By Cecile Schoberle
Integrated University Communications

(Oct. 9, 2009) STEMapalooza is right around the corner, both figuratively and literally (if you're based on the Downtown Campus anyway). Kindergartener, policymaker, teacher or business executive—no matter what age or occupation—there will be something for everyone at the 2009 University of Colorado Denver STEMapalooza Oct.16-17 at the Colorado Convention Center. More than 7,500 participants are expected to attend, including 4,500 students who have registered for field trips. This event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Colorado Convention Center, the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, the Colorado Workforce Development Council, Lockheed Martin, the Center for Applied Science and Mathematics for Innovation and Competitiveness (CASMIC), and Girls Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (GESTEM).

STEMapalooza supports connections across science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and aims to excite Colorado’s students about careers in these fields—which all too often go to workers from out of state, says Carole Basile, associate professor of education and board chair of the Colorado STEM Network.

During the course of the two days, STEMapalooza will feature more than 100 exhibitors from higher education, K-12, education organizations, workforce development, economic development and large and small business and industry. Popular exhibitors will be returning from the inaugural 2008 event, such as First Robotics where children learned to operate child-size robots and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory which featured hundreds of math and science activities. Many participants look forward to visiting the inflatable Skylab planetarium that welcomed more than 2,400 visitors. The creative arts community also will be returning to illustrate how the creative arts are fully integrated with math and science. And many new companies and organizations will be present to showcase their areas of expertise.

Friday’s events include a luncheon with keynote speakers Col. Fred Gregory, former NASA Astronaut, and Colorado Lieutenant Gov, Barbara O’Brien. For businesses and organizations, it’s an ideal setting for networking with other industry leaders, engaging policy makers in discussion, and learning more about STEM initiatives throughout Colorado. For students, parents and teachers, the two-day event provides an opportunity to dive into hands-on, “minds-on” activities, such as fast-track racing, robotics, gaming, film production, staging, and rocketry.

UC Denver is proud to be a partner in the Colorado STEM Network, the newly formed statewide coalition of businesses, government, education and community groups that was launched by Gov. Bill Ritter on June 12. Concentration of the state’s focus on STEM education is vital to the development of tomorrow’s business leaders, scientists, researchers and educators.  UC Denver is playing an important role in raising the standards of STEM education and in preparing a workforce that is ready to meet the demands of a global, technology-based economy. As companies in industries such as aerospace, IT, and biotechnology continue to move into Colorado, It’s imperative that we develop the potential of education-to-business partnerships and keep Colorado’s best graduates here in the state.

 “We hope for sustainability and institutionalization of work related to STEM,” says Basile. “Because of our location, size and STEM focus, we have the opportunity to be at the forefront of this work and be a driving force.”  STEMapalooza clearly shows that the excitement of scientific discovery is alive and well in Colorado.

For more information, visit  www.stemapalooza.org or call Sharon Unkart at 303.556.6543. Exhibit hours are from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.