The Meta, formerly known as Facebook, data center in Huntsville is awarding $90,000 in grants to area schools as part of its annual community action grants initiative. Altogether, Meta is donating $217,950 to nine entities in the Huntsville area for 2023. And since announcing plans for the data center in 2018, grants have eclipsed $2.5 million. “The Meta Data Center Community Action Grants program was created to address needs in Madison County by putting the power of technology to use for community benefit, connecting people online or off and improving STEM education,” Meta said in the announcement. Here are the grants and the projects they will help fund:
Source: https://www.al.com/news/2023/03/metas-huntsville-data-center-gives-90000-to-area-schools.html
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Alabama Science Festival hosts its third annual 'STEAMfest' to inspire both adults and the next generation.
Author: Sedona Meadows
Published: 12:45 AM CDT October 30, 2022 Updated: 12:46 AM CDT October 30, 2022 HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The world of science is huge and for many kids it's all about finding what intrigues them. The Alabama Science Festival hosted their third annual 'STEAMfest' in Huntsville, sparking curiosity in the next generation. Kathryn McCown and Joe Iacuzzo are the founders and directors of the festival. "If you can think it or dream it, in science, it's probably here today," McCown said. Iacuzzo added, "the whole purpose is to meet people here who can talk to you about how much fun it is and the opportunities, the endless opportunities that a STEM education can give you." They aim to inspire both adults and the next generation through celebration of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, hence the name 'STEAMfest.' "It's really the community that's supporting us. It's the companies, the people, the volunteers….They have all been fantastic and giving. They all want to be a part of our mission of showcasing what a stem education and stem learning can offer to anybody, not just young people," Iacuzzo said. Marilene van Beek, the event producer for the Alabama Science Festival, said, "there's so many jobs out there as well. And to be introduced to them at a young age, they can guide them through college, which path they want to go and see what they really like and what they're passionate about." Speaking of passions, a local all-girls robotics team, called the 'Nerdettes' are working to get more girls involved in stem. Emily King, a member of the Nerdettes, shared, "we've been competing as an FTC team for about four years now, and just this past year we got to advance to world competition in Houston, Texas, and compete with 160 other teams from around the world." Megan Quinn, another member of the Nerdettes, said, "I feel like robotics has really helped me to just get out there and to see what all parts of STEM there are. So I would have never gotten to experience mechanical, which I probably will be experiencing a lot in my future. But I would have never gotten to experience that without robotics." STEAMfest explores many different types of science such as: marine life, dinosaurs, photography, archeology. And of course, while hosted here in the Rocket City, they can't forget about space. Retiree's of Marshall Space Flight Center join forces with the youth who will eventually lead the way toward new discoveries. "There are people there who built the space shuttle and designed it, and it's just incredible to come in there to talk to you, to share their knowledge, their history. And that's something that should never be lost," Iacuzzo said. Article Source
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