The call for Makers is now open!
The 2014 Tulsa Mini Maker Faire will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2014 from 10:0o am to 6:00 pm. The event will be held in Central Park Hall at Expo Square.

This community-based event is focused on fun and engaging education that creates connections within the community. Makers from all over the region are called to share their work with others. The unique goal of this event is to gather artists, engineers, scientists, hobbyists, crafters, students and educators together to share ideas that we often don’t encounter every day.

Please visit the Tulsa Mini Maker Faire website for Maker Guideline, attendee information and more!

Scott Meacham, president and CEO of i2E Inc., a nonprofit corporation that mentors many of the state’s technology-based startup companies, wrote a column for the May 6th, 2014, edition of The Oklahoman.

In the column he discusses the Tandy Supercomputing Center and OII’s recent Innovator of the Year honor:

Over the last three years, the Oklahoma Innovation Institute has worked to build a collaborative infrastructure in the Tulsa region, including a Tulsa community supercomputer.

That effort recently earned the Oklahoma Innovation Institute recognition as an Oklahoma Innovator of the Year, as well as proving to a lot of people that the Tulsa community could think collaboratively.
He also introduces the new Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance:
Under the Innovation Institute umbrella, the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance launched in January.

This endeavor came about through an interest in connecting Tulsa’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) resources in a collaborative model to produce more STEM education opportunities for the area’s young people, from pre-K through graduation.
Read the full column.

Dear Colleagues,

The first four months of the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance (TRSA), our innovative and dynamic mesh network, have been action packed!  We wanted to update you on the many incredible things that are happening in the Tulsa region because of TRSA!
Oklahoma Women in STEM: Breaking the STEM Glass Ceiling Conference

Date set for May 17 at Tulsa Tech Owasso, 9:30 AM – 4:30 AM.  TRSA has been at the heart of setting establishing this first of its kind workshop for Oklahoma!
Website: http://womeninstem.oklahomainnovationinstitute.org/ twitter:BrkSTEMGlass

Innovation Rooms Updates

STEM Mentorship Logistics IR - Gaining momentum thanks to efforts on several fronts:

Two former Samson engineers and a leader with the Society of Geophysicists are doing incredible work in laying out a detailed blueprint for effectively scaling STEM mentorship in fall 2014
Met with area business and academic leaders to discuss possibility of creating year round STEM mentorship through building quadcopters!

General Updates

Business Plan for TRSA – Business plan has been revised after meeting with area philanthropic groups.  Now preparing to get input from local industry leaders and then begin fundraising for staffing of TRSA.
TRSA Presentations – TRSA was presented to Oklahoma Employment & Training Advisory Council – a gathering of representatives of 26 Native American Tribes.  The tribes are very interested in partnering with TRSA to enhance STEM education for all students in the Tulsa region.

New Collaborations

YMCA – TRSA will partner with YMCA in training camp leaders and delivering STEM education during Summer Institute

Pawnee Nation Education Division, Youth Services Department – Working with Suzy Knife Chief, BA Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, to bring STEM outreach to Native American youth at camp in July!

Smartsheets
To get access to the TRSA SmartSheets please contact Xan Black (firstname DOT lastname AT tulsacc DOT edu) Please avail […]