Microsoft Returns To Sponsor The USA Science & Engineering Festival
This is a guest post by Donna Woodall, the east coast lead for Microsoft U.S. Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Microsoft is back at the 2nd Annual USA Science & Engineering Festival to be held at the Washington Convention Center in DC on April 28-29, 2012. As an "Einsteinium Sponsor" this year, we'll have a gigantic area including our Worldwide Telescope display, Xbox and Kinect applications to health, education, and the broad public sector, a VIP lounge (at this festival, every science loveris a VIP), and more.
Why are we returning as a festival sponsor? Because we love this event! Last year, hundreds of thousands of people came to be inspired by technology and innovation, and we want to be a part of that excitement again this year. Microsoft is a household name for its computer software,consumer gaming,online experiences like MSN and Hotmail, and more. But we're also a terrific global citizen. Microsoft, through my colleagues and I, conduct powerful outreach initiatives and programs which help people around the U.S. and all over the planet.
Microsoft's outreach touches people of every kind - students in Chicago, farmers in South Africa, and entrepreneurs in the Czech republic - and in each case we play a small role in helping them realize their full potential.
No different with the USA Science and Engineering Festival. I think many of us can remember a time when we were inspired by a special teacher, a key mentor, or a good friend, and that moment was a turning point in a journey that led us to where we are today. For some children, this Festival will be that turning point. And who knows, maybe exploring the universe through our Worldwide Telescope or experiencing the hands-free "natural user interface" of Kinect (Selena Gomez not included) will inspire them for a career in science, technology, engineering, or math.
We're not the only game in town at the Festival - far from it. This is the largest celebration of science in the U.S.! There will be over 3,000 exhibits, over 100 stage shows, and over 30 VIP presentations. And science celebrities will be there too, names like Bill Nye the Science Guy, Adam Savage from MythBusters, and even a little Hollywood thrown in with Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory.
We do a lot of engagements in our citizenship and public affairs group at Microsoft. Here's a brief rundown of how other key Microsoft outreach initiatives are making an impact nationally and around the world:
- Using computer games as interactive teaching and tools. Microsoft has launched a computer video program called Kinect for Xbox 360 which is being used by teachers globally to help stimulate students' proficiency in such areas as STEM, language, and even physical fitness.
- Fighting high school dropout rates. Microsoft is making a difference at with high schools with high dropout and truancy rates by introducing technology designed to keep students motivated in STEM and other disciplines.
- Hands-on after school initiatives. For instance, a partnership between Microsoft, the Tiger Woods Foundation and teachers from DC Schools is being used to excite kids in STEM through hands-on afterschool exploration in technology and career preparation.
- Supporting U.S. Veterans. Through its vast resources in technology, Microsoft is helping Armed Services veterans, including those recently returning from overseas, obtain technology skills training, job placement, career counseling and other services.
- Encouraging minorities and females in technology. Microsoft's Diversity Initiative requires its top corporate officials to support diversity in the workplace and Microsoft also sponsors summer camps in technology for female students to encourage them to pursue STEM fields.
See you at the Microsoft booth at the USA Science & Engineering Festival this upcoming weekend!
Image from Collegehumor.