RDA Hunter’s Smart Workforce STEM Conference will feature a great line up of national and international speakers who will discuss how the Hunter can drive innovation and economic development through effective education and industry partnerships. Meet two of our speakers, Professor Rodger Bybee and Sally-Ann Williams …
PROFESSOR RODGER BYBEE
(USA) STEM Academic, author, teacher
The Case for STEM Education in the USA and Australia – Challenges and Opportunities
Rodger W. Bybee is chair of the Science Forum and Science Expert Group, and Questionnaire Panel Consultant for PISA 2006. Until 2007, Dr. Bybee was executive director of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), a non-profit organization in Colorado Springs, Colorado that develops curriculum materials, provides professional development for the science education community, and conducts research and evaluation on curriculum reform. Prior to joining BSCS, he was executive director of the National Research Council’s Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education (CSMEE), in Washington, D.C. Between 1985 and 1995, he participated in the development of the National Science Education Standards, and in 1992-1995 he chaired the content working group of that National Research Council project.
Dr. Bybee has written widely, publishing in both education and psychology. He is co-author of a leading textbook titled Teaching Secondary School Science: Strategies for Developing Scientific Literacy. His recent books include Achieving Scientific Literacy: From Purposes to Practices and Learning Science and the Science of Learning.
Over the years, Dr. Bybee has received awards as a Leader of American Education and an Outstanding Educator in America and in 1979 was Outstanding Science Educator of the Year. In 1989 he was recognized as one of the 100 outstanding alumni in the history of the University of Northern Colorado. In April 1998, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) presented Dr. Bybee with the NSTA’s Distinguished Service to Science Education Award. In 2001, The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) presented him with the first AIBS Education Award. In 2007, he received the Robert H. Carleton Award, NSTA’s highest honor, for national leadership in science education.
SALLY-ANN WILLIAMS
(AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND) ENGINEERING COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH MANAGER, GOOGLE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Careers of the Future – CS + X: Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators and Problem Solvers with Skills for the Jobs of the Future
Sally-Ann Williams is the Engineering Community & Outreach Manager for Google Australia.
She is responsible for a broad portfolio of programs including leading Google’s efforts in CS and STEM education & outreach (K-12), research collaborations with universities and entrepreneurship and startup engagement.
In her role leading Google’s CS/STEM education engagement she manages over 55 partnerships & programs designed to inspire students, equip teachers, and connect the community to the possibilities careers in CS can lead to. Most recently this work has included national implementation strategies to support ACARA’s Digital Technology curriculum and help position Australia as a nation of innovators.
In her role with the startup community she manages partnerships and collaborates with co-working spaces, incubators and accelerators, universities and the public sector to build and grow the ecosystem.
Prior to joining Google 9 years ago, Sally-Ann worked at several Australian tertiary institutions in a range of academic and academic administration roles spanning executive education, public sector management, research and postgraduate degrees and tertiary management. A life long learner she holds an undergraduate and research masters degree and several other postgraduate qualifications.