The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is hosting an in-person event, ASEE: Preparing the Workforce for Industry 4.0, which will take place in Washington, D.C., on October 13-14, 2021. 

Engineering is at a crossroads. This includes its practice in the workplace—and how it’s taught in the classroom. New technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), nanofabrication, and the internet of things (IoT) have shifted the engineering landscape.

The event features a series of TED-like talks, along with industry and academic leaders, a member of the National Science Board, and other luminaries.

To learn more about the project and for details about registration and accommodations (including early-bird pricing), visit the ASEE Workforce 4.0 site. 

Exciting news - the newest ATE program solicitation is now available from the National Science Foundation! The focus of the new solicitation is the same as it’s been in years past in that it provides funds to advance the knowledge base related to technician education.

In this cycle, an estimated 45 to 80 standard and continuing grants will be made totaling approximately $75 million for 2022. Grants may be awarded in a wide variety of sizes and durations. The actual number of awards and sizes are subject to the availability of funds and quality of proposals.

To read about the important updates and revisions to this program solicitation, check out the most recent ATE Impacts blog.

The GeoTech Center is now accepting applications for the next round of the Geospatial Educators Certification (GeoEdC) program. Participants will be provided a $1,000 stipend for successful completion of the program. 

Applications are due by August 16, 2021.To learn more about GeoEdC and to apply, visit the GeoEdC hub site. Questions about the program should be addressed to Michael Ragan or Ken Yanow. 

Always a popular event in the ATE community calendar, the 2021 High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) will be held virtually this year on Wednesday and Thursday, July 21-22, starting at noon EDT. Community members wanting to attend will need to register either individually or as an institution.

The virtual conference will feature live keynote addresses by industry leaders and panel discussions, as well as a variety of “on-demand” pre-recorded sessions that will be available for six months after the conference. 

For further details about the conference, including the featured panel presentations and registration information, check out the ATE Impacts Blog post and visit the HI-TEC website.

As an advocate for your students with disabilities, it can be challenging to get into discussions with potential employers about providing workplace accommodations. Check out this tip sheet from DeafTEC and AccessATE on Educating the Employer for helpful hints and resources to give employers the information they need about the benefits and requirements that come with hiring persons with disabilities. 

This tip sheet covers workplace accommodations, safety, and confidentiality, and links to additional useful resources. To learn more, be sure to read the AccessATE blog post on Common Workplace Accommodations. 

AccessATE supports the work of the NSF-funded Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects and centers in making the materials and activities they develop more accessible for all students and faculty, including those with disabilities. The project aims to increase awareness and understanding of accessibility requirements and provide guidance, tools, and support that offers solutions and helps achieve compliance with accessibility standards.