ConocoPhillips STEM Zone
Program Description
ConocoPhillips STEM Zone is an in-person monthly program designed to engage K–12th grade students from local, state, national, and global communities in the STEM fields through Athletics/Sports. Participants interact with UH STEM Faculty, the UH STEM Outreach Student Squad, undergraduates, industry partners, and like-minded peers. Since 2018, UH STEM Center has partnered with the non-profit organization Kids’ Lives Matter to support students in the 3rd/5th Ward public housing communities and surrounding school districts. In the U.S., female, minority, and economically disadvantaged students are underrepresented in STEM majors and careers, often due to factors that influence reduced engagement in STEM:
- Few female and minority role models
- Little real-world application is found in math and science courses
- Low student research population
Volunteer Opportunities
We invite all community members to get involved with ConocoPhillips STEM Zone by volunteering in one of our many roles. Volunteering opportunities are open to high school students, undergraduate/graduate students, student organizations, pre-service teachers, industry professionals, and faculty members. Whether you are interested in serving as a Keynote Speaker, leading a Breakout Session, staffing an Information Table, or providing General Volunteer support, your participation is invaluable to the success of our program. By volunteering, you’ll not only contribute to the educational growth of others but also enhance your own leadership and mentoring skills.
To Sign-Up: https://universityofhouston.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5hIDVCF2aUHU3J4
For more information, please contact our program coordinator, Ms. Avril Cruz, at acruz37@uh.edu.
Disclaimer: If you require volunteer hour validation, you will have 2 weeks from the program date to do so. While day-of validation is preferred, if you require electronic validation, you must submit your School/Work Photo ID and a picture of yourself at the event to acruz37@uh.edu.
ConocoPhillips STEM Zone in the News
The previous iteration of our program, known as "STEM Zone Saturday", was highlighted in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics “Insider Newsletter” which provides an overview of the October event focused on superconductivity. Details about the event can be found here.
2024 - 2025 Program Dates
|
Date: |
Topic: |
|
Sept. 7 |
Technology Innovation |
|
Oct. 12 |
Health & Wellness |
|
Nov. 16 |
Minds in Motion (Social/Behavioral Science) |
|
Dec. 7 |
Mechanics (Engineering) |
|
Jan. 25 |
From the Field to the Clinic (Sports Medicine) |
|
Mar. 1 |
Play with Physics (Energy) |
|
Apr. 12 |
Spring into the Animal Kingdom (Life Sciences) |
The following is common for all program dates.
- Time: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Location: Please check the specific dates for the meeting location. At times, the location may occur at a different building depending on the event sponsor but is typically held at the COE KIVA Rm 101
- Requirements:
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the program for check-in
- Register Below!
Saturday, October 12, 2024
You will meet the following associates:
- UH RISE Lab-
- Dr. David Walsh, Co-Founder
- Dr. Craig Johnston, Co-Founder
- The Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
- Sierra Cowen, Medical Student
Saturday, September 7, 2024
You will meet the following associates:
- Xrossover Sports-
- Danario Edgar, Founder and Creator of Xrossover Sports
- Htx Sports Tech
- Nate Thompson, Co-Founder
- Chris D. Garcia, Co-Founder
Saturday, April 20, 2024
-
You will meet the following associates:
- Schlumberger
- UH Texas Center for Superconductivity
Saturday, March 02, 2024
You will meet the following associates:
- Experts from the UH Cullen College of Engineering!
Saturday, January 27, 2024
You will meet the following UH associates:
- UH Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
- Dr. Kenya Steele, MD, Asst. Dean, Outreach & Student Pathways; Prof. Dept. Clinical Sciences
- Ashley Schwartz, Program Manager II, Outreach & Student Pathways
- Tamara Davis, M.A. Program Coordinator II, Outreach & Student Pathways
- Various Medical Students attending the College of Medicine!
- UH College of Optometry
-
- Lucy Kehinde Darnell, OD, PhD, FAAO, Clinical Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Student Services
- Maria Walker, OD, PhD, FAAO
- Scott Stevenson, PhD
- Tiffany Lu, 4th Year Optometry Student
-
Saturday, December 2, 2023
You will meet the following UH associates:
- UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- Dr. Julia Wellner, Associate Professor, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Univision Communications
- Fernanda Ramos Garces, Atmospheric Scientist & Meteorologist
- UH Chapter American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/jLGkWQ5oi5N4syJu7
Saturday, November 4, 2023
You will meet the following UH associates:
- UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
-
- Dr. Aibing Le, Professor, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Dr. Youtong Zheng, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/C2QYWqVTDiFEXrHJ6
-
- UH Cullen College of Engineering
- Student Chapter, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Sponsored by the Houston CCS Alliance.
You will meet the following external partners:
- Chevron
- Space Center Houston
- CCS Alliance
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/8A49pfMKRZxdzKFR8
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Sponsored by the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design.
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students, and external partners:
- UH Cullen College of Engineering
- Dr. Olga Bannova, Director, Sasakawa Center for Space Architecture & Master of Science in Space Architecture Program
- Moody Nolan
- Melvalean McLemore, Senior Associate, PM & Texas Studio Design Leader
- Javier Guerrero, Project Coordinator
- Perkins & Will
-
- Nyx Valerdy, Designer II
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/TnhAvozALQjTM2CV9
-
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Sponsored by TIEEN and TIEEP.
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students, and external partners:
- UH Energy
- Dr. Alan Rossiter, Exec. Director, External Relations/Educational Program Development
- UH Cullen College of Engineering
- Dr. Megan Robertson, Chemical Engineering
- ExxonMobil
- Hayley Ryan, Infrastructure Lead
- Prairie View A & M University, Roy G. Perry College of Engineering
- Dr.Nabila Shamin, Assistant Professor & Assoc. Dept. Head, Chemical Engineering
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Sponsored by Shell USA, Inc.
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- Shell USA, Inc.
- Victoria Moreno, Program Coordinator Shell USA, Inc.
- Kyle Hilberg, Permitting Lead, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC
- The NEED Project
- Emily Haw-Baker, Curriculum Director
- Nina Lynn, Teaching Advisory Board
Saturday, September 17, 2022
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- UH Natural Science and Mathematics College - Department of Biology and Biochemistry
- Adeniyi Adeleye, TA
- UH Natural Science and Mathematics College - Department of Chemistry
- Dr. Naihao Chiang, Assistant Professor
- Drs. Yao and Song Endowed Professor of Chemistry
- Microsoft Philanthropies
- Nagma Meharali, Field Enablement Manager, Computer Science Education
Saturday, October 8, 2022
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- UH Cullen College of Engineering
- Dr. Li Sun, Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Director of UH Subsea Engineering
- UH National Society of Black Engineers
- Michael Ojo, (Electrical)
- Haley Conley, (Civil)
- Yagazie Anokam (Mechanical)
- AXIP Energy Services
- Dev Rathore, PMP, UH Alumni - Mechanical Engineering
Saturday, September 25, 2021
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- Texas General Land Office
- Thomas Manuel Ortiz, Ph.D., P.E. Petroleum Engineer
- UH Natural Science and Mathematics College - Physics Department
- Rebecca Forrest, Ph.D Instructional Professor
- University of Houston College of Medicine
- Medical Student Panel
- Breanna Chachere
- Geina Iskander
- Jalyce Taylor
- Medical Student Panel
Saturday, October 23, 2021
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- UH Cullen College of Engineering, The Brain Center
- Alexander Steele Research Assistant/TE, Electrical Engineering
- UH College of Medicine
- Medical Student Panel
- Geina Iskander
- Sierra Cowan
- Iliana Oberkircher
- Ashley Schwartz Program Coordinator 2, Diversity and Outreach
- Medical Student Panel
- UH College of Education, Dept. of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences
- Kayce D. Solari Williams, Ph.D., MPH, MS Clinical Associate Professor; President, American School Health Association
Saturday, November 13, 2021
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- NURSYS R US
- Stacey Forte` DNP-C MSN-Ed RN, CEO/Founder
- UH College of Education
- Clara Andrews, EMT-B; National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
- UH College of Medicine
- Sierra Cowan, Medical Student
- Ashley Schwartz, Program Coordinator 2, Diversity and Outreach
Saturday, December 4, 2021
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- METRO
- William Garcia, Associate Staffing Representative, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
- UH Research Health Institute
- Shalan Washington, Community Health Worker I
- UH Cullen College of Engineering
- Yagazie Anokam, Mechanical Engineering Student
Saturday, January 29, 2022
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- UH College of Pharmacy
- Dr. Kimberly Nguyen, Assistant Dean of Student and Professional Affairs | Clinical Assistant Professor
- The Krishen Foundation
- Dr. Kumar Krishen, NASA Senior Scientist, Lead Technologist, UH Adjunct Professor
- UH Energy
- Alan Rossiter, Executive Director, External Relations/Educational Program Development
- UH Energy Coalition
- Neha Bhat, Chair
- Shivani Patel, Vice Chair
- Afriaa Nasir, Vice Chair Corporate Relations
Saturday, March 26, 2022
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- City of Houston
- Perdita “Didi” Chavis, Council Chief of Staff Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, District K
- UH College of Pharmacy
- Hispanic Pharmacy Student Association
- BOUNCE
- Interns
- Adrian Robledo
- Temperance Joseph
- Isaac Durham
- Interns
Saturday, April 9, 2022
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- Texas Center for Superconductivity (TcSUH)
- Dr. Karoline Mueller, Outreach Coordinator
- UH College of Medicine
- Geina Iskander, Medical Student
- Unicat Catalyst Technologies, LLC.
- Carol Schmidt, P.E., Senior Design and Project Engineer
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Program STEM Focus: Engineering and Medicine
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- University of Houston College of Medicine
- Dr. Thomas Thesen Associate Professor of Neuroscience
- Ashley Schwartz Program Coordinator 2, Diversity and Outreach
- Mayo Clinic
- Dr. Karen E. Blackmon Senior Associate Consultant
- Chevron
- Shital Parmar Software Engineer
- Titantian Zhang Petroleum Engineer
- Abraham Lin Software Application Engineer
- Univeristy of Houston Baur College of Business, MISSO
- Ezinne Okwuonu Admin VP
- Steven Prentice Transactional Processing Officer
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Program STEM Focus: Health Science, Robotics, and Law
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- University of Houston College of Education, Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences
- Dr. Norma Olvera Professor & The Obesity Society Fellow, 2017
USDA E. Kika de la Garza Fellow, 2016 ADVANCE Administrative Fellow Director of The Latino Health Disparities Lab
- Dr. Norma Olvera Professor & The Obesity Society Fellow, 2017
- University of Houston College of Technology
- Dr. Zheng Fan, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering Technology
- University of Houston Equal Opportunity Services (EOS)
- David D. Brittain, Jr. Director of Investigations, B.B.A., University of Houston
J.D., South Texas College of Law
- David D. Brittain, Jr. Director of Investigations, B.B.A., University of Houston
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Program STEM Focus: Careers in Medicine and Space Exploration
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners:
- University of Houston College of Medicine
- Dr. Maureen O. Grissom, Ph.D. Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology
- University of Houston College of Pharmacy
- Dr. Kimberly A. Nguyen, PharmD Assistant Dean of Student & Professional Affairs, Clinical Assistant Professor
- Dr. Joshua Wollen, PharmD Clinical Assistance Professor
- Nekesa Sapp Director of Pharmacy Recruiting
- NASA
- Angelica Garcia Simulation and Software Engineer, Virtual Reality Training Facility, CACI, NASA JSC
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Program STEM Focus: Space Travel and Habitation
You will meet the following UH Faculty, undergraduate/graduate students and external partners.
- University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering
- Dr. Olga Bannova, Director, SICSA (Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture), Research Professor
- UH STEM Center Outreach Squad Members
- Clarissa Rodriguez, Biology
- Sophia Urh, Chemical Engineering
- Daniela Iniguez, Biology
- Ezinne Okwuonu, Computer Information Systems
- Tim Ford, Biology
- Diego Ramirez, Electrical Power Engineering Technology
- Stevie Nash, Environmental Science
- Alex Chu, Mechanical Engineering
Questions?
Contact us at 713-743-4799 or stem@central.uh.edu.