Learn more about our newest board member Barbara Bianchihere.
Read an article written by Board Member Judy Reinhartz, PhD “STEM: Let's Go a'Wandering! The outdoors offers endless prospects for exploration, Imagination and creativity, with built-in props and natural Lesson plans. This article appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Tumbleweeds (English only).
Read another article by Judy Reinhartz for the same issue entitled "Counting on Literature - Combining literacy with math education doubles opportunities for learning." (English version), (Spanish version).
January 2020
Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B)
N3B joined the Santa Fe Alliance for Science as a new partner to help support its Adopt-A-School Program. Our Adopt-A-School Program, launched in 2018, was created to enhance STEM learning for Santa Fe students by linking a team of our volunteers with a school all year to engage students in STEM exploration and enrichment activities, both during and after school.
On February 8, 2019, the Santa Fe Public Schools held their annual STEM Expo and awards ceremony in partnership with the Santa Fe Alliance for Science at the Santa Fe Community College. Students who placed 1stor 2nd at their school science fair showcased their work in the morning and their projects were judged by volunteers from the Santa Fe Alliance for Science. In the evening, the student projects were on display for their families, teachers and community members to view their work.
Students at nearly every school received one of the five award categories: 1st-3rdplace, Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Choice Award. The winning projects are listed below:
The Santa Fe Alliance for Science announces a new slate of officers to its Board of Directors: Caren Shiozaki, President; Ginger Richardson, Vice-President; W. Bruce Johnson, Treasurer; Bruce Abell, Secretary. In addition Ken Prokuski has left the Board, and Judy Reinhartz has joined it.
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC joined the Santa Fe Alliance for Science (SFAFS) as a new sponsor of its Scientists in Schools program. This program aims to expand and strengthen STEM learning opportunities for Santa Fe students by linking the SFAFS volunteer network of scientists and engineers with students, teachers, and schools in Santa Fe in need of support.
Through the Scientists in Schools program, SFAFS volunteers engage about 2,500 kids each year in hands-on classroom science experiments and they judge student science fair projects, giving thousands of students a very unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with a “real scientist.”
“LANL’s support will help us to continue our work in the schools and provide awards to students who win at Expo. Their sponsorship is also doubled, thanks to a longtime supporter who has made a commitment to match up to $80,000 that we raise for the next two years.”
The Santa Fe Alliance for Science elected three new members to its Board of Directors at their November 18, 2016 meeting. The organization welcomes W. Bruce Johnson, Ken Prokuski, and Caren Shiozaki as new members of its Board of Directors.
Bruce recently retired as professor of accounting at the University of Iowa and relocated to Santa Fe last year. Bruce joined the Iowa accounting faculty in 1988 and served as Director of the RSM McGladrey Institute for Accounting Education and Research, Department Chair, and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. Previous faculty appointments include the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Wisconsin. Bruce’s extensive consulting and non-profit experience as well as his enthusiasm for our mission will be a great asset to our team.
Ken is a recently retired biotech executive from Silicon Valley who has lived in Santa Fe for about ten years, but has been visiting the area for much longer. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President Operation at Complete Genomics, a next generation whole genome sequencing service operation. Ken is currently working with small companies in New Mexico who are trying to grow, advising them in their acceleration phase, which comes after startup. He has strong interest in education, having come from a family of educators, and resonates with the work of the Alliance. Ken is an innovative thinker and has broad interests, enthusiasms, and energy that will complement the board.
Caren has a background in genetics and joined the Alliance in 2016 as a science fair judge. Caren is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for TMST, Inc., a mortgage company based in Santa Fe. She has extensive experience in the financial services and information technology industries. She’s currently Vice Chair on the international Board for SIM, a nonprofit professional association of IT Executives. She is also Past Chair of the board of Girls Inc. of Santa Fe, and now serves as their technology advisor.
7/7/2016
The Santa Fe Alliance for Science has appointed Diane Smogor as its new Executive Director.
Diane earned a B.S. in Community Health Education from the University of Illinois and has had extensive experience designing, implementing and managing a variety of community health programs. Her 26 years of experience has spanned from conducting worksite health promotion workshops, to coordinating school-based programs and working with community coalitions. As Vice President of a nonprofit organization in New Hampshire, she worked with many volunteers and community partners, wrote and managed grants, and led a statewide collaborative effort focused on lung disease. A native of Chicago, Diane is excited to work in Santa Fe, a place that feels like home to her. Diane enjoys cooking, playing volleyball, and exploring the many trails and canyons in the southwest with her husband and dog.
The Santa Fe Alliance for Science is excited to partner with the Santa Fe Indian School's Cafe Scientifique Teen Leaders for the second consecutive year to host a series of Science Cafes for Santa Fe high school students. These evening interactive presentations, which are held once a month during the school year at the Santa Fe Indian School, are open to any high school student. Each Café features a dynamic presenter, hands-on activities, free food and a raffle prize!
Upcoming Science Café Topics and Presenters
October 17, 2018- Natural Disasters: Fighting Wildfires with Sim Tables (Porfirio Chavarria & Stephen Guerin) October 24, 2018– Extreme Events (presenter TBD) November 14, 2018- Math Circles – Quantum Dots: reshaping how we use color and light (Hunter McDaniel, UbiQD, Inc.) January 16, 2018– AI, Ubiquitous computing, and Fake News: The Promise and Ethics of Machine Learning (Gary Goddard, LANL) February 13, 2019– Hantavirus, Rift Valley and Zika Fever (Carrie Manore, LANL) March 13, 2019– Epigenetics (Elena Giorgi and Karissa Sanbonmatsu, LANL) April 10, 2019– Adventures at the South Pole: The Ice Cube Project (Nicole Lloyd-Ronning, LANL)
If you would like to receive upcoming Science Café flyers, please email: [email protected].