Prairie State Wire

As the heat settles in for the summer, educators are encouraged to use July to rest and reflect on the past school year. This period offers an opportunity to review teaching strategies and share expertise through professional learning communities supported by organizations like the Learning Technology Center Services or conferences such as IDEAcon. Events such as CS PD Week, STEM Career Exploration and Symposium, and the NIUSTEAM STEAM Learning Series provide additional avenues for rejuvenation.

Educators can explore science resources through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) Division of Education. IDNR sponsors workshops under the ENTICE program (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education), offering professional development hours. Online learning sessions and local workshops at colleges and universities present opportunities for inspiration ahead of the next school year. Emerging technologies like Quantum Research are also highlighted as areas for exploration.

NASA has featured astronauts currently in space, while Science Buddies Blog offers STEM activities themed around Independence Day. Argonne National Laboratory's Aurora supercomputer marks a significant advancement in scientific innovation. "Take a look at your smartphone," states an expert, "The processor inside runs at about a gigahertz... Imagine a computer operating at a billion times that speed." The Aurora exascale supercomputer exemplifies this leap, performing quintillion operations per second, crucial for simulations that drive scientific progress across various fields.

The Chicago Quantum Exchange recently partnered with FBI Chicago through Bloch Quantum Tech Hub to secure quantum technology assets in the region. A symposium held at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory focused on potential threats and fostering cooperation between law enforcement and tech developers.

Additionally, a coalition led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange received a $1 million NSF Engines Development Award to enhance partnerships and workforce development plans in Chicagoland’s quantum ecosystem. The award aims to translate lab research into practical applications while training workers for quantum economy roles.

Illinois is emerging as a national hub for quantum computing due to strategic investments led by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and partners like Intersect Illinois and P33.

Upcoming events include Illinois Computer Science PD Week from July 8-12 in Peoria, which will feature curriculum engagement from top CS trainers including Code.org; "A Beginner’s Guide to AI for Educators" on July 24 in Washington; Scratch Conference 2024 on July 24 online; "Smart and Savvy Online Learning in the AI Era" on July 25; STEM Career Exploration and Symposium on July 26 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Wednesday Webinar with SMART Technologies on July 31 online; IDEAcon from February 17-19, 2025; DigLitCon Digital Literacy Conference from September 12-13 both online and at NIU Naperville Campus; NCTM Research Conference from September 25-27 in Chicago.

The Illinois Innovation Voucher Program aims to foster collaboration between small enterprises and higher education institutions by providing vouchers that facilitate access to cutting-edge labs, equipment, industry research experts, driving innovation across Illinois.

In related news, USGS released initiatives aimed at raising awareness about hurricane hazards through quizzes and combining art with science to address environmental impacts such as uranium mining in Grand Canyon region.

Code.org introduced Music Lab where students can combine music creation with coding skills using pre-recorded melodies within an accessible block-based environment developed alongside Amazon Future Engineer.

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