Michael Lach, special assistant for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education, will participate in the 2011 National Academies workshop “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Development of Regional Innovation Environments” on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery in Madison, Wis. The three-day workshop, which begins today, Sept. 20, and runs through Thursday, Sept. 22, will explore how states and regions are working to strengthen their innovation experiments in education, research and partnerships. Lach will address the session on “Why K-12 STEM Education Matters in the Current Economy.” He will highlight the Obama Administration’s efforts to promote STEM education nationwide.
The workshop will highlight information, ideas and innovative examples that are crucial for state and regional initiatives in topics such as K-12 education; higher education and research; partnerships among government, universities and industry; and technology and entrepreneurship. Participants will discuss strategies for strengthening innovation environments and fostering the development of a thriving knowledge-based economy.