Tag Archives: STEM to STEAM

U.S. Congressional STEAM Caucus

All Members of the House of Representatives are encouraged to join the Congressional STEAM Caucus

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici chairs The STEAM Caucus
(science, technology, engineering, design/arts and math) launched in January 2013 to emphasize the important of design subjects as part of a broad based education.

The Caucus aims “to change the vocabulary of education to recognize the benefits of a well rounded education to our country’s
future generations. Caucus members will work to increase
awareness of the importance of STEAM education and explore new strategies to advocate for STEAM programs.”

The following Congressional Representatives participate on the STEAM Caucus:

CALIFORNIA: Rep. Tony Cárdenas, Rep. Julia Brownley, Rep. Susan Davis, Rep. Michael Honda, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Adam Schiff,
Rep. Jackie Speier, Rep. Mark Takano.

COLORADO: Rep. Jared Polis

CONNECTICUT: Rep. Jim Himes

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:  Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

FLORIDA: Rep. Corrine Brown, Rep. Lois Frankel,
Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep.Ted Yoho

GEORGIA: Rep. Sanford Bishop, Rep. Hank Johnson,
Rep. David Scott

GUAM: Rep. Madeleine Bordallo

HAWAII: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

ILLINOIS: Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Rodney Davis, Rep. Mike Quigley,
Rep. Janice Schakowsky

INDIANA: Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. André Carson

IOWA: Rep. Dave Loebsack

MAINE: Rep. Chellie Pingree

MARYLAND: Rep. Jamie Raskin

MASSACHUSETTS: Rep. Michael Capuano, Rep. Bill Keating,
Rep. Joseph Kennedy Rep. Stephen Lynch,
Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Richard Neal,

MINNESOTA: Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Rick Nolan,
Rep. Collin Peterson

NEVADA: Rep. Dina Titus

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Rep. Ann McLane Kuster

NEW MEXICO: Rep. Ben Ray Luján

NEW YORK: Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Jerrold Nadler,
Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Louise Slaughter, Rep. Paul Tonko

NORTH CAROLINA: Rep. David Price

OHIO: Rep. Tim Ryan, Rep. Pat Tiberi

OREGON: Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici,
Rep. Peter DeFazio

PENNSYLVANIA: Rep. Matthew Cartwright, Rep. Scott Perry,
Rep. Joe Pitts

RHODE ISLAND: Rep. David Cicilline, Rep. James Langevin

TEXAS: Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Blake Farenthold

VIRGINIA: Rep. Gerry Connolly, Rep. Bobby Scott

WASHINGTON: Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Derek Kilmer

WISCONSIN: Rep. Mark Pocan

For more information, please contact the office of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici at 202-225-0855.

2016 Maryland General Assembly Considering Legislation for Maryland Design Excellence and Innovation Commission

The 2016 Maryland General Assembly is now considering legislation for establishing the Maryland Design Excellence and Innovation Commission. This is the second year the General Assembly is discussing legislation to establish the Commission. Senate Bill 429 was introduced in the Senate Finance Committee on February 1, 2016, and House Bill 548 was introduced in the House of Delegates Economic Matters Committee on February 3, 2016.

The Senate Finance and House Economic Matters Committees are reviewing the legislation, and have heard evidence from the public about the mission, goals and efforts of Maryland Design Excellence and Innovation Commission. The Commission, which will meet several times a year under a five year design policy plan to be set by the members of the Commission, would implement design led innovation to improve the quality of life for all Marylanders. If established by legislation, the Commission would begin operating as of October 1, 2016.

 

Committee Bill Hearings
The Maryland General Assembly held public Committee bill hearings on February 16, 2016 in the Senate Finance Committee and February 17, 2016 in the House Economic Matters Committee to hear statements from the public about the legislation. The Committee hearing can be viewed on-line through these links to the Maryland General Assembly website:
Senate Finance Committee Public Hearing
House Economic Matters Committee Public Hearing

Submitting Written Statements 
Written statements are still being accepted by Maryland General Assembly legislators, and can be submitted to legislators until there is a vote held on the bills in the Senate and House Committees. If you are able to provide written support for the legislation, the guidelines are available here for the Senate Finance Committee and here for the House Economic Matters Committee. The same statements should be made to both Committees. Text of the Senate Finance legislation is available here, and for the House of Delegates legislation here.  A statement guide/template is available for the Senate Finance Committee here and for the House Economic Matters Committee here to use for composing a written statement. Anyone can submit a written statement by sending it to
MarylandbyDesign at [email protected].

Contact Legislators about the Maryland Design Excellence
Commission Legislation

If you are a resident of Maryland, contacting your State Senator and Delegates from your home district is one of the best ways to voice your views about establishing the Maryland Design Excellence  and Innovation Commission. To find out legislators who represents you, go to the search page here and enter your home address.

DESIGN v. STEM DEGREES: DESIGN CAN BE WORTH MORE

There has been tremendous attention given to STEM education and the higher earning potential for degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math as compared to design. A recent survey conducted and published by the Washington Post reveals very little difference in earning potential during the first 5 to 10 years of a person’s career once they have earned a STEM degree versus a design degree, and in fact many degrees in the humanities (which would include design disciplines) earn more. The conclusions when making comparisons between a bachelor’s design degree as compared to a bachelor’s degree in science (biology), technology (information technology), engineering (electrical engineering) or math, shows an insignificant earning difference between a biological sciences degree and a design degree during the first 10 years of experience after earning these degrees. (Click on the graph to enlarge).

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Congressional Caucus Unveils new STEM to STEAM Policy Map

Via RISD

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Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) launched a new STEAM Map on Capitol Hill in collaboration with US House STEAM Caucus Chair Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) ). This innovative mapping tool visualizes STEAM activity to enable advocates and practitioners to connect with each other, share best practices and show decision makers the impact and relevancy of art and design. The STEAM Map can be found at map.stemtosteam.org. The list of STEAM members can be found here.