UHV launches new website to coordinate STEM camps, events
Area students who want to attend the University of Houston-Victoria’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics summer camps and events now can find everything they need to know in one central website.
The website was created by Amjad Nusayr, UHV assistant professor of computer science, to coordinate the various high school and middle school summer camps, after-school robotics classes and Math & Robotics Awareness Day, all funded by a grant from Alcoa Foundation. Students and their parents can go to uhv.edu/stem-events to find resources, including links to camp applications, frequently asked questions, contact information or get updates about events.
“This website will be an important tool for UHV to coordinate all of its STEM activities,” Nusayr said. “Our goal for each of these camps and events is to encourage students to explore STEM fields. Having a central place to coordinate these camps and share information will make that simpler for everyone.”
The website, which is part of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences website, was created in response to requests from previous Math & Robotics Awareness Day attendees, said Ricardo Teixeira, UHV assistant professor of mathematics and director of the math and core curriculum programs. He has led the event for the past nine years.
“Every year, we ask the students, teachers and industry representatives participating in Math & Robotics Awareness Day for feedback, and we use that input to make improvements for the next year,” Teixeira said. “This website is a response to some of the requests for more information. Attendees can find the answer on the website instead of having to reach out and wait for a response.”
One upcoming event is the 24th annual Math & Robotics Awareness Day. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 4 in UHV University North, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. It will include mathematics and computer science tests, presentations about different applications of math and computer science, information booths provided by area companies and academic clubs, and an awards ceremony. Registration is free and open until March 22 and will be done through the new website.
“Math & Robotics Awareness Day is a longstanding UHV tradition that offers an inspiring look at the possibilities of science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields,” said Jeffrey Di Leo, dean of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences. “Every year, I am excited to see how many students attend and participate in the various activities. With so many opportunities for inspiration and exploration, it’s no wonder the event is an annual success.”
In addition to registration for Math & Robotics Awareness Day, the website offers a “Frequently Asked Questions” page about the event and a basic schedule outline. There also will be links to Texas Women in Computing, robotics and mathematics summer camps, as well as after-school robotics classes. Information about the camps and classes will be updated on the website as it becomes available. In addition to support from Alcoa Foundation, the Texas Women in Computing camp received a grant from the Dow Chemical Co. Foundation.
To learn more about Math & Robotics Awareness Day or other STEM camps and events, go to uhv.edu/stem-events. For questions about the website, contact Teixeira at (361) 570-4206 or teixeirar@uhv.edu.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
