedback or comments. Don't hesitate to reach out to the team with any questions at info@atecentral.net.

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