FSU InSPIRE Extends Interactive Facility Tours for Manufacturing Month, Plus STEAM Panel and Speed Networking that Links Education to Industry
Friday, October 3 Kicks Off Activities Highlighting Tech Careers in Advanced Manufacturing
Florida State University’s InSPIRE, the Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education, is participating in several events that highlight regional manufacturing capabilities to help improve awareness of high tech, high paying career paths in Northwest Florida. As the region gears up for transformational growth, these activities help promote the significant work happening locally plus the next generation advancements in manufacturing.
“These events are a continuation of the professional learning courses InSPIRE presented in the Gulf Coast counties over the summer, in which robotics and artificial intelligence-driven curriculum was introduced to educators,” said Carrie Meyers, InSPIRE Co-Director of STEM Outreach, Education and Workforce Development. “With the anticipated industry growth, our region is undergoing an exciting evolution and we’re helping teachers prepare their students for the rising demands in industry, education and the trades.”
InSPIRE is working with FloridaMakes and FLATE (The Florida Advanced Technological Education Center) to promote the advanced manufacturing work that is prospering in Northwest Florida and engage students to spark interest.
“Choose Your Adventure” Interactive Tours
InSPIRE will organize two virtual manufacturing facility tours, providing students and families with experiences that are uncommon in traditional educational settings. These videos will be embedded in educational choose your own adventure type interactive resources to allow student choice in determining how they explore the facility virtually. The InSPIRE team will also create student challenges and activities based on the content and AM facility for students to explore. Students can choose to accept the challenge, and their submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts including industry partners. Winners will receive a pizza party for their classroom and a special recognition.
These virtual tours will be based on FSU InSPIRE’s partners including Fort Walton Machining, a leader in the manufacturing and assembly of custom designed, precision machined parts, and Maritech Machine, the first FSU InSPIRE advanced manufacturing node featuring two state-of-the-art metal additive manufacturing systems. Panama City-based Maritech includes a 21,000 square foot facility situated on a two-and-a-half-acre industrial parcel. Fort Walton Machining’s manufacturing division is housed in a 65,000 square foot facility that covers four acres and employs more than 140 professionals.
S.T.E.A.M. Night in Santa Rosa
A panel of industry experts will discuss breakthroughs, career pathways, upcoming challenges and more in Santa Rosa county on October 21 during a STEAM Community Event at Holley-Navarre Intermediate School. Guest panelists include Carlos Sinhori of Pensacola-based Blue Wind Technology, currently a top contender in the Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition, Jore Whiten of Pensacola-based Cytiva, a part of Danaher, a global science and technology leader, and Mark Desoi of smart factory manufacturing execution systems at GE Vernova. Joining them will be InSPIRE’s Senior Research and Project Engineer for Aerospace, Chase Foster. Connections will be made between school curriculum and opportunities in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
FAST Conference: Empowering Teachers, Inspiring Students: Science Transforms
InSPIRE will speak to FAST, the Florida Association of Science Teachers, conference attendees in Orlando, Florida on how educating teachers throughout Northwest Florida can transform their students’ understanding of high-tech advancements in artificial intelligence and its influence in career and workforce readiness. On October 23 and 24, FSU InSPIRE Co-Directors of STEM Outreach, Education and Workforce Development, Carrie Meyers and Jim Reynolds, will present two sessions with Specialists in STEM and Curriculum Development, Robert Hanna and Zaida McGinley: “Co-Designing with AI: Empowering Science Educators for the Future of Learning” and “AI-Savvy Science Classrooms: Teaching Critical Thinking in the Age of AI.”
Speed Networking in Santa Rosa: Manufacturers & Educators
InSPIRE is working with FLATE and FloridaMakes together with Coordinator of STEAM Innovation at Santa Rosa County Schools to bring Speed Networking to Santa Rosa schools. On November 17, educators will meet one on one with regional manufacturers for a few minutes to help develop a professional relationship. Follow-up industry tours, mentorships, classroom visits, and more can then be initiated to help connect viable careers in manufacturing with educational pathways.
“Research shows us that young people’s career pathways are formed very early and that opportunities to engage with the real-world professionals is vital for young students, particularly those at risk of disengagement,” said FloridaMakes NW Florida Regional Director, Jolee Martin. “Early exposure to possible career pathways helps students make informed decisions about their futures. Every engaged teacher can affect the career choices of hundreds of students. These events that connect educators to industry can have a very positive impact on student trajectories, teacher achievements, talent pipelines and future career development.”
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About FSU InSPIRE
The Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education (InSPIRE) is accelerating breakthroughs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. At the core of this effort are dedicated partners working together to establish Northwest Florida as a national center of innovation, driving regional economic growth. Facilities are in development for end-to-end production, aero-testing and immersive training in STEM. Local, regional, and national members of an industry alliance are embedding employees at InSPIRE, collaborating with researchers and faculty from FSU, its partners, and business and community leaders to develop and productionize aerospace, defense, and energy solutions, while offering hands-on learning to students and aspiring engineers in Northwest Florida. FSU InSPIRE launched with an initial grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc.
About FloridaMakes
FloridaMakes is the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in the state of Florida. The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. FloridaMakes’ services are designed to help further goals for profitability and growth. Depending on each company’s needs and goals, that may include helping solve a specific manufacturing problem, increase productivity, adopt best practices, determine how core capabilities might be used to enter a new market, or enhance processes through appropriate advanced technology or training.
About FLATE
The Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), a National Science Foundation Center of Excellence in high-technology manufacturing, is the go-to organization for manufacturing and advanced technical education, best practices and resources supporting the high-performance skilled workforce for Florida’s manufacturing sectors. FLATE provides exemplary industry partnerships, workforce opportunity, and educational synergy throughout the state of Florida by connecting industry and workforce needs to educational endeavors at many community and state colleges.