The National Science Foundation has awarded a $300,000 grant to Public Education Foundation and University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts to support the first-in-the nation cross-country collaboration using the Gigabit network. With USC, students at STEM School Chattanooga are designing experiments to study the effects of human activity on microbial ecosystems both here at home in Chattanooga, as well as a continent away in the Pacific Ocean.
Representatives from PEF, STEM School Chattanooga, and Enterprise Center presented this innovative collaboration at national US Ignite and GENI Summit in Washington D.C. on March 25.
There will be a live demonstration Thursday as students at STEM School Chattanooga manipulate a 4K video microscope at the University of Southern California. Students will be able to harness both the power of an ultra-high-definition microscope and the expertise of a Tier 1 research university using Chattanooga’s Gigbit network.
At the presentation on Thursday Keri Randolph, vice president of Learning at PEF and designer of the curriculum, who presented at the US Ignite conference will speak, as well as Superintendent Rick Smith about the opportunities this provides Hamilton County public school students.
There will also be an opportunity to observe the collaboration between STEM School Chattanooga and USC and talk with students about this use of technology to give them hands-on learning opportunities.
The presentation will be from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at STEM School Chattanooga, CETAS Building, Chattanooga State Community College.
For more information, please contact PEF's Keri Randolph at krandolph@pefchattanooga.org or 668-2426 or PEF's Christa Payne at cpayne@pefchattanooga.org or 432-3187.