Today, the State of Illinois just announced a "Race to the Top" lunch meeting to discuss STEM partnerships.  I will be attending this important forum. In case you have not heard, the Illinois Business Roundtable (IBRT), in cooperation with the Illinois State Board of Education and other partners, are hosting a meeting of business and industry leaders to brief them on plans to establish statewide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) partnerships, called STEM Learning Exchanges, as proposed in the Illinois Race to the Top (RTTT) proposal. The meeting will involve a discussion of the process to organize these partnerships in nine STEM areas:

(1) Agriculture and Natural Resources

(2) Architecture and Construction

(3) Energy

(4) Finance

(5) Health Sciences

(6) Information Technology

(7) Manufacturing

(8) Research and Development

(9) Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

The announcement about this meeting came out on March 1, 2010. I would encourage any women in STEM professions to join this important forum. I will be going to this important event. I understand that Illinois representatives will provide an update on the RTTT proposal as well as discuss the process that will be used to establish STEM Learning Exchanges including the selection of lead entities and fiscal agents. Additional outreach meetings will be held with business and industry organizations as well as other Learning Exchange partners including education partners. In my opinion, this is exactly the kind of leadership we need at the State level to promote women in STEM professions. Tricia Leezer (tleezer@isbe.net) is the main contact for this.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!