Mobius awarded STEM education grant

A Washington nonprofit organization announced $1.2 million in new grants to encourage better science, technology, engineering and math teaching. The grants announced Wednesday by Washington STEM will help teachers in classrooms around the state. They range from money to help preschool kids learn about science and math at home, to bigger efforts to improve science and math teaching in the Tacoma, Renton, Highline and several smaller school districts. A $9,500 grant awarded to Mobius Science Center in Spokane is targeted at bringing more women into the STEM fields. “While women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent of STEM jobs,” said Paul Queary, Washington STEM spokesman. “The Connect with STEM project aims to close the gender gap in STEM by targeting underlying issues including social and cultural stereotypes that deter girls’ participation in STEM.” Mobius will collaborate with the Girl Scouts to pilot an out-of-school program for 50 middle-school girls. Spokane Public Schools received a $20,300 grant and will work with Mobius to redesign the school day to involve more STEM projects. Student projects will be showcased at Mobius.