Bruce Simon: Gateways East Bay STEM Network
October 2015
For this month’s spotlight, we’re introducing a community member that we admire for their commitment science education. Bruce Simon has been teaching science for over 20 years to students of all ages. He is currently the Associate Director of Gateways East Bay STEM Network, a leadership hub for regional stakeholders working together to improve educational outcomes in STEM across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
Bruce works with partners from education, business, government, and non-profits to coordinate educational efforts, identify and promote promising practices, and to facilitate professional learning for educators.
Growing up, Bruce had always been interested in science. He enjoyed visiting the Franklin Institute, a science museum located in his hometown of Philadelphia. Young Bruce could be seen wandering through the giant heart, pondering the pendulum, learning about energy, and taking science classes at the museum. A favorite science experiment from his childhood is a project in which his class had to design the insulation for a model house heated by a light bulb. The students tested different materials to figure out which ones were most insulating.
One of Bruce’s most rewarding science teaching experiences was teaching fifth grade science. He had the opportunity to conduct a year-long unit focused on the open ocean. Bruce says that he “loved working with the students to learn about the ocean system and the connections between currents, wind, waves, and weather and how they impact all life on Earth.” Still interested in the ocean, Simon is fascinated by the density differences in liquids and gases and how they relate to ocean currents and winds. He even knows a few simple experiments demonstrating this effect!
To learn more about Gateways East Bay STEM Network check out www.eastbaystem.net.