Broadcom Foundation and Computer History Museum Introduce Design_Code_Build Program for Middle School STEM Education

IRVINE, Calif. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadcom Foundation, a non-profit organization funded by Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), and the Computer History Museum today announced a partnership to introduce underserved middle school students to coding and applied math through an innovative new community outreach initiative called Broadcom Presents Design_Code_Build. For more news, visit Broadcom Foundation's Newsroom or join the conversation on the Broadcom and Computer History Museum Facebook pages. 

Broadcom Presents Design_Code_Build is a series of interactive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) events at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View designed to introduce more than 400 Bay Area middle school students to the basic concepts involved in coding, such as logic, structure, space and change. Through activities that emphasize problem solving, teamwork and project-based learning, students will gain hands-on experience by programming a Raspberry Pi, which uses a Broadcom® BCM2835 system-on-a chip (SoC), navigating a maze using logic and investigating historical technologies to learn how computers were programmed in the past.

Each event is keynoted by a high-tech "Rock Star," an industry luminary who will share his or her personal story to inspire students to learn the math and coding skills they need to hold 21st century jobs in computer-driven STEM fields such as technology, engineering, medicine, finance and design.  Broadcom Presents Design_Code_Build will partner with major corporations in Silicon Valley and leading organizations such as Engineers For Tomorrow (E4T), Raspberry Pi Foundation, Society for Women Engineers (SWE), and Broadcom's own Women's Network and Multicultural Network. Collaborating community partners include organizations such as Aim High and SMASH Prep/Level Playing Field Institute, which provide services to middle school minority students.

"We are extremely excited to launch Broadcom Presents Design_Code_Build with the Computer History Museum. The program will introduce the untapped talent reserve of young people to computer coding and afford them the opportunity to interact with volunteers working in exciting careers that rely on coding —from chip design to app building in fields from medicine to digital animation," said Paula Golden, Executive Director, Broadcom Foundation, and Director, Community Affairs, Broadcom Corporation. "Through our partnership, students will learn that analytical thinking and problem solving are important skills that future employers in virtually any profession are looking for and that there are great careers ahead for those who learn to code."

"Broadcom Presents Design_Code_Build is an innovative new outreach program that brings the power of coding to hundreds of Bay Area students, many of whom have never had access to the world of technology in a meaningful way before," said John Hollar, Computer History Museum Chief Executive Officer and President. "Through our partnership with the Broadcom Foundation, we look forward to creating a unique educational experience for these young people by providing access to technology and industry leaders and leveraging rich historical content through the Museum's legendary exhibits."

Broadcom Presents Design_Code_Build hosts its first session on October 11, 2014. The 2014 schedule will include three full-day workshops in 2014, followed by four more in 2015.

For more information, visit the Broadcom Foundation and Computer History Museum websites or visit Broadcom Foundation's Newsroom and read the B-Inspired Blog. And to stay connected, visit the Broadcom and Computer History Museum Facebook pages.

About the Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, is a nonprofit organization with a four-decade history as the world's leading institution exploring the history of computing and its ongoing impact on society. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of computer history, and is home to the largest international collection of computing artifacts in the world, encompassing computer hardware, software, documentation, ephemera, photographs, and moving images.

The Museum brings computer history to life through large-scale exhibits, an acclaimed speaker series, a dynamic website, docent-led tours, and an award-winning education program. The Museum's signature exhibition is "Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing," described by USA Today as "the Valley's answer to the Smithsonian." Other current exhibits include "Charles Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2," IBM 1401 and PDP-1 Demo Labs.

For more information and updates, call (650) 810-1059, visit www.computerhistory.org, check us out on Facebook, and follow @computerhistory on Twitter. 

About Broadcom Foundation

Broadcom Foundation was founded to inspire and enable young people throughout the world to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through partnerships with local schools, colleges, universities and non-profit organizations. Broadcom Foundation is the proud sponsor of the Broadcom MASTERS®, a program of Society for Science & the Public – a premier science and engineering competition for middle school children. The Foundation's mission is to advance education in STEM by funding research, recognizing scholarship and increasing opportunity. Learn more at www.broadcomfoundation.org. 

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip, Broadcom is changing the world by Connecting everything®. For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything®, the Connecting everything logo and Broadcom MASTERS® are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners

SOURCE Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Broadcom Foundation