Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation Work-Based Learning Opportunities

 Read details at
 www.childsci.org/get-involved/internship 

Internship Opportunities

The Youth Development Initiative strives to develop and implement successful
internships opportunities that provide students with the skills and experiences needed
to obtain and maintain employment. These internships utilize a combination of formal
instruction, mentoring, hands-on STEM experience, project based learning, and
continuous feedback. It is the Science Center’s vision to continue growing this program
into a gateway experience to internships and potential employment with local
companies with a focus on underrepresented populations. The Science Center’s Youth Development Initiative includes an extensive variety of internships and leadership programs for high school and college-aged youth. Since 2015, the Science Center has engaged over 300 interns through youth development programs in the community and at the Lab. For important questions, email internships@childsci.org.

The Science Center operates internship and leadership programs throughout the year:

• STEM Summer Camp Internship
• Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Internship
• Youth Advisory Board
• Animal Husbandry Internship
• Communications Internship

See details at  https://www.childsci.org/get-involved/internship 

What to tell your rising senior about AI and their future

 

Reposted from Substack:  Subscribe here for more A letter to teens about AI and jobs Some practical advice about what you should to be on the right side of disruption Alex Kotran Dec 9   READ IN APP   Episode six in our YouTube series, “Raising Kids in the Age of AI” focused on “Preparing kids for careers in an AI world.” It’s by far the most popular. That episode was tailored to parents, but I decided that I want to write something directly for the kids themselves on the topic. After all, Gen Z is probably more clued in to the growing chorus about the impact of AI on jobs than anyone else. A note to parents and educators: This letter is written directly to teens—specifically a rising senior in high school—but it applies to anyone wondering how to make decisions about their future. If you have a young person in your life navigating these questions, consider sharing this with them. Or read it yourself; the framing might help you give better advice. Either way, I hope it’s useful. Here’s the TL;DR: AI is real and will massively disrupt the job market right as you’re starting your career. But every industrial revolution has created more jobs than it destroyed. The key is being on the right side of the transition. The old playbook is dead: “pick the ‘safe’ major, follow the predictable path. Instead,

Regional Firms join NSF to Support NoVa Tech Trek Camp

 Virginia Tech Summer 2026 AI, Chip Manufacturing, and Physical Computing Camp - Potomac Yard Metro

Micor, Boeing and others are supporting the Virginia Tech BRICCS Team in a very advanced, NSF-sponsored camps this summer exploring Artificial Intelligence, Chip Manufacturing, and Physical Computing (Internet of Things) at Virginia Tech's Potomac Yard campus (Metro Blue/Yellow lines).

Ecosystem Launched by Virginia Tech, Arlington, and NVCC Gets National Recognition

 The Northern Virginia STEM Network began in 2007 as an informal network of CTE and other STEM educators with a focus on growing our own future workforce in Northern Virginia.  Many years later in 2021 the ecosystem was integrated with the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) STEM Learning Ecosystem led by our long-term collaborators at Morgan State University and continued through multiple extensions of their DSEC grant.  

When that DSEC funding ended in 2024 partners were encouraged by supporters at T.I.E.S. to go big for national recognition. Accordingly, they "re-branded" as NoVaWISE (Northern Virginia Workforce Innovations through STEM Education). but were later encouraged to keep the original name.  They are  looking for highly engaged leaders in technical industries, public school leadership, after-school and out-of-school innovators, and workforce development specialists.  

Virginia Tech is supporting the design of a new website.  Until then you can still catch them at www.NoVaSTEM.net or NoVaSTEM.blogspot.com.

Contact Jim Egenrieder (JimE@vt.edu) to get involved.

Artificial Intelligence 101 from VASEM

  The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine issued a 2025 White Paper, An Introduction to Artificial  Intelligence providing a foundation in topics such including:

• 
  the beginnings of Artificial Intelligence; 
• the emergence of Expert Systems; 
• the rapid evolution of Machine Learning;
• Deep Learning; 
• Generative AI;
• representative applications of AI;
• hallucinations and trust; 
• ethical issues;
• Artificial Intelligence vs. human intelligence, and Artificial General Intelligence; and 
• three visions for an "AI Future".

Read the paper at https://vasem.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VASEM_AI_WhitePaper-2025.pdf

Our region is distinct from most others - Bachelor's degrees by County

See the NoVa Regional Dashboard at https://www.novaregiondashboard.com/educational-attainment for specific achievement by city or county.

Northern Virginia localities are home to some of the most highly educated residents in the nation.  This high education level of the region's citizens creates a strong, flourishing business community.  The percentage of Northern Virginia's population age 25 or more holding a bachelor's or higher degree is 61.9%, which is nearly double the United States, and holding a graduate or professional degree is 30.2%, which is more than double the United States. 

All counties in America where 40% or more have a Bachelor's degree

Source: Random Facts of the World

Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus Academic Building One

 

Virginia Tech has opened it's new cutting-edge building in the Washington, D.C. area, Academic Building One. This state-of-the-art facility in Alexandria, Virginia, is designed to shape the future of technology and innovation. With a focus on computer science and computer engineering, this campus fosters collaboration between students, faculty, and industry partners to tackle real-world challenges. From project-based learning (PBL) to groundbreaking research in AI, quantum computing, next-gen wireless, and intelligent interfaces, this is a place where tech talent thrives. Virginia Tech builds strong partnerships with leading tech companies, government agencies, and startups, ensuring students gain hands-on experience and industry connections that drive impact. Discover how Virginia Tech is shaping the future of tech talent and research in the D.C. area. Learn more: vt.edu/innovationcampus