Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC)

🧬 What an AMAZING day for science at yesterday’s CBAS Scholars Day at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)! 💥 We had a blast teaming with the College of Basic and Applied Sciences for an incredible poster competition showcasing over 100 student presentations—52% of which were undergraduate research! 🙌 A huge shout-out to MTSU's Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry for bringing their A-game, with nearly half of the participants hailing from these powerhouse departments! 👏🧪 Our very own Kevin Ragland and Aspen Malone were part of the judging panel, bringing the TSEC spirit to life. 🔥 It was also fantastic to see some of our former faculty stars, Sarah Bleiler-Baxter and Grant Gardner—back in action and actively supporting the research community. Here’s to the future of STEM! 🌟 #ScienceRocks #ScholarsDay #Research #STEMcommunity #MTSU #FutureScientists

🌟 Celebrating Excellence in #STEM on International Women's Day 🌟 This International Women's Day, we’re proud to highlight five incredible female faculty partners who play a vital role in advancing research and innovation at the Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC). Their dedication, expertise, and passion for education inspire us all to break barriers and pave the way for future generations of women. 👏 A special thank you to: Mary Ellen Sloane Tiffany Rogers Heather Green Jaishree Ranganathan Katy Hosbein Their work not only strengthens our research center but also empowers the next generation of women to thrive in STEM fields. 💪 #IWD2025 #WomenInSTEM #InternationalWomensDay #ResearchExcellence #WomenLead

🌟 Celebrating Women Who Inspire 🌟 As part of our #InternationalWomensDay celebrations, we want to highlight Ashlee Schafer, whose journey has been deeply influenced by two incredible women in her life. We want to hear about the women who have inspired you. Who are the women who’ve made a difference in your life and helped you grow? #IWD2025 #WomenInspire #Strength #Resilience #Empowerment #RoleModels

✨ Honoring Women Who Inspire Us Every Day at TSEC ✨ The celebration doesn’t stop here! 🌟 As we continue our International Women’s Day festivities, today we want to shine a spotlight on the incredible women who lead with passion, creativity, and determination in every role across TSEC. From leadership to the field, and everywhere in between, their contributions are truly invaluable. We’re so proud to have a team of powerhouse women who continuously break barriers, support each other, and empower those around them. Here's to the trailblazers, the dreamers, and the doers. Let’s keep lifting each other up, not just today, but every day! 💜🌍 #InternationalWomensDay #WomenEmpoweringWomen #TSEC #CelebratingWomen

✨ Celebrating Women at TSEC for International Women’s Day! ✨ As we look ahead to International Women’s Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible, fierce women who are the backbone of TSEC. 💪💫 Why limit it to just one day? We’re honoring these amazing women with a full week of recognition, highlighting the incredible support and dedication they bring to our daily operations and mission. To kick things off, let’s shine a spotlight on some of our awesome office gals! Meet: 🔹 Lindsay Randolph 🔹 Kyra Ippolito 🔹 Stephanie Figueroa Stay tuned as we continue to share more about these inspiring women all week long! 🎉💕 Join us in celebrating these incredible women and all the trailblazers in our #STEM community! 💫 #IWD2025 #WomenInLeadership #CelebrateWomen #Women #WomeninSTEM #InternationalWomensDay

𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂 6𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓? 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒓? 🤔 This year’s Science Olympiad Tennessee Regional Tournament took place at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where students showcased their knowledge and creativity across a range of exciting #STEM challenges. From testing anatomy and physiology skills to decrypting advanced cyphers, building robots, and designing structures, the competition was intense and inspiring! We are beyond proud of all the participants and incredibly thankful to the volunteers, staff, and faculty who made this event a success. 🙌 This event aligns perfectly with TSEC’s mission—encouraging partnerships, promoting STEM disciplines, and engaging both the university and local communities. A special shout-out to our Division B (middle school) and Division C (high school) first-place winners: Page Middle School and Ravenwood High School! 🎉 We’re cheering you on as you advance to the State competition at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville! #STEM #FutureInnovators #Teamwork #Science #STEMeducation #MTSU #TSEC #MiddleSchool #HighSchool #ScienceChampions

We regret to inform you that the 2025 SSERC Conference scheduled for January 10-11 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has been 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. The decision was made with the safety of all participants in mind. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝. We deeply appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will share updates regarding future events and opportunities to connect as they become available. 

Countdown to the 19th Annual Southeastern STEM Education Conference! In just two days, we’ll be heading to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for the highly anticipated #SSERC2025! 🎉 The excitement is building as we finalize preparations for this signature event. We're thrilled to hear from all the brilliant authors sharing their cutting-edge #STEMeducation research. Topics will span 🌍 classroom effectiveness, 🔬 retention in science majors, 🧑🔬 science identity, 💬 science communication, 🧑🏫 student engagement, and even the role of 🤖 AI in education. A huge thank you to our generous partners for making this event possible! 🙏 Your support empowers collaboration and drives innovation in STEM teaching. Thank you to: ➡️ Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)'s College of Basic and Applied Sciences and Mathematics and Science Education PhD Program, ➡️ University of Alabama at Birmingham's College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, ➡️ Southern Research, JoVE, Elsevier ➡️ ACS Local Section Alabama, Scholars Strategy Network Alabama, ➡️ East Tennessee State University's Center of Excellence in STEM Education and Clemmer College of Education and Human Development. We are also honored to welcome Dr. Michael Saag as our keynote speaker! 🌟 Dr. Saag, Associate Dean for Global Health at UAB, Director of the UAB Center for AIDS Research, and a leading voice in the fight against infectious diseases, will share his powerful insights. His memoir, Positive: One Doctor’s Encounters with Death, Life, and the U.S. Healthcare System, offers a profound reflection on healthcare and the human experience, mirroring the spirit of this conference: to challenge, innovate, and collaborate for a better future. 📚💡 Stay tuned for updates and join us as we advance the future of STEM education! ✨🔬🌱

🌟 Celebrating #ComputerScienceEducation Week! 🌟 As we reflect on the exciting developments in the world of tech, let’s revisit the insightful presentation by Jaishree Ranganathan, Lisa Swart, and Sam Zaza on the role of AI in the Classroom. 🤖📚 How do we prepare students and educators for a future dominated by AI? Here are some key takeaways: 🔹 AI can enhance teaching and learning 🔹 Industries are increasingly seeking candidates with AI expertise 🔹 AI integration requires ethical considerations, thoughtful planning, and constant adaptation 🔹 AI is here to stay! But with new technology comes new challenges: ⚠️ Energy consumption of data centers ⚠️ Academic integrity risks ⚠️ Data privacy concerns ⚠️ Historical context distortion ⚠️ Rise of misinformation (deepfakes) ⚠️ Copyright issues So, how do we move forward with AI? In 2022, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) launched an #AI initiative focused on policy, pedagogy, and research. It’s a proactive approach to navigating the AI landscape. 🔍 Should other institutions take a similar path? #AIinEducation #TechForGood #AIethics #EdTech #AIeducation #FutureofLearning #HigherEd #AIInnovation

As 2024 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who make our mission possible. 🌟 To our faculty partners: Your unwavering dedication inspires and empowers others to transform STEM education. 🤝 To our research partners: Your collaboration has led to remarkable achievements this year, and we’re excited to carry this momentum into 2025! 💼 To our center’s staff and student workers: You are the backbone of our operations, working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us thriving. Your contributions are invaluable. This Thanksgiving, we celebrate not just the season but the incredible community we are privileged to work with. Happy Thanksgiving from the Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC) P.S. We had a blast at our potluck and learned we have some brushing up to do on Thanksgiving trivia! After a close tie, it all came down to one question: Which U.S. President first pardoned a turkey? 🦃