Florida A&M University (FAMU) will host the Tenth Biennial Education and Science Forum Thursday and Friday, April 8-9.
The virtual event, themed “Two Decades of Excellence: Nurturing Future Leaders in STEM,” is presented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI).
The forum is hosted by the FAMU-based NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Coastal Ecosystems (CCME) and its director, FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. The two-day event will feature oral and poster presentations by students, faculty, NOAA scientists and managers, and invited speakers. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
“Florida A&M University and the NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems are honored to host this important education and science forum once again. The theme of this year’s forum reflects our commitment to prepare STEM leaders who will make impacts for generations to come,” Robinson said. “HBCUs and minority serving institutions are sources of largely untapped STEM talent. This forum gives students at these institutions an opportunity to showcase their talent and to hear from professionals about how to prepare for the challenges ahead.”
The keynote speaker for the Opening Plenary Session at 1 p.m. Thursday is former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, who currently serves as Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. Jackson led the EPA during the Obama administration from 2009 to 2013.
Also scheduled to deliver remarks during the opening session will be President Robinson, Benjamin Friedman, deputy undersecretary for operations performing the duties of undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, and Louisa Koch, NOAA’s director of education. Friedman serves as the agency’s chief operating officer and is responsible for the day-to-day management of NOAA’s national and international operations for oceanic and atmospheric services, research, and coastal and marine stewardship.
“NOAA’s best asset is its people, and the Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions directly supports the development of a diverse, talented workforce ready to tackle our biggest environmental challenges,” said Friedman. “I look forward to continued collaboration between NOAA, FAMU and EPP/MSI student participants as we advance opportunities for tomorrow’s science leaders.”
The forum will emphasize 20 years of successful partnerships between NOAA EPP/MSI and the Cooperative Science Centers (CSC) that have resulted in the training and graduation of hundreds of students, with a focus on students from traditionally underrepresented minority communities, in science fields relevant to NOAA’s mission. Registration is free.
To register for the event, visit https://ccme.famu.edu/eppforum2021/registration/.
To view the schedule, visit https://ccme.famu.edu/eppforum2021/schedule/
