RVC's CSTL Public Visioning Meeting for W. Hempstead STEM Center

Rockville Centre, NY, February 20, 2018 – In preparation for a new community STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Center to be built in West Hempstead, Rockville Centre-headquartered The Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL), a not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy, will hold a special Visioning event open to the public on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 3 p.m. at the West Hempstead Library, 500 Hempstead Ave, West Hempstead, NY 11552.

Visioning meetings are designed to give community members the important opportunity to contribute and provide their ideas and input relating to the design and programs that will be offered. All ideas are welcome and encouraged. Each STEM center will be different and designed based on this vital community input.

"It is critical that STEM centers be created to encourage young people from Long Island to pursue careers in science technology and engineering and math," says Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, Director of The Center for Science Teaching & Learning. "Currently, the United States is far behind other developed nations when it comes to science and math. We need to act now to make improvements and motivate young people to go into these important careers. The new STEM centers will educate, motivate and, through hands-on learning, encourage young people to explore new areas of study."

The new West Hempstead STEM Center will be funded from a recently announced grant from New York State. Approximately $520,000 in funding for several STEM centers was received by CSTL as part of Round VII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

The team from CSTL is currently managing the development and construction of eight STEM centers on Long Island. Centers will be located in West Hempstead, Franklin Square, Carle Place, South Huntington, Westbury, Central Islip, Wyandanch and Brentwood. These centers will have equipment like 3D printers, robot building equipment, scientific experiments, tools and technology which will be used for educational programs. Centers will be staffed by trained educators and STEM experts. Each center has the mission of showing young people and members of the community how STEM education is a pathway for young people to higher education and successful professional careers.

For additional information about the Feb. 26 CSTL West Hempstead STEM Center community visioning meeting, please call the West Hempstead Library at (516) 481-6591 or visit CSTL on the web at www.cstl.org.

The Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL) is a not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy. CSTL develops programs for people of all ages and utilizes inquiry-based learning as its foundation for program development. This year marks the first for which CSTL is serving as the administrator of the Clean Tech Competition. For more information, visit www.cleantechcompetition.org. For more information about CSTL visit www.ctsl.org.
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