Politics. On Point.

It isn't out of the ordinary for a student's science fair project to go awry at some point while a young scientist-in-training tries to perfect his or her project. What is definitely unusual, unheard of, and definitely out of the ordinary is possibly getting a felony charge when it does. Kiera Wilmot.  Expelled high school science student. Enter Kiera Wilmot , a sixteen year-old budding science student with plans to further pursue courses in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM).  While attending Florida's Bartow High School, Wilmot's science project exploded and law enforcement officials were brought into the picture.  While no one was injured, Wilmot was charged with 'detonating a bottle of explosive materials on the school grounds'. News sources reported that Wilmot was charged with a felony, a charge that could ruin her young career as a student trying to get into college. Attorney for Wilmot, Larry Hardaway , claims th...

On Tuesday, April 24, the White House Council on Women and Girls will host an event featuring a panel of trailblazing women in STEM fields, moderated by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.  The panelists will share their experiences and encourage young women to follow in their footsteps – or blaze a trail of their own.  This event will also include the very first public screening of “Girls in STEM,” a videofeaturing girls who participated in the 2012 White House Science Fair.  Women and girls continue to be significantly underrepresented in STEM fields.  This trend starts early and comes at a serious cost to both the career prospects of our young women and the success of our economy.  By ensuring that women and girls receive the exposure, encouragement and support they need to enter and succeed in STEM fields, this country can benefit from the full range and diversity of its talent. The event, featuring Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator, Dr. Cady Coleman, NASA Ast...

President launches marshmallows. President Obama hosted his second Science Fair at the White House today, recognizing students from across the country for their innovation and contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). President Obama reviews a robot that plays soccer.  White House photo. Joking that their were robots running around the house, the president said, "I still don't know how they managed to get through the medal detectors". Among the science fair creations was a robot dubbed "Skype on Wheels" created by fourteen-year old  student Benjamin Hylak of West Grove, Pennsylvania. His bot is made out of a trash can with a computer monitor on top.  The robot was invented to help nursing home patients connect with family their family members. "This is what we should be talking about", said President Obama. The president, natually, tried out one of the science projects - a marshmallow compressor, launching a...

 President Obama looks over science projects from the winners of the White House Science Fair. Today, the President hosted the first-ever White House Science Fair celebrating the winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions.  The President  viewed exhibits of these students’ work, ranging from breakthrough basic research to new inventions, and followed by remarks to an audience of students, science educators and business leaders on the importance of STEM education to our country’s economic future.  Said President Obama, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too,” the President said. In attendance: Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Energy;  Director John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Direc...

White House Press Release Today, President Barack Obama announced a new goal of recruiting 10,000 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teachers over the next two years. This announcement will move the country forward on the Obama Administration’s ambitious goal of preparing 100,000 STEM teachers over the next decade . “When I came into office, I set a goal of moving our nation from the middle to the top of the pack in math and science education", said President Obama. "Strengthening STEM education is vital to preparing our students to compete in the 21st century economy and we need to recruit and train math and science teachers to support our nation’s students.” As America’s students lag in math and science when compared to peers around the world, President Obama has made improving STEM education one of his top priorities. President Obama has identified three overarching priorities for STEM education, necessary for laying a new foundation for America’s...