South Jersey
STEM & Innovation Partnership
Leading Organizations:
Atlantic City Initiatives Project Office at DCA, Camden County College, Camden Dream Center, Mindbytes and Salem Community College
Pavithra Lakshminarayan
Creator & Chief, Mindbytes
pavithra.lakshminarayan@gmail.com
India Still
Deputy Executive Director Atlantic City Initiatives Project Office, NJDCA
Margo Venable
Dean, Camden County College
MVenable@camdencc.edu
Who We Are
The South Jersey STEM & Innovation Partnership is a diverse community of individuals, institutions and industry. We collaborate to ensure an inclusive STEM culture that champions access to innovation, opportunity, equity, and lifelong learning. We are making South Jersey the “Go-To” place for STEM Talent.
Our mission is to grow and align assets and efforts to develop, implement, replicate and take to scale evidence-based, interdisciplinary innovations that will better prepare all learners within the region for the 21st. Century’s rapidly evolving STEM economy.
Stakeholders include AtlantiCare, Atlantic Cape Community College, Atlantic City Electric, Atlantic City School District, Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, Camden County College, Camden City School District, The Camden Dream Center, Cisco, Cumberland County College, Mindbytes, Rowan University, Rutgers University Camden, Salem Community College, Siemens, Stockton University, Our Lady Star of the Sea Regional School, Ideal Institute of Technology, South Jersey Industries, Exelon Corporation, Ørsted, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, and the Atlantic County Workforce Development Board.
Our Programs
#NJSTEMTogether Communities Challenge
We are currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 #NJSTEMTogether Communities Challenge!
The #NJSTEMTogether Communities Challenge is a team-based high school student challenge where students will be asked to identify a problem in their community and provide a solution for it.
Last year, students were asked to identify a COVID related problem in their community. This year, students are being asked to review the UN’s Sustainable Goal #11 and select the target(s) they would like to address for their community. The winning team will receive a cash prize.
The deadline to apply for this challenge is November 1st.
Hack SJSIP!
In Spring, 2018, The South Jersey STEM & Innovation Partnership (SJSIP) hosted its first annual Internet of Things (IoT) Hackathon, based on the Cisco Hackathon Playbook framework, for high school students at Camden County College.
Over the course of 12 hours, the one-day Hackathon event, nicknamed “Hack SJSIP,” brought together teams of high school students, supported by college student and industry mentors, and asked them to develop technological innovative solutions to real-life challenges of their choosing.
21st Century Summer Program - Partnership with Siemens Corporation
In Summer 2018, SJSIP-lead Camden County College hosted its 21st Century Summer Program. The 4-week program included daily activities and weekly field trips every Friday, including trips to The Battleship New Jersey, The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Lowes Retail Hardware Store for various job training and environmental science lessons, The Yogi Berra Museum and more!
As a special project, the students were trained on the GEAR UP UNIVERSITY /SOLID EDGE CAD software, developed by SIEMENS Corporation. The goal was for the students to become adept at using the software to create 3D designs and begin the process of learning to use CAD software to prepare for various careers in engineering, graphic design and manufacturing. The training culminated in a competition between 4 teams for the best design of a sports related item in a “Shark Tank” like setting. The event was held with the collaboration of The Yogi Berra Museum, Siemens and Camden County College.
Strategic Advisory Board
Building a Strategic Advisory Board of regional employers to understand business needs and collaboratively solve the biggest issues faced by industry in the region.
Digital Studies for 21st Century Workforce
Advancing digital literacy partnerships with regional school districts in formal and informal learning environments. Expansion of Cisco Networking Academies located in Camden City School District to build 21st century workforce skills.