New Mexico STEM Program Newsletter: Local Resources and Guide

New Mexico has two national laboratories that are among the most important science institutions in the world, a commercial spaceport that is open for business, and sky conditions that make it one of the best places on earth for astronomical observation. For New Mexico STEM teachers, the challenge is not finding local context. It is deciding which extraordinary resource to feature in each newsletter.

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory was founded in 1943 as the site of the Manhattan Project. Today it conducts research in nuclear science, materials science, climate modeling, and national security technology. It is one of the most scientifically productive institutions in the world. LANL runs teacher professional development programs, student research opportunities, and school outreach through its Science Education program. For northern New Mexico students especially, LANL is a direct local employer.

Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque works on nuclear weapons safety, energy technology, climate research, and national security systems. It employs engineers, scientists, and computer scientists across a broad range of technical fields. Sandia runs the Sandia Scholars program and other education outreach activities. For Albuquerque students, Sandia is one of the city's major employers and an accessible STEM career destination.

Spaceport America and commercial space

Spaceport America in Sierra County is the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic has operated there for space tourism flights. The commercial space industry around Spaceport America creates aerospace engineering, operations, and technology careers in New Mexico. The NM Space Grant Consortium supports student research and scholarships connected to the space industry.

Dark skies and astronomical research

New Mexico's high altitude and clear skies make it one of the best astronomical observing sites in the country. The Very Large Array radio telescope near Socorro is one of the world's most powerful and conducts research on phenomena from black holes to cosmic rays. Apache Point Observatory near Cloudcroft supports several major astronomical surveys. For astronomy units, New Mexico has direct local connections to world-class telescope operations.

Template: New Mexico STEM newsletter excerpt

"This semester our physics class is studying nuclear science and materials research, topics that are active research areas at both Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories right here in New Mexico. We have a researcher from Sandia visiting in February to talk about careers in national laboratory science. We are also applying for a student research program at LANL for interested juniors and seniors. Students who want to apply should speak to their science teacher by the end of this month."

New Mexico STEM competitions

The New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair connects to ISEF. Science Olympiad NM runs state competitions. FIRST Robotics New Mexico teams compete in regional events. The NM Math League runs competitions throughout the year. The New Mexico Technology Student Association has active chapters. Naming competition timelines and deadlines in your newsletters gives families and students advance notice to plan participation.

Daystage makes it easy to communicate the extraordinary New Mexico STEM landscape to families throughout the school year in a clear, organized way.