March 19: X-STEM: A “TED-Style” Symposium for Kids

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 19, 2019) — -STEM DC 2019— presented by NCR Foundation—is a “TED-style” event geared toward middle and high school students. X-STEM features talks by 19 of the nation's most noted STEM professionals representing top universities, corporations, non-profits, and governmental agencies.

X-STEM features interactive presentations by an exclusive group of visionaries who aim to empower and inspire kids about STEM careers. Throughout the day, top STEM role models and industry leaders will ignite students’ curiosity through storytelling and live demonstrations. X- STEM runs from 9:30am-3pm at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Sessions will cover a wide array of subject areas including cancer research, teen inventions, food science robotics, video game engineering, and more that showcase how STEM Can Take You anywhere you want to go.

Here is a sampling of scheduled X-STEM speakers:

Dr. Mireya Mayor, Primatologist, addresses how in the pursuit of a career in science you don’t have to give up the other things you love.

Hannah Herbst, Teen inventor and Social Innovator, from turbines that turn ocean currents into electricity to exploring the properties of shark skin for medical use, Hannah has a passion for learning and helping others.

Dr. Kafui Dzirasa, Neuroscientist and Psychiatrist, known for his groundbreaking research into understanding how changes in the brain produce neurological and mental illness.

Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Administrator for Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Seeks to produce safe, nutritious food to feed everyone.

Justin Shaifer, STEM Educator, uses his “Magic Cool Bus” to bring exciting STEM technology to underrepresented students nationwide.

Dr. Serena McCalla, STEM Educator and Scientist, founder of iResearch Institute where she shares her research practices with educators and students around the globe.

Bill Schindler, Archaeologist and Anthropologist, Bill aims to reconnect the food of our ancestors to find a more sustainable and healthy food system.

Dr. Erin Macdonald, Aerospace Engineer and Educator, noted for combining science with a Sci-Fi edge.

The full list of speakers can be found at https://usasciencefestival.org/speakers-x-stem-2019-dc/.
The symposium is part of the USA Science & Engineering Festival, which culminates with the Festival Expo in April of 2020. With the theme “Vision for STEM” the Festival Expo invites participants to see today’s students as tomorrow’s explorers, discovers, and innovators. The Festival Expo is a free, family-friendly event with over 3,000 hands-on activities and stage shows! The Festival Expo takes over the entire convention center and hosts 350,000 people. The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the nation’s largest science festival. Pre- registration is required. To learn more, visit www.USAScienceFestival.org.

ABOUT THE USA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL
Founded by serial entrepreneur Larry Bock and Lockheed Martin executives to address the severe shortage in science and tech talent, the USA Science & Engineering Festival is the only national science festival. It was developed to increase public awareness about the importance of science and to encourage youth to pursue careers in science and engineering by celebrating science in much the same way as society celebrates Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes and pop stars. Visit www.USAScienceFestival.org, connect on Facebook, and follow on Twitter @USAScienceFest.