This week’s news sees a mix of innovative programs for engaging students, and the promise for a larger focus on funding in STEM education. To ensure that the country stays competitive in STEM fields, a force of skilled teachers is required. The U.S. government and private investors are willing to dedicate funding to support STEM projects and training for educators.

Obama Increases 2016 Budget For Education, STEM Support

The White House recently released President Barack Obama’s 2016 budget proposal, and revealed he wants to dedicated $70.7 billion toward education. This total is an increase of $3.6 billion from 2015. As reported by THE. Journal, “The extra funds are intended to support the administration’s favorite education projects-STEM, evidence-based innovations, teacher support, free community college and more early childhood education.” The Obama Administration also announced the intent to redirect tobacco taxes toward this goal. Read the full story.

American Chemical Society Premieres “Legends of Chemistry”

The latest episode of the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) online sub-series, “Reactions,” features three amazing female scientists whose accomplishments were nearly lost to history. “Legends of Chemistry” explores the discoveries of three scientists: Mary Sherman Morgan, Alice Ball and Rachel Lloyd, who all contributed groundbreaking work in the field of chemistry. ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research. Watch the full episode. 

Lockheed Martin To Launch Multimillion-Dollar STEM Initiative

Lockheed Martin and Orange County Public Schools recently revealed a partnership with Project Lead the Way, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization, to lead a multimillion-dollar program to boost STEM development. As reported by Matthew Richardson from the Orlando Business Journal, “The initiative comes at a time when STEM education is crucial for companies like Lockheed Martin. The U.S. Department estimated that jobs in STEM will grow 17 percent by 2018, nearly double the growth for non-STEM fields.” The announcement for the initiative will take place February 5 in Orlando, Fla. Read the full story. 

Tennessee Students Learn Full Astronaut Experience

During Space Week Students at Robert E. Lee Elementary School learned all the ins-and-outs of what it takes to be an astronaut when Billy Hix, an educator and NASA consultant, spoke to students about eating, sleeping and working in space. “The Tennessee Education Association's Space Week is a statewide project designed to increase student interest in the STEM fields through a focus on aerospace programs and accomplishments,” reported staff writer Kelly Lapczynski for The Tullahoma News. “Tennessee Space Week honors the life of National Education Association member Christa McAuliffe who, as America’s first teacher in space, was one of seven people killed on that date in 1986 when the space shuttle Challenger exploded only 74 seconds into its flight, 10 miles above Earth.” Read the full story.

NYC Museums Increase Offering Of STEM Education Programs

Museums in New York City are offering a large number of STEM-related programs with a creative twisted. “The Transit Museum alone runs about 125 STEM-oriented programs like “Get Kinetic!” every year, while a larger organization like the New York Hall of Science offers more than 450 such programs,” reported The New York Daily News. Programs are designed to engage kids and teach them to be “thinkers and tinkerers.” Andy Ackerman, the executive director of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, told The NY Daily News: “Learning is a lot like building a building. The foundation is critical. If the foundation is poor, the whole building falls down.” Read the full story.