Project Fibonacci
As the 2014 New York State Department of Labor report states, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has indicated that the United States needs at least one million more STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workers than is currently available. The report also states that three quarters of students who graduate with a STEM-related degree do not take STEM jobs while at the same time STEM career growth is at 2.5 times the rate of other fields within New York State. Furthermore, there is a rising movement towards a STEAM (STEM with the Arts) focus for two very important reasons: (1) the US has dropped once again in science, math and reading scores; and (2) STEAM builds upon the importance of math as the interconnection between the science and art disciplines and expanded job/career opportunities for a well-rounded citizenry. In other words, we are beginning to rediscover the need for balancing the cognitive and logical with the creative force that makes for strong, agile and growth-driven societies.
Educators and stake-holders in the area are now determined to fill in the gaps and encourage students to pursue the interests they have related to STEAM fields as the demand is exceeding the supply and the STEAM tracks can afford them great entrepreneurship opportunities moving forward in Central New York. This paradigm shift underpins the goals of Project Fibonacci, a non-profit enterprise launched by ANDRO Computational Solutions, LLC to reinforce the importance of STEAM alternative education and learning for a vibrant society. The Project Fibonacci STEAM conference is the first step in a multi-phase project to transform the over 52 acres of the Beeches Professional Campus in north Rome, NY into a full-fledged STEAM campus. The week-long conference event, Speakers Series during the year, and the campus project provide opportunities for students of all ages by promoting the next waves of young scholars, scientists, artists and productive citizens through a journey of self-discovery by positively motivating and enlightening them. Through this alt-ed program we will enable our youth to deal more effectively with the challenges of our ever-increasingly complex and diverse world. Focused, dedicated educators who are anxious to share their accrued talents and wisdom, guide the STEAM Scholars through daily enrichment activities and provide direction to maximize the tools derived from exceptional presentations and interactions with some of the world’s foremost experts in their fields.
This alternative educational initiative grooms the STEAM Scholars to apply math to the arts and sciences to build a better-educated and more agile workforce, using project- and team-based approaches as a complement to more traditional classroom learning. The Project Fibonacci® STEAM Conference also aids educators in applying new curricula and methods to incorporate STEAM into our schools, which will further enable our STEAM Scholars to implement these ideas into entrepreneurial pursuits, creating new STEAM-based businesses in Upstate/Central New York. The intent is to ensure the delivery of diverse STEAM-based alternative education from kindergarten through high school and into college. The ultimate goal of this non-profit 501(c)(3) enterprise is to build a STEAM Campus wherein students and adult professionals can collaborate, innovate, educate and create, intertwining apprenticeships and internships with high tech businesses and non-tech interests to bring a holistic approach to education and business, fostering the development of the next generation of thinkers and leaders to the benefit of all, enhancing the global competitiveness of the region. Following a multi-university research initiative (MURI) concept as a guide, the Project Fibonacci® STEAM Campus will bring together industry experts and university professionals to mentor and guide our young STEAM Scholars in a hands-on atmosphere of collaboration, learning the necessary high tech and artistic skills as well as obtaining valuable certifications needed to enter the workforce and build a better base to encourage more STEM and STEAM businesses to form in Upstate/Central New York.
This exposure will enable students to attain well-rounded backgrounds that foster scientific pursuits in parallel tracks with artistic ones, allowing the art to influence the science and vice-versa. The global perspective of Project Fibonacci® is enhanced by deliberate outreach to a diverse population, exposing all STEAM Scholars to a wide variety of backgrounds, skill sets, interests and life experiences. Cultural differences are embraced and seen as opportunities to expand the horizons of individual participants and further enable our institutions to have a broader cultural understanding, and allows us to create an inclusive future for all in the Upstate Region. It is the aim of Project Fibonacci® to start a new Renaissance. Making the Upstate New York region a STEAM hub, with a model that demonstrates cross-regional cooperation, benefits us all, especially our students and for youth retention, and can serve as a model for other communities nationwide.
This will put the USA back at the top of science, math and reading scores, using the common thread of an emphasis on math across all of the disciplines. We seek financial support in the way of grant funding first on behalf of the continued development and delivery of the annual STEAM Conference event including the Speakers Series events, and second to support the start of the Phase II STEAM Campus project.
Founded: 2016
Industry: Non-Profit/Social
