Science and Technology Forum to be Held at Hudson High School on October 31

High school students and teachers are being invited to attend the Scholarship of Entrepreneurial Engagement’s 2009-2010 Science and Technology Forum to be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at Hudson High School. The forum, sponsored by Ashland University’s Scholarship of Entrepreneurial Engagement (SEE) program, is targeted toward science and technology students and teachers and provides an optional Science Concept Plan competition.

“This event will provide an outstanding opportunity for science students to interact with an exceptional group of nearly a dozen visionary science leaders,” said John Klipfell, director of the SEE program at Ashland University and event co-host. “These leaders will speak about the developments that are occurring in science disciplines today that will not only transform the products and services and way of life in the future, but also provide future entrepreneurial opportunities for students.”

This is the third year for the forum, and more than 700 high school students, parents and teachers and other mentors from among 14 counties in northeast Ohio are expected to attend.

”We have assembled an extraordinary group of speakers to inspire the youth of Northeast Ohio,” said Dr. Julian Earls, executive in residence at the Nance College of Business Administration at Cleveland State University and retired director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and event co-host.

“This year’s keynote speaker is Mr. Baiju Shah, president & CEO of BioEnterprise, the business accelerator that is a partnership of Case Western Reserve, the Cleveland Clinic, Summa Health and University Hospitals,” Earls said. “BioEnterprise has already helped more than 80 leading edge bio-science related companies get started and grow in northeast Ohio.”

In addition to the keynote speech, students can choose to attend two other lectures on the day of the Forum that will be given by 10 visionary science leaders who will speak about developments in the fields of: environmental sustainability, bio-mediation of urban pollutants, alternative energy, nanotechnology, polymer science, advanced materials and innovative chemistry, liquid crystal technology, robotics, stem cell and regenerative medicine, and developmental toxicology. (Attached to this release is the complete roster of distinguished speakers who will be participating in the Forum.)

Most of the speakers’ lecture presentations will be filmed and subsequently made available to participants on the Ashland University website. Consequently, in addition to participating in the lectures in person, teachers and students will also be able view the speakers’ presentations in their classrooms and homes by video. (Attached to this release is a list of some of the Spring 2009 Science and Technology speakers, as well as instructions for viewing their video lectures on line.)

“This event is intended to prepare students for the future and open their eyes and minds to the extraordinary changes they’ll experience during their lifetimes, as well as share positive opportunities that these changes can present for them,” Klipfell said. “Participation will also provide students with an excellent addition to their college resumes as they seek entry into the college of their choice.”

In addition to the Science and Technology Forum itself, students can participate in an optional Science Concept Plan Competition. As part of this program, students are encouraged to imagine and develop entrepreneurial ideas based on the scientific developments that they have been exposed to at the Forum. Then, over the course of the 2009-2010 school year, they will be asked to further research and refine their ideas into a scientific “proof of concept” that they believe might have potential commercial feasibility.

“Based on the learning experience their students had at last year’s Forum, a number of our Advanced Placement science teachers have included participation in both this year’s SEE Science & Technology Forum and the related Science Concept Plan Competition in their AP Course requirements,” said Steve Farnsworth, superintendent of the Hudson City Schools, which is hosting this year’s event at Hudson High School. “We anticipate more than 120 Hudson students to be among the more than 700 students and teachers who are expected to attend the Forum.”

Ashland University is the first and, thus far, the only Ohio college or university to achieve “P21” Professional Development Affiliate status with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. “Global awareness as well as financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy are important elements of the 21st Century skill set that students will need to acquire in order to thrive in the future,” Klipfell said.

Those interested in finding out more information about the event can call or email Klipfell at jklipfel@ashland.edu or 440-821-2357.

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private institution conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.

Scholarship of Entrepreneurial Engagement of Ashland University October 31, 2009, Science and Technology Forum
Roster of Distinguished Speakers

Mr. Baiju R. Shah, keynote speaker, will talk about the challenges/opportunities of the future.
Mr. Shah is President, CEO and a Founder of BioEnterprise, a partnership of Case Western, Cleveland Clinic, Summa Health, and University Hospitals. BioEnterprise is a business accelerator that supports the growth of bioscience companies. Since 2002, it has helped more than 80 companies attract more than $850 million in funding.

Other speakers:

Dr. Mark D. Foster will speak about developments in the field of polymer science.
Dr. Foster is a Professor of Polymer Science, the University of Akron Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science.

Dr. Parwinder Grewal will speak about the application of agricultural bioscience technologies in the development of environmentally self reliant and resilient cities in urban areas.
Dr. Grewal is Professor of Entomology, Nematology and Environmental Science at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center of the Ohio State University.

Dr. Tom T. Hartley will speak about developments in the field of robotics.
Dr. Hartley is Professor of Electrical Engineering/Control Systems, the University of Akron College of Engineering.

Mr. Paul G.P. Hoogenboom will speak about advanced materials & innovative chemistry development. Mr. Hoogenboom is Sr. VP for Manufacturing, Operations and Chief Information Officer for RPM International, Inc

Dr. Walter Kocher will speak about environmental sustainability developments.
Dr. Kocher is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cleveland State University.

Dr. Valerie J. Lyons will speak about developments in the field of alternative energy.
Dr. Lyons is Chief of the Power and In-Space Propulsion Division at the NASA Glenn Research Center,

Dr. Eddie D. Sloter will speak about advancements in the field of developmental toxicology.
Dr. Sloter, is a research scientist at WIL Research Laboratories, Ashland, Ohio.

Ms. Elizabeth Ann Sump will talk about developments in the field of regenerative medicine.
Ms. Sump is Executive Director of the Clinical Tissue Engineering Center (CTEC) of Ohio.

Mr. Ken Vaughan will speak about developments in the nanotechnology field.
Mr. Ken Vaughan is executive director of the Nano-Network of Northeast Ohio. .

Dr. John L. West will speak about developments in liquid crystal technology.
Dr. John L. West is vice president for research and professor of chemistry at Kent State University.

Event co-hosts:

Dr. Julian M. Earls will be the principal host for the event.
Dr. Earls is the Retired Director of the NASA Glenn Research Center and an Executive in Residence at Cleveland State University’s Nance College of Business Administration.

Mr. John M. Klipfell will be a co-host for the event.
Mr. Klipfell is a retired American Greetings Senior Executive and Director of the Scholarship of Entrepreneurial Engagement Program of Ashland University