Los Alamos National Laboratory works to find solutions to challenging national problems in the following topic areas (click for larger image). Los Alamos National Laboratory works to find solutions to challenging national problems in the following topic areas (Click to enlarge image). The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NM DWS), New Mexico Public Education Department (NM PED), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) invite NM high school students and teachers to participate in the 2019–2020 Governor’s STEM Showcase on December 7, 2019 in Los Lunas, NM. Students in New Mexico high school STEM classes statewide are invited to imagine, design, and develop a project model to address the following question formulated by Los Alamos National Laboratory: Keeping the World Safer Using Technology. Schools accepting the Challenge will utilize LANL’s question as a co-curricular learning toll and case study in their STEM class curricula; though all STEM classrooms may participate, schools will choose one team of up to ten students working with up to two mentor teachers to submit a proposed solution. Schools may register their team without identifying and naming all 10 student team members. This is a recent change to accommodate schools who are still recruiting. The Challenge will recognize student achievement in STEM and help NM’s diverse student population recognize the potential that STEM jobs have to address local, state, and global challenges. Students will practice their collaborative problem solving and presentation skills while learning how to use engineering design and the science and engineering practices to construct project models to present information and evaluate solutions. Mentor teachers will incorporate the project into their classrooms and work with a team of up to ten students on the project. Mentor teacher will receive support in the form of a two-day weekend workshop in September about the STEM Showcase criteria and how to incorporate the required NM STEM Ready! Science Standards. Technical mentors through a partnership between New Mexico State University and Northern New Mexico College will be available for student teams. Weekly online support will be available as well as reimbursement for materials. Mentor teachers will receive a stipend of $500. Participating NM industry employers will judge team’s project models based on quality and degree to which the answer reflect skills required for careers with NM STEM businesses. Winning teams evaluated and chosen by NM STEM employers will be awarded $5,000 ($500/student) and invited to present at the Statewide STEM Showcase before all companies, alliance participants, and other school teams. All participating team students will be eligible to letter, as recognized by the New Mexico Activities Association.