Tag: stem

FCC offers $50,000.oo to Kill Robocallers

submit your idea from October 25 to January 17.

FTC offers $50,000 to robocall killers

Be a hero. Help the FTC block illegal robocalls. Accept our challenge today.

Entrants keep the intellectual property rights of their submission.
The Federal Trade Commission is offering a cash reward of $50,000 to whoever develops a solution to block robotic calling on both landlines and mobiles. Entries can be in the form of idea proposals, fully functional solutions, and proofs of concept.
The solution has to be tailored for illegal robocalls, and so must permit legal calls including being reached out to by political parties, charities, and health care providers. It must not block reverse-911 calls.
The FTC Robocall Challenge = robo-marketeers can submit their idea from October 25 to January 17.
The FTC is asking these basic questions: does it work? Is it easy to use? And can it be rolled out? In addition, your idea will be marked on ease of customer use, the variety of consumer phones that can be protected, and whether it can be used by those with disabilities. The flexibility of an idea is also important, as the FTC wants to know how easily robocallers could adapt or counter a scheme if it were rolled out nationwide.
From a commercial perspective, ideas will gain hefty points if they are compatible with today’s marketplace — in other words, would an idea require changes to all phone switches worldwide — or could it simply be distributed by line providers?
The winner will get $50,000 and a trip to D.C, where the creator or team will present the winning solution.

[ECP] Educational CyberPlayGround K12 Newsletters / NetHappenings News and Grants

1) mathematics teachers in grades 9-–12 – 2) full-time teacher, librarian, or administrator literacy-based projects

NCTM: Connecting Mathematics to Other Subject Areas Grants for Grades 9–12 Teachers
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Connecting Mathematics to Other Subject Areas Grants help create senior high classroom materials or lessons connecting mathematics to other fields. Materials may be in the form of books, visual displays, computer programs or displays, slide shows, videotapes, or other appropriate media. The focus of these materials should be on showing the connectivity of mathematics to other fields or to the world around us. Any acquisition of equipment or payment of personal stipends must be critical to the grant proposal and may not be a major portion of the proposed budget. Any published sources must be documented. Proposals must address the following: the plan for developing and evaluating materials, the connectivity to other fields or disciplines, and anticipated impact on students’ learning.
Maximum award: $4,000.
Eligibility: current (as of October 15, 2012) Full Individual or E-Members of NCTM who currently teach mathematics in grades 9-–12 at least 50 percent of the school day.
Deadline: November 9, 2012.
http://www.nctm.org/
 
City National Bank: Reading is the Way Up
City National Bank is now accepting applications for grants to support literacy-based projects at public and private elementary, middle, and high schools in California, Nevada, and New York. Recipients can create, augment, or expand literacy projects that are judged to be creative and engaging, and that may help improve student achievement. Awards can be used for books, videos, CDs, DVDs, computer software or hardware, or in other ways as long as the recipient shows that the project for which funds are sought will support literacy.
Maximum award: $500.
Eligibility: any full-time teacher, librarian, or administrator at schools in counties where City National has offices. Deadline: November 30, 2012.
http://www.readingisthewayup.org/
National Geographic: International Photography Contest for Kids
The National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids invites children to enter their photographs in four categories: animals, people, scenery, and humor. Maximum award: 16.1-megapixel digital camera; an 8GB memory card; a copy of the books National Geographic Kids Almanac 2013, Weird But True 4, Everything Dogs, and Ultimate Weird But True.
Eligibility: legal residents of the United States between the ages of 6 and 14 on October 31, 2012.
Deadline: October 31, 2012.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Obama launched of the Equal Futures Partnership for Women in Science STEM

The Administration joined 12 international leaders for the launch of the Equal Futures Partnership, a new, multi-lateral initiative to break down barriers to women’s political participation and economic opportunity.  The U.S. contribution to Equal Futures includes a renewed commitment to opening more doors to high-quality education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for women and girls, who currently hold only one-quarter of all American jobs within these fields, despite making up nearly half of the total U.S. workforce.  These efforts build upon the President’s and First Lady’s calls for an “all-hands-on-deck” effort to break down barriers to attracting girls and retaining women in STEM fields.
Among the steps that the White House announced in support of Equal Futures are improving data collection and dissemination on women in science and technology, bolstering the available pool of skilled STEM mentors, encouraging research-based STEM teaching, and helping to connect women to online and mobile skills training.  Several leading businesses, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations have also made commitments to advance women and girls’ economic and political empowerment at home and abroad.  They are dedicating themselves to launching new and innovative programs to support women and girls in STEM fields, connecting women entrepreneurs to markets and supply chains, and supporting research to advance girls’ leadership.