The engineers and scientists at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) have cooked up something special for the summer: A new program offering teachers intensive training in STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) disciplines.

Ben Esner, the Director of NYU-Poly’s Center for K-12 STEM Education has these details in the Huffington Post:

This summer, NYU-Poly’s faculty researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and many more in the University community are all-in to provide high quality education in the fields of STEM, now. A small, urban University with 4,000 students in Brooklyn is running a dozen STEM education initiatives on its campus — from workshops and courses to programs, to in-depth research experiences, and intensive training for teachers. NYU-Poly’s engineers and scientists will share their content knowledge and expertise with over 300 middle and high school students and teachers. More then 200 more middle school students in summer camps in public schools and community centers will learn introductory computer coding, circuitry and how to build interactive devices from NYU-Poly trained high school students.

For us, the scale is exhilarating and it definitely shows what people both passionate and expert can do now. But in the context of 1.1 million students and 80,000 teachers in New York City schools alone, the glow wears off quickly. What’s driving the K-12 STEM education DIY, can/must-do attitude among the university’s academic STEM professionals and their students is that for most K-12 students today, the probability of their being prepared to pursue and succeed in STEM fields is low. And we know that if a student belongs to certain demographic groups, the chances are even lower….

The field needs an agenda that more deeply involves scientists and engineers, brings more content expertise to classrooms, and reforms the systems that will have big, transformative effects on what, and how, young people learn.Where scientists and engineers can be most helpful are in areas like intensive professional development for in-service teachers in STEM disciplines and in classroom techniques for hands-on and activity based learning. ..

A lot of people and organizations are working to make STEM happen now — the 159 universities and nonprofits that comprise 100Kin10 (a national effort to train and retrain excellent STEM teachers), many cultural and research institutions where scientists and others are making tremendous contributions to K12 STEM education, and more.

And this summer, to coincide with its 16 summer STEM programs that provide access and opportunity for K-12 students and teachers, NYU-Poly is launching social media hashtag #STEMNOW. Seizing STEM education’s national moment, #STEMNOW will highlight the contributions of engineers, scientists, technologists, teachers and students. Visit our campaign page and please join the nationwide conversation on social media at #STEMNOW. Tell your story, tag photos and posts, and demonstrate what you’re doing to advance STEM, now