FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE:

San Diego, CA—February 25, 2013—The SciTech Girls Asteroid Challenge is very timely considering the February 15 flyby of Asteroid 2012 DA14—and of course the meteorite that exploded over Russia the night before. The Challenge will take place at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center on Saturday March 2, 2013.

SciTech is an after school program developed by the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for fourth through sixth grade girls at San Diego elementary schools. The girls meet twice a week to engage in hands-on science investigations on everything from solar car design to the chemistry of cosmetics. Through project-based learning, the girls make concrete connections to everyday life while developing creative-thinking and problem-solving skills that they will use throughout their lives.

Scientists and engineers are currently considering the feasibility of sending mining missions to select asteroids and returning valuable minerals to the Earth. The first step in such an ambitious program would be sending an unmanned probe to determine the asteroid’s mineral content. In the Asteroid Challenge, girls from the SciTech program will design a device for an Earth-based test to safely deploy scientific instruments from a spacecraft to three specific areas on a simulated asteroid.

This competition will be viewable to the public with community scientists participating as judges. SciTech: Connect A Million Minds, inspiring youth to explore the areas of science, technology, engineering and math is sponsored by Time Warner Cable, and judges from their organization include Lonnie Allen, Carlos Beltran, Sam Handy, Robert Soderberg, Christopher "Del" Vega, Kevin Nester and Tess Baxter. 

SciTech inspires girls to become innovative and creative thinkers by fostering excitement and interest in science, technology and engineering. Through inquiry-based, collaborative investigations and interactions with female role models, SciTech aims to build self-confidence and scientific literacy among girls in San Diego-area schools; foster an interest in science, technology and engineering careers; make science accessible to girls in underrepresented communities and develop connections between girls and the local scientific community.

Local schools participating in the SciTech Girls Asteroid Challenge include Central, Cherokee Point, Hamilton, Halecrest, Millennial Tech, Rosa Parks, Kimbrough, Johnson and Garfield. The girls just attended a field trip to Time Warner Cable and we have photos available!

The SciTech Girls Asteroid Challenge will take place on Saturday, March 2, 2013, 10AM-2:45PM in the Theater Lobby and learning labs. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is located at 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. Gallery Admission, including access to all eight exhibit galleries, is $11.75 for adults; $9.75 for children & seniors. The Fleet is open 365 days a year; Monday–Thursday 10AM–5PM, Friday & Saturday 10AM–7PM and Sunday 10AM–6PM.  For more information, call (619) 238-1233 or visit our website athttp://www.rhfleet.org/scitech.

Funding for SciTech is provided by the Motorola Foundation, UTC Aerospace Systems, Beyster Foundation, NASA and Time Warner Cable.

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About Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) is among the largest providers of video, high-speed data and voice services in the United States, connecting more than 15 million customers to entertainment, information and each other. Time Warner Cable Business Class offers data, video and voice services to businesses of all sizes, cell tower backhaul services to wireless carriers and managed and outsourced information technology solutions and cloud services.  Time Warner Cable Media, the advertising arm of Time Warner Cable, offers national, regional and local companies innovative advertising solutions. More information about the services of Time Warner Cable is available at www.twc.com, www.twcbc.com and www.twcmedia.com.

About Connect a Million Minds

Time Warner Cable’s (TWC) Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) is a five-year, $100 million philanthropic initiative to address America’s declining proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Using its media assets, TWC creates awareness of the issue and inspires students to develop the STEM skills they need to become the problem solvers of tomorrow. Program highlights include: original PSAs that challenge public perceptions of STEM; a unique website where the public can pledge to connect young people with the wonders of science; “The Connectory”, an online resource for parents to find informal STEM learning opportunities in their communities; grants to non-profit organizations that bring after-school STEM learning to students; TWC employees, over 50,000 strong, who volunteer their time at events like science fairs and robotics competitions. National partners include CSAS (Coalition for Science After School) and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Local TWC markets are activating CAMM across the country with community-specific programs and partnerships. To find out more and to take the CAMM pledge, visit www.connectamillionminds.com.

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