Melissa Ballard, fellow NGCP Champions Board member, asked me to pass this along. I know it will be a fabulous event! See you there! ----------- The Association of Science and Technology (ASTC) is pleased to invite the National Girls Collaborative's Champions Board to a virtual national summit we are hosting later this month. You will be among other scientists, technologists, public and community engagement experts, and policymakers who are interested in a more equitable future. Please see below for more information about this free event. Stephanie Rodriguez, your fellow Champions Board members, is leading the Digital Opportunities and Connections track. Register by Friday, October 16 to reserve your spot at this invitation-only event. Contact Melissa Ballard, Senior Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy, with any questions at mballard@astc.org<mailto:mballard@astc.org>. Next week, join leaders in science, technology, and engagement at the New Frontiers summit On October 19 and 20, 2020, the Association of Science and Technology Centers<https://www.astc.org/about/> (ASTC) will bring together cross-sector leaders to explore the frontiers of science, technology, learning, and community engagement and set course toward a more equitable tomorrow. You are invited to join the discussion at this summit to share your insights, discuss your work, and collaborate with your peers on solutions to big problems. Register here<https://myastc.astc.org/new-frontiers-registration>. Taking inspiration from the 2016 White House Frontiers Conference<https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/10/07/white-house-frontiers-conference-robots-space-exploration-and-future-american> held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the New Frontiers summit boldly envisions a future in which science, communities, and policymakers work in partnership to address humanity’s most pressing challenges. Such a future demands creative approaches to research and development, education and lifelong learning, civic participation, and policy development. We will kick off the summit on Monday, October 19 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. Focused Discussions (Tuesday, October 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT) New Frontiers is organized around four themes spanning science, technology, and human well-being, all of which require interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration among local and global communities. You will spend dedicated time engaging in focused conversations around one of four themes. Here are some highlights from our program<https://www.astc.org/newfrontiers/four-frontiers/>: CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE Heather Fargo (former Mayor of Sacramento and founding member, Sacramento Tree Foundation<https://www.sactree.com/>) and Lauren Maunus (Legislative and Advocacy Manager, Sunrise Movement<https://www.sunrisemovement.org/>) will offer generational perspectives on climate and environmental change.   SUSTAINABLE LIVING Nicolle Fagan (Co-Founder, Palau Legacy Project<https://www.oneyoungworld.com/ambassador-projects/palau-legacy-project>) and Alex Dehgan, PhD (CEO and Co-founder, Conservation X Labs<https://conservationxlabs.com/>) will explore innovative solutions to international sustainability challenges and dare us to rethink our approach to conservation and sustainability. HEALTH INNOVATION AND SECURITY Rodney Haring, PhD, MSW (Director of the Roswell Park Center for Indigenous Cancer Research<https://www.roswellpark.org/research/center-indigenous-cancer-research>) will discuss how community engagement in research can determine which scientific questions are elevated—and who asks those questions—to improve health outcomes. Kafui  Dzirasa, MD, PhD (K. Ranga Rama Krishnan Associate Professor, Duke University School of Medicine<https://www.neuro.duke.edu/people/faculty/kafui-dzirasa>) will discuss how emerging neuro-technologies redefine our sense of humanity and the ethical dimensions of new tools to combat brain disease.    DIGITAL CONNECTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES Eugene Yi (Co-founder and Director, Cortico<https://www.cortico.ai>) will discuss how tech is continuing to influence how we live freely, safely, and ethically, and how this reality lives at the intersection of technology, regulation, and policy. Raylene Yung (Co-founder and CEO, U.S. Digital Response<https://www.usdigitalresponse.org>) will discuss how we elevate the critical role of technologists in driving advancement and efficiency across infrastructure and core community systems. Keynote Session (Tuesday, October 20 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT) The keynote session<https://www.astc.org/newfrontiers/keynote/> includes:  * Fireside Chat:  Dr. Arati Prabhakar and Sonal Shah<https://beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/person/sonal-shah/> will discuss how solutions-focused research and development might drive breakthroughs for a wider range of societal challenges, including public health, climate, education, and social policy. * Panel on Health Innovation & Equity: Dr. Dara Kass <https://feminem.org/author/dara/>and Wendy Taylor<https://www.jhpiego.org/about/leadership/wendy-taylor/> will discuss how equity can be centered in the healthcare delivery, biomedical research, and the pipeline of future innovators, clinicians, and leaders in this field. Ryan Panchadsara<https://www.kleinerperkins.com/people/ryan-panchadsaram/>m will kick off the panel and facilitate the discussion. * Featured Remarks:  Dr. Ruha Benjamin<https://www.ruhabenjamin.com/>, a leading scholar on the social dimensions of science, technology, and medicine, will discuss the urgency of addressing the intersection of race and technology to ensure we create a more equitable tomorrow. Melissa Ballard Pronouns: she / her / hers Senior Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy Association of Science and Technology Centers | www.astc.org<https://www.astc.org> [cid:af641a9f-e9c2-416f-b2ca-f6f2044d5b35]