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Subcategory: Science Education
TN Schools and Science Nonprofit Team Up to Improve Education
Dec 15 2009 - The Tennessean
The Tennessee Department of Education and local school systems will team up with national science nonprofit Battelle, which co-manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to establish a statewide network of programs geared at STEM education.
Making Science Class the Coolest Period in School
Sep 28 2009 - NPR
Science Friday’s on Talk of the Nation: Ira Flatow and guests talk about some creative ways to make science class more fun for students and teachers, including blogging about original research, using social networks with classmates, making online video presentations and doing hands-on experiments with cockroaches.
Online Program Connects Idaho Students, NASA
Aug 4 2009 - The Spokesman-Review
Bright, advanced Idaho high school juniors can now compete to get into a new online science and math course offered in partnership with NASA. It's modeled after a similar program in Texas; in addition to Virginia, Idaho is the third state to launch a Science and Aerospace Scholars Program.
National Research Council Unveils Methods Behind Its Forthcoming Doctoral Assessments
Jul 10 2009 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
After many rounds of delay, the National Research Council seems to be drawing nearer to releasing its comprehensive assessments and rankings of American doctoral programs.
Warming Makes Energy a Hot Subject
Mar 30 2009 - The Boston Globe
In what could be an encouraging sign of change in the longstanding shortage of American students preparing for high-tech careers, the hottest subject on college campuses across the nation seems to be renewable energy—a surge of interest largely stimulated by the specter of global warming.
For Young Ohio Engineering Team, the Future Is Green
Feb 19 2009 - USA Today
The middle-school winners of the National Engineers Week Future City Competition envision a eco-inspired urban living.
Ocean Explorer Brings Undersea Science to Life
Feb 9 2009 - eSchool News
Famed ocean explorer Robert Ballard says he's just a few months from the culmination of a 28-year dream—and he'll be taking students along with him virtually as he achieves it.
Saturday Science Academy Cultivates Minds for Medicine
Jan 26 2009 - The Los Angeles Times
In Los Angeles, students from pre-kindergarten through high school can attend the Saturday Science Academy at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science. They take classes in anatomy and other sciences, and all receive white coats for their dedication.
To Teach Genetics, Zebra Fish Go to School
Aug 5 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Steven A. Farber heads a nonprofit organization that aims to bring science to inner-city schools. Their tool of choice is the zebra fish.
Nim’s (Fantasy) Island
Apr 28 2008 - Jacob Clark Blickenstaff—NSTA WebNews
Prof. Blickenstaff writes, "Movies featuring strong female characters surviving on their own are so unusual, I thought it important that I take a look at Nim's Island, the South Pacific adventure fantasy movie based on the book by Wendy Orr. … Although elements of this film are clearly fantasy, it deserves the attention of science teachers because of the potential it has to inspire girls to be independent and to hold on to an interest in science."
Teenagers, Scalpels, and Real Cadavers
Jan 22 2008 - The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida)
Animal dissections continue to be popular in the high school biology curriculum. NSTA and the National Association of Biology Teachers endorse that practice. However, biology teachers are careful to specify “nonhuman animals.” But dissecting a person is becoming more of a practice in science classrooms. A few high schools across the country have started offering hands-on cadaver-based courses. Universities are offering workshops that give high school students a look into their own anatomy.
Classroom Scientists Shoot for Space
Jan 18 2008 - Space Mart News
British students ages 14–18 are being encouraged to fly a lunch-box sized experiment aboard a future space mission. Experiments can measure some aspect of space, monitor the Earth in a novel way, or test new satellite technology. The winning team will be recognized during a special ceremony at the International Astronautical Federation Congress in September 2008.
Despite Divide, Girls Narrowing Math, Science Gap
Dec 31 2007 - Newsday
More females are becoming involved in math and science, according to experts. However, despite the trend, persistent gaps remain between boys and girls in math and science standardized test scores, as well as in professional opportunities.
ExploraVision Competition: Imagining the Technology of the Future
Dec 19 2007 - Education.com
For 16 years, Toshiba and NSTA have partnered to find out how today’s youth imagine the technology of the future with the ExploraVision Awards program. Designed for students in grades K–12, the competition encourages participants to work in teams to research a technology or an aspect of technology and determine what possible solutions the technology could produce in 20 years. Environed technologies have ranged from a timed water fountain to a passenger tire waste heat recovery system.
At 71, Physics Professor is a Web Star
Dec 19 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Physics professor Walter H.G. Lewin is gaining international attention thanks to his online classroom created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In his videotaped lectures at ocw.mit.edu, viewers can observe the 71-year-old beating students with cat fur to demonstrate electrostatics and riding a fire extinguisher-propelled tricycle to show how a rocket lifts off. Lewin ranked first on the most downloaded list at iTunes U for awhile. Fans of all ages have written to Lewin praising him for his work.
First Graders Get Biology Buddies
Dec 14 2007 - News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
North Carolina high school students are helping teach first graders about birds, part of a series of hands-on lessons that enables younger students to have a biology buddy. "I want to be a teacher, so this is helpful to have this interaction with the kids," observed Ashley Carter, a junior at Cedar Ridge High School who participates in the program. "Also, when I was younger, I liked having interaction with older kids."
CSI Program Aims to Hook Portsmouth Students on Science
Dec 13 2007 - Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia)
Solving fictional cases is one of many activities Portsmouth, Virginia, students can participate in as part of Camp BioBASE Inquiry, a science program focused on biotechnology. Students in the program meet for three days a week, every other week, for two months, and engage in hands-on activities such as analyzing fish DNA and phosphate testing. Organizers said they based the program on the popular television series CSI because it would “hook” the students on science.
Simply, Green is the Word for Suffolk High Schoolers
Dec 10 2007 - The Virginian Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia)
Students at a Virginia high school are promoting ways to help protect the environment by producing an online newsletter. Though “relatively unusual,” creating their own environment-focused newsletter motivates and empowers students, observed Gerald Wheeler, NSTA’s executive director. Since its debut in October, the publication titled Going Simply Green, has discussed various issues such as the benefits of organic household cleaners and using energy-efficient lighting.
Girls Make History by Sweeping Top Honors at a Science Contest
Dec 4 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
For the first time, females have taken the top honors at this year’s Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. New York residents Janelle Schlossberger and Amanda Marinoff captured first place in the team category for creating a molecule that can help block the reproduction of drug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria. Isha Himani Jain of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, won the top honor in the individual category for studying bone growth in zebra fish. Eleven of the top 20 finalists in this year’s program were women. More than 1,600 students nationwide entered the program.
He Propels His Students to Appreciate Science
Nov 25 2007 - USA Today
Michael Lampert was in his final year of a doctoral program in physics when he felt a calling to teach. At first, he found the profession challenging. But in recent years, Lampert has not only inspired his students to learn science, he has lived it. The 48-year-old Oregon teacher has launched weather balloons in Antarctica to study ozone depletion and helped install an infrasound listening station in Africa that can detect nuclear explosions. Lampert finds time to share his adventures with his students through online journals, community presentations, and demonstrations.
The Games Students Play
Nov 25 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Teachers in Massachusetts are using various programs to inspire students to learn math and science as a way to help them prepare for standardized tests. “Educators throughout the state are looking closely at the new science curriculum and what direction they are going to go in,” said Mike Gilbert, field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, noting that students must demonstrate a command of either biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering-technology to meet the MCAS graduation requirement. “Many districts are upgrading their labs and enhancing their science programs with more hands-on experiments. Experience has shown that the best way to differentiate instruction in science is through the hands-on environment.”
English, Algebra, Phys Ed... and Biotech
Nov 18 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Science educators interested in seeing the future of biotechnology education might want to visit George Cachianes’ classrooms. The former researcher turned teacher started a biotechnology course at Lincoln High School in San Francisco. The school has five biotech classes. Four other public high schools in San Francisco offer the course based on Cachianes’ syllabus. Observers note that biotechnology is a popular field with students, and is proving to be a helpful way to attract them to pursue careers in science and technology.
Grant Helps Albuquerque Students Learn About Careers in Science
Nov 16 2007 - Albuquerque Tribune (New Mexico)
Students in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are benefiting from a new partnership, thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant has enabled students at the University of New Mexico Center for Biomedical Engineering to perform hands-on science activities with middle school students.
In Science Classrooms, a Blast of Fresh O2
Oct 30 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Many observers have negatively commented on the state of science education in the United States and point to the poor performance of American students in international competitions. But the author of this article notes "some of the direst noises about our nation's scientific prospects may be premature."
Lessons about Climate Change Pose Many Challenges for Science Teachers
Oct 29 2007 - Education Week (Requires free registration)
As climate change garners more public attention, more science teachers, particularly at the high school level, are approaching the topic in their classrooms. But few textbooks and other curriculum materials cover the subject, leaving many educators to search for accurate, student-friendly resources.
Schools Embrace Environment and Sow Debate
Oct 25 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Mixed reaction is being generated over efforts by schools to help save the environment. Critics contend the environmental focus “is a waste of taxpayers’ money and a distraction for schools at a time when many students are ill-prepared for college and struggling to meet minimum standards on math and reading tests.” Proponents note that such efforts can help students become better citizens, prevent health risks, and reduce utility costs.
How to Make Your School Green
Oct 22 2007 - Arizona Republic
The growing importance of teaching and practicing sustainability is the focus of the October issue of Edutopia magazine. This article provides tips from the magazine for making schools more environmentally-friendly.
'Cash Crisis' for Science Centers
Oct 22 2007 - BBC News
Science education centers in the United Kingdom face financial trouble, and some centers have already closed, according to a new report. “The loss of such centers is a threat to science education,” the report states. The science and technology select committee wants the government to provide at-risk centers short-term funding. But the study notes that in terms of earning revenue, some science centers have struggled to raise more than 80% of their operating costs. Ministers say they will respond “in due course.”
Math Helps Solve Mysteries
Oct 19 2007 - San Bernardino County Sun (California)
Students in California recently combined their math and science skills to solve a mock crime scene investigation. “I thought I would never be able to use trigonometry in life, but when I took this course, it showed me that trigonometry helps you solve cases, that you have to use angles to solve mysteries,” observed student Lillian Martinez. Martinez was part of a group of students who participated in the CSI Trigonometry Exercise for High School Students. The program is jointly sponsored by the Sheriff’s Department and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Alliance for Education.
Intel Hosts 'Academy Awards for Education'
Oct 12 2007 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
Representatives from six schools were recently treated to an evening of royalty when they were recognized as winners of this year’s Intel Schools of Distinction Awards program. The program recognizes K–12 schools for their exceptional use of technology to enhance math and science education. Winners receive Emmy-like statutes, $10,000 checks, and technology products and services.
SMU Gets $10.1M Gift to Improve Engineering Outlook
Oct 11 2007 - Dallas Morning News (Requires free registration)
Southern Methodist University (SMU) will announce today that it is receiving $10.1 million to improve how engineering is taught in schools and colleges across Texas and the United States. Experts note one of the most critical problems for engineers to solve is to develop the pipeline for more engineers. SMU officials plan to use the grant to push engineering courses into middle and even elementary schools. The money will also be used for hiring additional faculty, an endowment, and a new building.
Sputnik Heralded Space Race, Focus on Learning
Oct 4 2007 - USA Today
On October 4, 1957, the first artificial object to orbit Earth was launched into space. Observers note Sputnik sent a “jolt” into the nation’s education system. At the time, Americans feared federal funding could lead to federal control. However, educators seized on the launch and pushed for more government funding. Congress approved funding for the National Defense Education Act. Lawmakers held the first hearings on spending for school construction, and schools began receiving matching funds for math and science, as well as foreign languages. Many teachers note the country could use another “Sputnik-like scare” to improve the nation’s schools.
Schools Embrace Ways to Help Environment
Oct 3 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
A growing group of students are working to make schools greener as they learn about the environment. For example, students in Kansas schools are encouraging their classmates to recycle plastic bottles and paper, and reducing their use of disposables in the school cafeteria. “The school becomes the model by which kids can see things in action,” observed Matt Riggs of the Mid-America Regional Council.
Re-engineering Engineering
Oct 1 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
When nonengineers think about engineering, it’s usually because something has gone wrong, such as collapsing levees in New Orleans or the loss of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. In follow-up investigations, it comes out that some of the engineers involved knew something was wrong. But too few spoke or pushed back, and those who did were ignored. However, this approach is something Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering wants to change.
Sputnik Left Legacy for U.S. Science Education
Oct 1 2007 - National Public Radio (All Things Considered)
When Sputnik’s “beep” first reached Earth on October 4, 1957, many Americans thought the Russian satellite was spying on them. The Soviets’ accomplishment of sending a satellite into orbit created both paranoia and concern that the Soviets had beaten Americans into space. The concern also prompted a revolution for U.S. science education.
When Science Suddenly Mattered, in Space and in Class
Sep 25 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
For many, Sputnik was proof that education, particularly science, had fallen behind. Scientists and engineers warned Congress that the cold war was being fought with slide rules, not rifles. In response, lawmakers passed the National Defense Education Act, providing college scholarships and other resources for aspiring scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. “Those were heady times,” noted Gerald Wheeler, NSTA’s executive director. But today the landscape of science education is different. “We look at declining numbers of students who think that math, science, or engineering is what they want to do,” said Shirley Malcolm, director of education and human resources at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “We lived many years off the investment of the race for space,” she said. But today there is “a kind of complacency.”
Club Expands Formula for Getting Girls in Science
Sep 24 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Hundreds of elementary school girls will learn about human anatomy, even dissecting cow hearts as part of a program that aims to infuse girls with confidence in math and science. "We're starting at a very young age," said Science Club for Girls executive director Connie Chow, "because we want to nurture the natural curiosity children have for the world around us."
'Aquanauts' Live Underwater, Study Florida Coral Reef Changes
Sep 18 2007 - ABC News
In an effort to raise interest in science and the oceans, six aquanauts are studying coral reef changes at Aquarius Reef Base located on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The researchers will study sponge biology and coral reefs fertile marine habitats that are threatened worldwide by disease, rising ocean temperatures, and human factors such as pollution. Teachers and students can follow the nine-day mission online at Oceanslive.org.
Green Habits Start at School
Sep 12 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Columnist Margaret Webb Pressler explains there are plenty of activities that students can engage in to help the environment. She notes school “is a great place to start.” The KidsPost section of the Washington Post highlights some of these efforts.
Teacher-Astronaut Talks About Space Life
Sep 11 2007 - ABC News
NSTA member and astronaut Barbara Morgan talked with students and others about life in space at Walt Disney World on September 10. Students asked Morgan if she and her crewmates had seen any UFOs while aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. The students also wanted to know who the astronauts would most like to take into space. “As a teacher, I would want to take every student on this planet and every teacher on this planet. You all would love it,” Morgan said.
Companies Scramble to Hire Engineers
Sep 2 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Petroleum companies both large and small are calling for engineers. But hiring them is a challenge. Observers explain that low college enrollment in petroleum engineering and other majors that support the oil and gas business is partly to blame because of the industry’s reputation as an unreliable employer. Industry officials are trying to combat the problem by attracting students with advertisements of challenging work and starting annual salaries at $70,000 or higher.
Students Clue Into Forensic Science
Aug 28 2007 - USA Today
Forensic science continues to be a popular field of study for college students. More than 130 forensics programs are being taught at colleges and universities across the country. However, only 16 programs at 14 universities are accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, said Jim Hurley, the academy’s director of accreditation. Hurley noted that he expects that number to increase as more programs adopt the rigid, required science course work
Stereotypes Turn Girls off to Math, Science
Aug 27 2007 - MSNBC.com
Stereotypes may turn some females off to math and science. But a new government program aimed at bringing more women and girls into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields hope to change that. Click on the link above to read five myths about girls and science that continue to endure, according to the National Science Foundation’s Research on Gender in Science and Engineering program.
Engineers of Future
Aug 24 2007 - Sacramento Bee (Requires free registration)
In an effort to boost the engineering profession, school officials in California’s Sacramento City Unified School District plan to open the School of Engineering and Sciences on September 4. Students who are accepted into the school will study math, science, and technology in a college–based curriculum. Students will also take electives and can participate in campus clubs.
Canadian Schools to Send Robot to Mars
Aug 23 2007 - Science Daily
Several universities in Canada want to launch a mission to Mars. The schools plan to build a robot that will search for water and life on the Red Planet, according to a report in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. The mission would take place in 2009.
U.S. Teacher Gives First Lesson From Space
Aug 15 2007 - Space Travel News
NSTA member and astronaut Barbara Morgan gave her first lesson from space on August 14. Morgan, who was joined by her crewmates Alvin Drew and Dave Williams, answered questions from students at the Discovery Center in Boise, Idaho. Morgan fielded questions such as how fast a baseball travels in space and how to drink in zero gravity weightlessness.
Ex-Teacher: Space 'Takes...Getting Used To'
Aug 10 2007 - ABC News
NSTA member Barbara Morgan says she had a “little trouble” on her first day in space. “When you first get into orbit, it takes a little getting used to,” she explained. “I was discombobulated. All day yesterday, even though I kept my head up, I felt like I was upside down the whole time.” Morgan also noted that it is easy to lose things in space. The former teacher is joining other astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, which launched on August 8.
Bringing Green to Urban Schools
Aug 9 2007 - San Francisco Chronicle (California)
Teachers and parents across California are helping their students learn about the environment with school gardens. California is the first state to allocate $15 million to support gardens in the state’s 6,000 schools. “We are really the front runner,” said Lisa Preschel, school garden project director at the Arts and Ecology Center. “But Chicago and surprisingly even Texas are now trying to catch up as well.”
Camp Introduces Children to World of Science
Aug 1 2007 - Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky)
Fifty elementary school students used their imaginations recently to explore the insides of a DVD player, cell phone, and other technology devices as part of a science camp. Camp Invention encourages students to use their imagination to create inventions and explore the many aspects of science.
Group: Math, Reading Time Up at Schools
Jul 25 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
A new report shows students are spending more time on reading and math and less time on other subjects like science, social studies, and art. “Clearly what this is showing is, what schools are held accountable for is what they put the emphasis on,” said Jack Jennings, president of the Center on Education Policy, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that authored the study. The study was released on July 25.
National Movement Connects Children to the Outdoors
Jul 24 2007 - Providence Journal (Rhode Island)
A national movement is spurring dozens of grassroots projects around the country and hearings on Capitol Hill. The No Child Left Inside movement consists of environmental groups, civic leaders, and child advocates who are trying to get cities and states to develop programs that will enable students to spend more time outdoors. Examples of efforts include a month-long No Child Left Inside challenge that encourages children to chronicle in story and pictures where they travel outside in Vermont, and the Great Park Pursuit in Connecticut.
Program Aims to Provide Science Degrees for Black Students
Jul 19 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A new university program aims to produce more black graduates in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, in which black students are woefully underrepresented.
Dress Rehearsal for Astronauts
Jul 17 2007 - MSNBC.com
NSTA member Barbara Morgan and her crewmates are in Florida preparing for next month’s launch of space shuttle Endeavour. During their three days in Florida, the Endeavour crew will be briefed on safety equipment, drive a tank used during an escape from the launch pad, and make shuttle landing simulations runs. The preparations will culminate with a practice launch on July 19.
Physics Students Compete in Iran
Jul 12 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Beginning July 13, teams of physics students from more than 70 nations will compete in this year’s International Physics Olympiad. The weeklong event is designed to test secondary students’ physics prowess through written exams and hands-on activities. Winners of the event will be awarded medals. In 2006, the American team brought home four gold medals, and one silver.
Fireworks Focus of Summer Science Camp
Jul 3 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A group of high school students stood at the edge of a limestone quarry in June as three air horn blasts warned that something big was about to happen. Across the quarry, with a roar and a cloud of dust and smoke, a 50-foot high wall of rock sloughed away with a shudder and a long crashing fall, and 20,000 tons of rock was suddenly on the ground. The students laughed. There are not many wholesome explosions in the news these days, but those are what Summer Explosives Camp provides. This program is designed to attract students to a project at the University of Missouri, Rolla, engineering school that feeds industries like mining and demolition.
Chilean Students Find Whale Fossils
Jun 29 2007 - MSNBC.com
Chilean teenagers taking a biology field trip have discovered fossils from whales which died millions of years ago. The students found the fossils in the hills near the village of Los Maitenes, nearly four miles from the sea and 100 miles from the capital Santiago. Local authorities are hailing the discovery as one of the most important of its kind in central Chile. They plan to declare the area a national monument, which would give the area protected status.
Students Engage in Summer Math, Science Program
Jun 27 2007 - Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee)
A group of middle school students in Tennessee are engaging themselves in math and science this summer. The Shelby Scholars Summer Institute enables students to create flight plans to San Francisco, track the Avian flu virus, and use wind energy to power model cars. “It’s way better than school,” observed one student.
Educators Attract Students to Science Through Sports
Jun 27 2007 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
Educators at the University of Southern Mississippi are engaging students in a new program that combines science and sports. The school’s program in Sports and High Performance Materials, reportedly the first in the nation, explores the connection between human performance and high-tech materials. Its graduates would have lucrative prospects in the $400 billion sporting goods industry and the military sector, according to school officials.
Fathers Can Influence Daughters' Interest in Math, Science
Jun 26 2007 - Science Daily
Fathers play a major role in their daughters' interest in math and science, according to a University of Michigan study that traced the sources of the math and science gender gap. Females and males scored equally well on tests of science and math ability, but parents' attitudes, particularly fathers' gender stereotypes, had a significant effect on their daughters' math achievement and eventual career choice.
Children Gain Lessons in the Environment
Jun 26 2007 - Belfast Telegraph (Ireland)
A group of Irish nursery school students recently took part in the National Trust Guardianship program, an effort that encourages children to be more responsible for the environment. Students participated in various activities such as walking along a nature trail, exploring habitats and sea life, visiting a farm to learn about animals, and planting annuals. “Their enthusiasm for learning about the world around them is so easy to capture,” noted Shirley Lennon, an education officer for the guardianship program.
Program Encourages Girls to Pursue Engineering Careers
Jun 22 2007 - Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
A new program is encouraging girls to pursue careers in engineering. Engineering for Young Women is a weeklong summer program being held at Marquette University. Program participants used a computer software program to design bridges that could support specified amounts of weight without collapse. They studied concepts such as compression and tension, and the roles those concepts play in the construction of a bridge. “We are just showing them all the things women can get into,” observed Erin Richardson, an engineering instructor at Marquette. Richardson is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers. According to the society, women hold only 10% of engineering jobs in the United States.
Groups Launch National Movement to "Leave No Child Inside"
Jun 19 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
On June 20, 40 civic leaders, representing several governors, three big-city mayors, Walt Disney Company, Sesame Workshop, DuPont, the gaming industry, and others, will launch a campaign to raise $20 million that will ultimately fund initiatives across the country to encourage children to do what once seemed second nature: go outdoors.
Science Books Spring to Life for Students
Jun 5 2007 - Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, California)
Science teachers can learn about the Exploring California Biodiversity program in this article. Funded by a $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the program brings University of California, Berkeley, graduate students and elementary, middle, or high school classes together to learn science. The graduate students hold in-class demonstrations, help with instruction, and lead trips that showcase the state’s collection of flora and fauna.
Students Display Winning Projects
May 30 2007 - Science News
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, visitors must decide between red and green chilies. However, last week, a different kind of spice heated up the town. At the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), more than 1,500 high school students from 51 countries displayed winning science projects with unique titles.
More U.S. Schools Consider Benefits of Going Green
May 29 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Nestled in the lush trees of suburban Atlanta’s Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve sits the foundation of a school that is being built with partly recycled materials. When it is finished, Arabia Mountain High School will have naturally lit classrooms, and an aggressive recycling program. It is a part of a “green school” movement that is growing in popularity nationwide, with schools making use of solar panels, living roofs, and wetlands. School districts say the environmentally friendly properties reduce energy costs while educating students about the world around them.
Why Dissection is a Dying Art in Schools
May 25 2007 - The Evening Standard (United Kingdom)
A survey by the Institute of Biology shows that 85% of teachers believe dissections are far less common in schools than 20 years ago. The packed curriculum and lack of funding are partly to blame for the decline, but 22% of respondents cited confusion over health and safety regulations, and 28% said many students were too squeamish to carry out dissections. [See also the NSTA Position Statement on The Responsible Use of Live Animals and Dissection in the Science Classroom.]
Contest Links High School Students Worldwide
May 21 2007 - CNN.com
Chris Fitzhugh spent spring break building a copper and PVC-pipe model to show how temperature differences in the ocean can be used to generate electricity. It’s not just a personal quest. The 17-year-old junior and his teammates in Mexico were competing in the Global Challenge, a Vermont-based contest aimed at improving American high school students’ math and science skills. The idea for the contest came to management consultant Craig DeLuca two years ago, as one of his clients planned to outsource design and manufacturing, and his community in Stowe considered putting off buying science textbooks.
NASA Takes Students Around the World in Eight Minutes
May 21 2007 - Terra Daily
Students from all over the world will gather to participate in the Odyssey of the Mind’s 28th World Finals May 23–26. The competition will take place at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Students in the finals have advanced from competitions held earlier in the year at the local, regional, state, and country levels and will now compete for the Odyssey’s top awards.
Wizard of Recycling Lures Kids to Science
May 21 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
As a child, Carlos Macias made a hobby out of inventing his own toys. A self-described bookworm, he quickly exhausted the family supply of books and became something of a young scientist. “I preferred [inventing] to playing or swimming,” he says of a childhood full of the explosions, splatters, and sparks of invention. On one family outing to a city park, the young boy decided that he wanted to catch bugs in a murky pond. After finding a stick, a piece of string, and a plastic bag, he made his own fishing rod. Seeing him using the new invention, some other children came over and asked to buy it. When the young inventor offered instead to show them how to make it, they insisted he sell it to him, but, Macias refused, saying they should make it themselves. While his ethic has not made him rich, it has made him a minor celebrity among kids who consider him a modern day wizard.
In This High School Class, it is Rocket Science
May 17 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Brett Williams sits at his desk in a classroom in a town in the Texas hill country, surrounded by students immersed in a science project unlike any other in the nation. No simple chemical reactions in test tubes are involved. No demonstrations of Ohm’s law. Instead, one student is on the phone ordering a tank of nitrous oxide to help ignite a rocket engine. Another, sounding like an electromechanical engineer, is tracking down an electric-current converter. The night before, students stayed until 10 p.m. running complex calculations on flight dynamics and trajectories for a final check by NASA.
Universities See Green at Forum
May 8 2007 - Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri)
On the last day of Washington University’s symposium on energy and the environment, leaders from universities around the globe declared their intentions to push for advanced study in these fields. For instance, the president of Fudan University in Shanghai, China, said he would speed the process of making its department of environmental science a full-fledged school. Chancellor Mark Wrighton of Washington University in St. Louis said he plans to name a sustainability officer, put more resources toward bioenergy and clean combustion research, and make the environment a curriculum focus. The head of the National Taiwan University said he would quicken the pace to start an energy research institute.
Student Engineering Team Headed for Near Weightless NASA Flight
Apr 30 2007 - Space Travel News
A robotic arm designed for spacecraft repair and maintenance will be put to the test next week in a near-weightless environment, along with some of its Cornell student designers. Cornell’s Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) Research Team, comprising mainly of mechanical engineering undergraduate and graduate students, is one of 34 schools selected by NASA for this year’s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program.
UP Aerospace Readies Rocket for April 28 Launch
Apr 25 2007 - Space Daily
The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology and the National Aerospace Leadership Initiative has teamed up with UP Aerospace as education partners on the LaunchQuest Program. This program provides middle and high school students the opportunity to send their own research experiments into space. Student teams from around the world, including the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Netherlands have developed and designed 44 scientific experiments for the SL-2 mission.
Interactive Engagement Versus Traditional Methods
Apr 24 2007 - American Journal of Physics/ResearchBrief
In an effort to increase student engagement, some instructors have encouraged the use of strategies that seek to stimulate access to the curriculum by letting students work together on content-related activities, such as through "think-pair-share" and interactive engagement. A study published in the American Journal of Physics and highlighted in the latest issue of ASCD’s ResearchBrief compares student achievement in lecture-based physics classes with that of classes using interactive engagement strategies.
Experts: Education Key to U.S. Competitiveness
Apr 17 2007 - CNET.com
Innovation and U.S. competitiveness will suffer if students do not receive a better education, according to a panel of experts. In particular, science, technology, engineering, and math education in grades K–12 needs a boost, the panelists noted.
Computer Science Takes Steps to Bring Women to the Fold
Apr 17 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
For decades, undergraduate women have been moving in ever greater numbers into science and engineering departments at American universities. Yet even as they approach or exceed enrollment parity in mathematics, biology, and other fields, there is one area in which their presence relative to men is static or even shrinking: computer science.
Kids Rule in Robotics
Apr 17 2007 - Cosmic Log/MSNBC.com
Thousands of students from around the world recently gathered for two grand competitions for contraptions. Although there are no winners to report, the biggest payoff from the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics championship, and NASA’s Great Moonbuggy Race may well come from in the form of future waves of exploration and innovation.
Climate Change Scenarios Scare, and Motivate, Kids
Apr 16 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
For many children and young adults, global warming is the atomic bomb of today. Fears of an environmental crisis are defining their generation in ways that the Depression, World War II, Vietnam, and the Cold War’s lingering “War Games” etched souls in the 20th century. For more information on Environmental Education, NSTA members can refer to the April/May 2007 issue of Science & Children.
Robots Tackle Core of STEM Education
Apr 12 2007 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
Despite a renewed emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education to keep America globally competitive, many experts contend that students remain woefully ill-prepared in technology and engineering, the core of the STEM disciplines. In an effort to change that, many educators are turning to robotics, holding design competitions, and challenging classmates to outperform one anther in a battle for technical supremacy.
Bond's After School Program Jumps to Head of the Class
Apr 10 2007 - Tallahassee Democrat (Florida)
Learning does not stop when the school bell rings. That’s how teachers at one Florida elementary school view their after school program. The program consists of students receiving extra help on any requested subject during the first 15 minutes. The next hour and a half is used for homework help in reading, science, math, and writing. A television crew affiliated with the National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning recently videotaped a segment of the program. The partnership searches the country for after school programs that show evidence of direct improvement in subjects like math, reading, and science.
District May Open Science Charter School
Apr 9 2007 - Desert News (Salt Lake City, Utah)
The Salt Lake School District is considering the creation of a new charter school in an effort to cultivate students’ interest in science. The Salt Lake Center for Science Education would serve students in grades 6–9 and provide them with mentors who are scientists, educators, and community leaders. The school would operate in partnership with the University of Utah. For more information on Community Collaborations, NSTA members can refer to the April 2007 issue of The Science Teacher.
Battle Aliens, Save World, Learn Chemistry
Apr 6 2007 - MSNBC.com
Two university professors have combined their knowledge of science and videogames to create a game that allows students to learn chemistry.
High School is More Than Their Love; It's Become Their Vocation
Apr 4 2007 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
From Maryland to Los Angeles, school officials are overwhelmed by the demand for career-track programs in fields such as sports medicine and pre-engineering. Their hope is that career-oriented education can help keep potential dropouts in school by motivating students who might otherwise see a minimal connection between class work and the real world.
NASA to Host Teenage Rocket Scientists
Mar 23 2007 - Science Daily
Some of the best student scientists from across the nation will gather April 25–28 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center for the agency’s Student Launch initiative. The students will display and launch rocket vehicles during the event.
Expert Teachers 'Key to Physics'
Mar 20 2007 - BBC News
A new study suggests that the decline in school physics in England can be reversed if expert teachers can teach the subject in a fun way. Researchers at the University of Buckingham said a key step, seen in schools that were rejecting the trend, was teaching physics as physics. Too often it was “wrapped up in science taught by biologists,” so students could not see whether they were good at it, the researchers noted.
Asian Educators Looking to Loudoun for an Edge
Mar 19 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Students in a Virginia laboratory studied tiny genetically altered plants one recent afternoon, drawing leaves and writing data in logbooks. Meanwhile, visiting scientists studied the students. The scientists had come from the island nation of Singapore to the Academy of Science in Sterling in search of ways to improve their teaching.
Airborne Science in the Classroom: The Next Best Thing to Being There
Mar 16 2007 - Space Daily
It was early in the fall semester and to University of Utah meteorologist Ed Zipser, it was the perfect day to be teaching a graduate course in tropical meteorology. Zipser had just returned from the NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (NAMMA), a field campaign based in the Cape Verde Islands. He was chief scientist for the project. Armed with a notebook computer and an internet connection, Zipser effortlessly immersed students in a research activity related to the field campaign.
Teenager's Science Project Wins $100,000 Scholarship
Mar 14 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Mary Masterman, 17, set out to build a spectrograph, an instrument used to identify molecules' characteristics that can cost thousands of dollars. The senior at Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City built her own for $300 and won the top prize of a $100,000 scholarship in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search.
You Need Science to Create a Cartoon
Mar 13 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
A children’s exhibition at the Museum of Science in Boston explores the science, history, and fun of animation. Animation occupies nearly 6,000 square feet and features about a dozen interactive displays that provide kids and adults with a behind the scenes look at how cartoons are created. It also looks at how other animated effects, such as those seen on television and in the movies, are made.
School's Solar Power Serves as an Example for Students
Mar 12 2007 - Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
Energy generated since January at Entheos Academy is enough to power nine homes for a day or operate a television for more than 3,000 hours, thanks to the installation of 12 solar panels in the roof of the first-year charter school. “We want to get students thinking about (renewable energy) and get them excited,” explains Brian Smith, manager of Renewable Synergy, LLC, which designed and installed the panels. For more information on Energy, NSTA members can refer to the March 2007 issue of Science and Children.
Science, Math Deficit Holds Back State
Mar 11 2007 - Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, California)
American students, especially those in California, come up short in math and science. Fourth and eighth graders from California ranked in the bottom five on national math tests, according to 2005 results from the U.S. Department of Education. Fourth and eighth graders scored second to last on national science tests in 2005, barely beating out Mississippi. Experts postulate that too few qualified teachers, a lack of interest in math and science, and a large number of non-English speaking students are reasons for lower achievement scores.
Intel Competition is Where Science Rules and Research is the Key
Mar 7 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
The 65-year-old Intel Science Talent Search, in which 40 finalists compete for a $100,000 scholarship, has produced six Nobel Prize winners and programs in nearly 500 U.S. high schools to teach students to conduct cutting-edge research.
Students Discover Stars Without Leaving School
Mar 1 2007 - Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, California)
A "digitarium" projector enables teachers to zoom in on distant constellations, diagram the solar system, and speed up seasonal changes to better illustrate patterns.
NSTA Staff Featured in Education Publication
Mar 1 2007 - Cable in the Classroom Magazine
Two articles published in the March 2007 issue of Cable in the Classroom magazine feature NSTA President Linda Froschauer and Gerry Wheeler, NSTA’s executive director. Click on the link above to read the articles titled Creating a Virtual Lab and Formulas for Success.
Teacher of the Year Makes Science Real
Mar 1 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
Everyone from CEOs to members of associations is clamoring for improved science education to prepare the future workforce for a high-tech world. Last year’s release of science scores on the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress didn’t bode well: While fourth graders improved from 1996, eighth grade scores were stagnant, and twelfth graders’ scores declined. As policy makers seek the formula for improved results, the might want to peek into classrooms like Carolyn Kelley’s. Kelley is New Hampshire’s Teacher of the Year.
Student Tries to Capture the Power of Sewage
Feb 28 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
At age 13, Sikandar Porter-Gill became fascinated with alternative fuel sources and wanted to see whether he could harness the bacteria in mud from the Potomac River to generate power. The teen’s “mud battery” was a success. Now, Porter-Gill has moved on to bigger things, like searching for ways to turn sewage into power.
Governors: Changes Needed for Globalization
Feb 27 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
After meeting for four days, the nation’s governors have realized that students are not ready for the 21st century, workers are not trained for newly created jobs, and businesses are not competing as strongly as they need to. The governors have agreed on a framework for change. One component of this framework is a refocus on science, technology, engineering, math, and foreign language proficiency. The governors are seeking programs to encourage students and teachers in those subject areas.
Parenting/Hands-On Science an Experiment in Education
Feb 25 2007 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Students are benefiting from an unusual program run jointly by the Science Museum of Minnesota and the housing developer CommonBond Communities. The program trains and pays teens to bring simple science experiments back to their communities. The aim is to infuse science, math, and technology into after-school programs while promoting an enthusiasm for science among low-income teens of color. The pilot program will expand this fall to three other CommonBond sites and then to five museums in the United States.
Students Finding Smaller is Better
Feb 25 2007 - Chicago Tribune
Career academies are part of a popular national trend to give growing high schools a smaller feel. Nearly $700 million in federal grants have been spent since 2000 to establish small, learning communities within U.S. high schools. Approximately 23% of all public high schools offered one or more specialized career academies as of 2003, according to Braden Goetz, who oversees high school grants for the U.S. Department of Education.
Experimenting With Excitement
Feb 12 2007 - Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina)
With science tests mandated by the federal government looming, school districts are pushing hands–on lessons to make science exciting, and to prepare students for global competition.
Top Prospects for Tomorrow's Labs
Feb 5 2007 - Science News
Twenty female and 20 male students aced an early challenge in their scientific careers by becoming finalists in the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search. This year marks the first time in the competition's 66-year history that female finalists have achieved numerical parity with male ones. Young women accounted for nearly 52% of this year's 1,705 entrants, each of whom submitted a research project in science, math, or engineering.
Undergrads Getting to Help With Research
Feb 4 2007 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Undergraduate education has traditionally taken place in the classroom, while research has been for graduate students and faculty. However, that trend is changing. Colleges and universities are pushing hard to get many more undergraduates involved in research.
'Augmented Reality' Helps Kids Learn
Feb 1 2007 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison have developed a project that uses "augmented reality" to teach students math and literacy skills. The project consists of teams of students gathering data on handheld computers to explain why aliens have landed, and in the process students "interview" virtual characters they encounter at certain GPS hot spots. The researchers say the project holds great potential for engaging students and teaching high-level skills. For more information on Math and Science Connections, NSTA members can refer to the February 2007 issue of The Science Teacher.
Teaching Science Because It's Fun
Jan 24 2007 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Students across Houston are taking part in a two-day science camp at Space Center Houston. There, students heard former television science instructor Bill Nye speak, launched rockets, and completed lessons on gravity by dropping a metal ball and charting its fall.
Schools Seek More Female Engineering Majors
Jan 23 2007 - CNN.com
Experts argue that if the United States is to remain competitive with other countries in the engineering field, it will have to find better ways to encourage women to join the profession.
A Learning System That Opens Many Doors
Jan 18 2007 - Hartford Courant (Connecticut)
About 1,300 schools in 42 states are using a new learning program developed at the University of Connecticut that surveys student interests online and then generates a list of thousands of possible projects for them to complete.
Science for Preschoolers Makes a Big Splash
Jan 17 2007 - Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Family Communications Inc. of Mister Rogers fame and the Carnegie Science Center on the North Side have launched the Let's Explore program, an initiative that includes a kit to teach parents, caregivers, and preschool teachers how to spark children's interest in science. For more information on Primary Foundations, NSTA members can refer to the January 2007 issue of Science & Children.
Give a Child a Video Game and Maybe a Job
Jan 11 2007 - Scientific American
Mathematics, science, and video games? David Williamson Shaffer, an education science professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, says schools should use games to prepare students to compete in the work force, where juggling technology is a daily requirement. Although many educators oppose the idea of video games in schools, the U.S. military has titles that train soldiers, teenagers with cancer use a game to battle their illness virtually and physically, and some surgeons use video games to keep their hands nimble.
Gregoire Urges Giant Leap for Education
Jan 10 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Echoing John F. Kennedy’s challenge to the nation to put a man on the moon, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire is urging lawmakers to improve the state’s math and science programs as part of a 21st century overhaul of the entire education system. “Our modern–day moon challenge is to meet the math and science crisis facing our state and nation,” Gregoire said The governor has requested that state lawmakers increase early learning programs, cut class sizes, recruit 750 new math and science teachers, and provide space for more students in college.
Teaching the Notion of Nanotechnology
Dec 19 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Recognizing that changing curricula can be next to impossible, the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network is developing and distributing programs at engaging schools in nanoscale science and engineering education, says Carol Lynn Alpert, director of strategic projects at the Museum of Science, Boston, and a co-principal investigator of the network. For more information on nanotechnology or Small Science, NSTA members can refer to the December 2006 issue of The Science Teacher.
Vocational Education is Shifting Focus
Dec 15 2006 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)
It was once the refuge of high school students who were not headed to college, for the kids who did not excel at academics or preferred getting their hands dirty. But vocational education, the former province of budding mechanics, welders, and secretaries, is shedding its grease-stained, dictation-taking image. Signifying the changes, recent federal legislation even gave vocational education a new label. It’s now officially called Career and Technical Education (CTE). The new CTE can mean anything from nanotechnology to robotics to biomedical sciences.
Science in the Spotlight
Dec 14 2006 - Educational Leadership
With an increased emphasis on testing science achievement comes a corresponding need to make science interesting and exciting to students. The authors of the latest issue of Educational Leadership shine a light on science education, discussing the demand for more rigorous science teaching in classrooms, the professional development science teachers require, and the need to share best practices internationally.
Gregoire Proposal Would Aid Math, Science
Dec 12 2006 - Seattle Times
Two weeks after recommending a delay in math requirements for high school graduates, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has announced a $197 million math and science initiative that would put more teachers in the classroom and provide additional help for struggling students.
Nature Programs' Goal: No Child Left Inside
Nov 22 2006 - USA Today
A back-to-nature movement to reconnect students with the outdoors is burgeoning nationwide. Programs, public and private, are starting or expanding as research shows children suffer health problems, including obesity from too much sedentary time indoors with television and computers.
Foaming Fountain Puts the Fizz Into Science
Nov 16 2006 - The Guardian (London, England)
It is an experiment that has taken the world by storm. The simple but spectacular Diet Coke and Mentos explosion has sprung up on video sharing sites and scientists are hoping the experiment's popularity will inspire hard-to-impress youngsters to study science.
Living Lab Teaches Science to Kids
Nov 15 2006 - Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
A natural spring that repeatedly flooded playing fields has now spawned a haven for a threatened Utah fish and enabled a group of elementary students to study science in an outdoor classroom.
Everyday Wonders of Science on Tour
Nov 9 2006 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Requires free registration)
Siemens has partnered with Cool Girls, Inc., a local after-school program, to foster math and science literacy through what it calls Siemens Science Days.
Trade School--It's More Than You Think
Nov 8 2006 - Philadelphia Inquirer (Requires free registration)
In the past, vocational education was seen as a second-class education, the path for students who planned to skip college and head directly into the workforce. But a national focus on academic accountability and a high-tech economy that demands more highly skilled workers has forced a change: Vocational education is now for college–bound students.
Hawaiian Teen is Top Young Scientist
Oct 27 2006 - The Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii)
A Hawaiian teen has been named America’s Top Young Scientist for 2006. Nolan Kamitaki, who resides in Hilo, won the title after competing against 40 finalists selected for this year’s Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge finals in Washington, D.C. Kamitaki will receive a $20,000 scholarship for his science project on arsenic in Big Island Schools.
Re-Teaching the Map of the Solar System
Oct 21 2006 - CBS News
Pluto may be no more than a distant icy rock in the minds of astronomers who stripped it of its planethood, but its downgrade to a “dwarf planet” has created a teachable moment in classrooms nationwide. So what if museums have to adjust their exhibits and publishers update their textbooks? That’s just science, according to many teachers who attended NSTA’s Midwestern Area Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, last week.
Program Aims to Steer Students Into Engineering
Oct 17 2006 - Arizona Republic
With U.S. demand for engineers expected to rise in coming years, Arizona high schools are responding by offering a pre–engineering program used nationwide to attract young people to the profession. Project Lead the Way, introduced in 1997 in New York high schools, has more than 1,600 schools offering its pre–engineering curriculum in nearly every state.
U.S. Hat Trick in Nobel Science Prizes
Oct 5 2006 - CBS News
The American sweep of Nobel Prizes in science this year has filled the nation's science educators with pride over what has worked well in labs and classrooms, and angst over what has not worked.
Students Take Aim at Global Problems
Oct 5 2006 - Christian Science Monitor
Science teachers will be introduced to the Global Challenge contest in this article. The program puts U.S., Chinese, and Indian high school students together in a team problem solving competition that deals with a science–related issue. Top performers are each awarded college scholarships of up to $5,000 once the recipients enroll in a science or math–related major.
Tech Foundation Aims to Open Schools
Sep 27 2006 - Seattle Times
The Technology Access Foundation hopes to create five public schools with a focus on technology, engineering, math, and science to provide low–income minority students a top-notch education and access to jobs at tech firms. The charity's co-founder, former Microsoft employee Trish Millines Dziko, says her group would outfit the schools with computers and donate $1.5 million to $2 million annually to each campus, while district partners would provide the buildings and teachers.
Curiosity Powers New School
Sep 25 2006 - Philadelphia Inquirer (Requires free registration)
The Science Leadership Academy is one of four new high schools that have opened this fall in the Philadelphia region. Students who enroll in the school take an integrated biology and chemistry class during their first two years. Every Wednesday, students can visit the Franklin Institute where they will work with the museum’s faculty and gain unique perspectives on exhibits, including one featuring Charles Darwin. Anissa Weintraub, a learning specialist at the academy, noted “this is inquiry–based, project–driven instruction where the students get to dictate what they are doing.”
Report Calls for Improvement in K-8 Science Education
Sep 22 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
A National Research Council report says K-8 science classes are in "urgent need" of improvement. Science standards that have driven reforms in the past 15 years are too broad. To provide a more comprehensive science education, the report says that educators should concentrate on core concepts central to the understanding of science rather than the many strands that exist in school systems around the country. Gerry Wheeler, NSTA's executive director, noted, "I think [the report] should be required reading for anyone who cares about our kids and how they learn science." To access the report, click here.
Math and Science Could Get Harder
Sep 14 2006 - Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)
Now that the Texas Legislature has mandated that all college–bound high school students, starting with next year's freshman class, must take a fourth year of science and math, the Texas Board of Education could determine what those classes will be and phase out easier courses in math, physics, and chemistry. Some educators fear the tougher requirements, however, could set up some students for failure.
Students Get Hands-On Science Skills
Sep 11 2006 - CBS News
High schools in Kansas and Missouri have found that hands–on programs in engineering can help students understand why they need math and science after they graduate. For example, Grandview High School in Missouri implemented the national Project Lead the Way pre-engineering program in 2003. Shawnee Mission introduced its Engineering Technology for Tomorrow initiative in 2005. In addition to learning math and science, students learn the importance of teamwork and presenting themselves before an audience.
It's Astronomy 101 for Teachers
Aug 25 2006 - Indianapolis Star
Science teachers in the Indianapolis area say the decision by astronomers to eliminate Pluto of its planetary status will be an exciting lesson for students, but will cause logistical hurdles for publishers and others. Educators note that textbooks and classroom posters describing the solar system will need revising and mnemonic devices will have to be adjusted. Teachers may also have to adjust scales they use for students to map the planets.
Pluto's Demotion Not a Cause for Classroom Panic
Aug 25 2006 - CNN.com
Science teachers say Pluto loosing its planetary status is a plus rather than a minus. "It's a chance to start looking at more than just the nine planets," observed NSTA President–Elect John Whitsett, who has taught chemistry and physics for more than 30 years. Whitsett added the change would help focus attention back on science, which he thinks has been relegated to a supporting role in recent years.
Stopping Slip and Slide of Summer
Aug 24 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Worried about the so-called “summer slide,” teachers and parents are searching more for creative ways to help students stay mentally sharp during vacations. Concerns over students losing ground while school is out have intensified amid pressure to raise standardized test scores and cover required state standards, leaving little time to review material that students might forget when they return to the classroom.
District Debuts Science Academy
Aug 22 2006 - The Arizona Republic
School officials in Scottsdale, Arizona, are starting the school year with a new math and science academy. The $100,000 building has room for 40 students and three core teachers. Six additional teachers will teach electives. Students can take classes in biology, honors biology, and science research. Algebra, geometry, and trigonometry are also offered. The school is the district’s first attempt to create a specialized academic program.
Tories Aim to Boost Science Study
Aug 16 2006 - BBC News
The Conservative Party is considering a plan to increase the number of university science students. The move follows complaints that Britain is not producing enough scientists. The party’s science task force has suggested that science A–levels be worth more points to students going to college. Members of the task force also say incentives will help.
New NGA Boss Pushes School, Tech Reforms
Aug 11 2006 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
The new head of the National Governors Association has launched a program called Innovation America. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano’s effort will focus on increasing awareness about the need for American competitiveness and encouraging schools nationwide to reform their teaching strategies, especially in the areas of math and science, to better meet the needs of a global economy.
Physics in Downward Spiral as Pupils Think it is Too Difficult
Aug 11 2006 - The Guardian (United Kingdom)
A new report warns that the study of physics in British schools and universities is decreasing since many teenagers believe the subject is too boring or difficult. The study also found there is a shortage of qualified physics teachers. Professor Alan Smithers and Dr. Pamela Robinson of the University of Buckingham, who authored the report, note that problem is likely to get worse as fewer physics graduates train to teach the subject in schools.
University Tries to Make Texas a Science Force
Aug 10 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
In an effort to remain competitive and be a magnet for scientific and medical research, the University of Texas is planning to expand its research and science teaching facilities with new buildings and laboratories. State bonds, grants, gifts, and income generated by the university endowment will be used to fund the $2.5 billion effort. Other states such as California and Arizona have announced similar initiatives, though they are not as large as the Texas program.
School Puts a Twist on Distance Learning
Aug 4 2006 - Indianapolis Star
How do astronauts eat in space? That was one of the questions posed by elementary students in Anderson, Indiana, during a recent discussion with astronauts on the International Space Station. The students were able to talk with the astronauts with the help of a local amateur radio club who established the contact between the school and the space station.
Rocket Will Carry Students' Experiment Into Space
Jul 24 2006 - The New Mexican
When UP Aerospace Inc. launches its Space-Loft XL rocket this summer, it will be carrying scientific and experimental payloads designed by universities, as well as more than 40 experiments created by high school students. The Connecticut–based company has partnered with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology and the National Aerospace Leadership Initiative, which established Launch–Quest, a program that enables students to conduct their own space flight research. The rocket will be launched Aug. 14.
Trying to Make Math Count
Jul 19 2006 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Community leaders in Minnesota say the state needs more scientists and engineers for the future. However, test scores from career assessment exams released July 18 show that only 11% of eighth graders and 21% of tenth graders express an interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Observers note that part of the problem is that math can open the door to science and technology and Minnesota has generally struggled to get more students to take high-level math courses.
Engineering a New Way
Jul 19 2006 - Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is determined to change the way engineers are educated in the United States. Located outside of Boston, the school is focused more on teaching than publishing. The crux of Olin’s effort is a “do-learn” model that emphasizes teaching students through projects and a student–focused environment aimed at heading off the high dropout rates at other engineering schools across the country, said Sherra Kerns, Olin’s vice president for innovation and research.
The Science of Summer Camp
Jul 18 2006 - Wichita Eagle (Kansas)
Science teachers can read about the Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration (STARBASE) program in this article. Funded by the Department of Defense and local contributions, the STARBASE program is a summer camp that encourages children to learn science and technology through the process of discovery.
CSU Lands $19 Million to Study Clouds
Jul 17 2006 - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado)
Scientists will be able to enhance their studies on how clouds are represented in climate models, thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Researchers at Colorado State University have been awarded $19 million from NSF to build computerized climate models that will more accurately depict cloud processes, which could lead to improved weather forecasts. “People have been struggling with this problem for 40 years and a lot of good work has been done, but we need a breakthrough,” said David Randall, a Colorado State University atmospheric scientist.
Minorities Encouraged to Pursue Careers in Science
Jul 14 2006 - Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)
Kenneth Olden, the first African American to become director of one of the institutes of the National Institutes of Health, recently inspired minority college students to consider careers in science during a motivational speech in Texas. Racial and ethnic health disparities are an issue of growing concern nationwide. American Indians, Hispanics, and African Americans make up about a quarter of the population, but only about one to three percent of scientists and physicians are minorities, according to Robert Kaman, director of the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
Students Try to Float Concrete Canoes
Jun 15 2006 - ABC News
A group of engineering students from the University of Nevada, Reno, will be among the 23 teams from U.S. colleges competing in this year’s National Concrete Canoe Competition in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Nevada team will try to paddle their canoe with 217 pounds of concrete. The students who designed and built the canoe say they are accustomed to people who question their creation. But as one team member noted, “the unit weight of our concrete is 61 pounds per cubic foot. Water’s unit weight is 62 pounds per cubic foot. That’s why our canoe floats.”
The Technology Mosaic
May 25 2006 - Inside Higher Ed
In an effort to give engineering graduates a broad education, Harvard University plans to create a new engineering school that will serve as a source of interdisciplinary work. “Engineering is becoming a liberal art,” explains Michael Rutter, a Harvard engineering spokesman. “It’s much more broadly connected with law, finance, and economics.” Harvard officials will add 30 faculty members to the 70 already working in the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences to create the new school, which the university expects to approve by the end of the fall.
Game and Theory Converge on a Coach's Field of Dreams
May 24 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Science educator Steve DeCaro is helping students learn the physics behind baseball. DeCaro teaches physics at Mattituck High School in New York and serves as the school’s baseball coach. DeCaro requires every varsity baseball player to take a physics class, and he has recruited his physics students to play baseball. Team members apply what they have learned in the classroom to improve their batting and pitching skills.
Teachers Use Hands-On Experiments to Ensure That Science Lessons Stick
May 22 2006 - The Arizona Republic
Students who have traditionally grown up in cities have received most of their science education from textbooks. But teachers in urban areas are trying to change that trend. Urban educators are engaging students in hands-on activities, experiments, and field trips to museums, zoos, or aquariums. As one science educator observed “it’s critical that students learn science by doing."
Spellings: Encourage Girls in Science Education
May 16 2006 - ABC News
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says the low number of girls participating in math and science activities is keeping them from achieving their full potential and weakening the nation’s ability to compete. Spellings has ordered the department’s Institute of Education Sciences to review research and determine why girls are underrepresented in the sciences. Former astronaut Sally Ride suggests involving girls in after school or summer programs as a way to keep females interested in science.
Breaking Science Barriers
May 12 2006 - Hartford Courant (Requires free registration)
Science teachers can learn about the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program in this article. Developed in conjunction with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute more than a decade ago, the WISE program features challenging courses such as electrical engineering, computer architecture, and computer science for young women. The program has produced dozens of graduates who have gone on to college engineering programs. Many educators note that too few students, especially women and members of minority groups, choose careers in math, science, and technology.
Students are Concerned by U.S. Plan to Sell Trees
May 5 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A sixth grade science class along with North Carolina’s top officials are voicing opposition to a proposal to sell 309,000 acres of national forest land across the country, including 10,000 acres in North Carolina. The proposal has also evoked strong protest around the country and in Congress. Mark Rey, under secretary of agriculture, said his proposal is designed to help raise $500 million to $1 billion to pay for rural schools in heavily forested counties.
High School Can't Weight to Test This Project
May 4 2006 - Chicago Sun-Times
A group of physics students plan to test the limits of gravity next week. NASA plans to use a physics experiment created by students at Glenbrook North High School in Illinois in its microgravity lab, a C–9 airplane that creates zero-gravity conditions. “It’s kind of the closest thing you can get to being an astronaut without actually being one,” noted Lynne Zielinski, the student’s teacher.
'School is Key,' Astronaut Tells Kids
Apr 28 2006 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Former astronaut Duane Carey is traveling the country by motorcycle promoting the importance of taking challenging math and science courses. “Math and science to me were the tickets to having many options for the future,” Carey told students during a recent visit to Highland Park Senior High School in Minnesota. “School is the key to everything that is cool in life.” Carey graduated from Highland Park in 1975.
School to Offer Science for Real World
Apr 25 2006 - News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware)
Graduate fellows from the University of Delaware will partner with science teachers at Howard High School of Technology to help students apply scientific principles to real world problems. “Our assessment is typically something that is pencil and paper,” noted Amy Quillen, a science specialist. “These kids will be posed with problems that ask them to use the information in a totally different way. If they can’t do that, we know we need to go back to the drawing board.” The program will also give scientists a better understanding of high school education and practice in explaining their fields to a general audience. For more information on Community Collaborations, NSTA members can refer to the April/May 2006 issue of The Science Teacher.
Decatur Student Wins Epidemiology Prize
Apr 25 2006 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Georgia teen is among the top winners in this year’s Young Epidemiology Scholars competition, a program that encourages high school students to consider epidemiology as a career. Students from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Pocatello, Idaho, shared first place in the competition each receiving $50,000 scholarships. Although epidemiologists are in greater demand than ever before, too few young people are interested in the profession, according to Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bush Lays Out His Plan to Protect America's Economic Standing
Apr 20 2006 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Math, science, and technology education with leading edge research can play a role in protecting the nation’s economic standing. That’s the message President Bush is promoting in speeches this week across the nation. “So long as we are the leader, people will be able to find good work,” Bush noted. Bush is seeking support for his plan to increase federal spending on basic scientific research as the most important element in maintaining the country’s ability to compete in the global economy.
Pupils Put Learning Into Orbit
Apr 20 2006 - Baltimore Sun (Requires free registration)
NASA astronaut Lt. Col. Terry W. Virts recently conveyed the excitement of life in the space program to students at West Baltimore Elementary School in Maryland. The effort was part of the NASA Explorer School program, an initiative that 150 schools nationwide are participating in. Schools in the program receive up to $17,500 over the course of three years for math and science projects.
Students Learn CSI Science
Apr 19 2006 - The Wichita Eagle (Kansas)
Sixth grade science students in Kansas recently learned the fundamentals of crime scene investigations, thanks to their school’s resource officer. Students were able to learn how to dust for fingerprints and then use powder and brushes to lift the prints from beakers. Science teacher Kimberlee Dwyer noted the lesson provided an introduction to learning about scientific characteristics.
Students' Ideas Could Change Auto Industry
Apr 10 2006 - Detroit Free Press
Students at two Michigan schools are attempting a potentially world-altering task that professional engineers have puzzled over for years. The students in the automotive technology program at Southeastern High School and physics students at Crockett Technical High School are creating projects they hope could end American dependency on foreign oil. The projects will be entered into a contest sponsored by NextEnergy, a Detroit nonprofit corporation that aims to help accelerate the alternative-energy technology industry in Michigan. For more information on Community Collaborations, NSTA members can refer to the April/May 2006 issue of The Science Teacher.
Scientist Talks Education at FSU
Mar 17 2006 - Tallahassee Democrat (Florida)
One of the leading voices for enhanced science education says Americans have a dangerous lack of scientific literacy and if it does not improve, the United States could turn into a Third World nation. Former Nobel Prize winner Leon Lederman recently conveyed that message to scientists, professors, and students at Florida State University. Lederman shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in physics for his work in neutrinos, among the fundamental particles of the universe.
Teenager Has Prize, and Utah's Carp are Breathing Easier
Mar 15 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
A Utah teen who discovered that pollution was causing problems for the carp living in the Spanish Fork River is the 2006 winner of the Intel Science Talent Search. Shannon Babb is working with local officials to help the fish and the river. She will receive a $100,000 scholarship for her efforts. Yi Sun of the Harker School in San Jose, California, won a $75,000 scholarship for a math project. Third place and a $50,000 scholarship went to Chelsea Zhang of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Zhang studied the molecules that cause arthrosclerosis.
School Science Held Back By Battle of the Sexes
Mar 13 2006 - The Independent (London, England)
A study of what 15-year-olds want to learn in science class shows boys want to study weapons of mass destruction and the effect of chemical weapons on the human body, while girls like to learn how to deal with anorexia or bulimia or the significance of their dreams. The stark contrast in what students look for in science lessons has prompted researchers to call for curriculum planners to consider drafting separate syllabuses for each sex.
Quality vs. Quantity in Engineering
Mar 3 2006 - Inside Higher Ed
Several politicians, press releases, and news articles have repeatedly informed students that in 2005 China’s schools had more than 600,000 engineering graduates and India’s schools produced 350,000 graduates compared with 70,000 in America. But a study by two Duke University faculty members suggests that the often-cited figures are misleading. Experts add that not only is outsourcing not ushering in the demise of America, but that sounding the alarm about engineering in the United States is giving students pause, rather than encouraging them to pursue engineering.
Tech Students Find Science at the Bottom of Coffee Cup
Feb 27 2006 - Santa Fe New Mexican
Imagine designing a ceramic mug that can fall onto concrete pavement and still hold a full cup of coffee afterward without leaking. Teams of college students recently learned the science behind accomplishing this task and have been nationally recognized for their efforts. University of Missouri, Rolla, students won first place in the American Ceramic Society’s Mug Drop Contest in January. New Mexico Tech University students came in second.
Anthrax Remedy: Clothes Iron?
Feb 20 2006 - ABC News
A high school student who showed in a science fair that using a clothes iron on mail can kill anthrax-like spores inside without damaging the contents of the envelope will have his research published in a science journal. Marc Roberge, a student at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, decided to experiment on the issue after discussing his father’s work as a medical toxicologist for the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention office in Pittsburgh. Roberge’s research will appear in the Journal of Medical Toxicology in June.
Math, Science Top Carcieri's Education Plan
Feb 2 2006 - Providence Journal-Rhode Island (Requires free registration)
In an effort to have Rhode Island better compete in the global marketplace, the state’s governor plans to move forward in a more bold and rapid manner in the areas of math and science education. The governor is seeking a $15 million bond issue in November to better train teachers in math and science. Other plans would include funding for enhancing professional development, hiring a full-time coordinator to oversee the math and science initiatives, and “telepresence technology” in middle and high schools. The creation of a statewide science curriculum by 2007 is also part of the governor’s agenda.
Bush Says Math, Science Economic Tools
Feb 1 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
President Bush wants to boost spending on science research, rigorous math and science teaching in high school, and help young, struggling math students. It's the kind of support that a broad range of educators, researchers, and business leaders in the United States has been seeking. Gerry Wheeler, NSTA's executive director, thanked Bush for underscoring the importance of math and science as part of his State of the Union speech. Wheeler noted federal support would help a new generation of scientists, engineers, and workers "find new ways to defend our country, create new technologies, and cure diseases." Click here to read NSTA's response to the State of the Union address.
Taft Wants A+ High Schools
Jan 27 2006 - Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Ohio’s governor has proposed a bold new plan that would require students to take more classes in math, science, and foreign languages. The new set of courses would include Algebra II, physics, and chemistry and would start with students who graduate in 2011. The new requirements would apply to all high school students whether they plan to attend college or not, although parents could sign a waiver opting out of the courses and accepting the consequences.
New Law Says It's OK to Cut Dissection Lab
Jan 13 2006 - Philadelphia Inquirer (Requires free registration)
Long a rite of passage in most high school biology classes, dissecting animals is now officially optional in New Jersey. The state's governor has signed a bill that says public school students "may refuse to dissect, vivisect, incubate, capture, or otherwise harm or destroy animals" as part of instruction. Alternative education programs must be provided, and students may not be discriminated against if they refuse to dissect. New Jersey joins 10 other states in allowing students who find dissection objectionable to refuse without penalty. See the NSTA position statement on the use of animals in the classroom and dissection.
New York Tops Other States in Science Award Semifinals
Jan 12 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Students from New York State dominate the list of semi-finalists in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. New York has 140 of the 300 semi-finalists, followed by California with 22, Texas with 18, and Maryland with 15. Science projects completed by students include “The Search for Cosmic Ray Induced Lightning Strokes,” “A New Target to Fight Breast Cancer,” and “Some Children Left Behind: The Troubling Effects of Middle School Reform on the Body Image Concerns of Sixth Grade Girls.” The 40 finalists will be announced Jan. 25.
Bush Pushed on Science, Innovation
Jan 11 2006 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
If former education secretary Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) has his way, President Bush will make science and technology education and research key themes for the remainder of his presidency. Alexander met with President Bush before Christmas and urged him to focus on math, science, and technology in his State of the Union address later this month. Alexander noted that he was encouraged after meeting with Bush, but does not have any commitment from the president.
Officials Heed Call to Stop Slide in Science and Math
Jan 6 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Officials say New York Gov. George Pataki’s call for new math and science high schools and scholarships for future math and science teachers, puts the state into the center of a national quest to reverse decades of decline in the study of science and engineering. Four New York education leaders recently announced they would propose other initiatives. The proliferation of proposals suggests a new seriousness about attacking a problem most experts say will not be simple to solve.
More Math, Science Majors Sought
Jan 4 2006 - Seattle Times
In an effort to encourage more students to study math and science, some county superintendents are calling for a scholarship program. Superintendents in Snohomish County, Washington, want the state to create a scholarship program for students who study math, science, and engineering in college. The move comes at a time of national alarm over the relative lack of interest by American students in science and technological careers.
Academies Will Bolster Science and Math
Dec 16 2005 - San Antonio Express-News (Texas)
A new program will target areas with large populations of poor and minority students who may not have access to high quality academies in science and math. The Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Initiative, will consist of a private and public partnership that will provide $71 million in grant money for 35 high schools across Texas to develop academies focusing on science, math, and engineering. The academies should be up and running by August 2007.
16-Year-Old Wins Science Scholarship
Dec 5 2005 - ABC News
A California teen has won the top prize in this year’s Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. Michael Viscardi, a senior from San Diego, won a $100,000 college scholarship for his innovative approach to an old math problem that could help in the design of airplane wings. Two students from Arizona captured the $100,000 prize in the team category.
Pop Goes The Science Song
Dec 2 2005 - Wired News
University of Washington lecturer Greg Crowther has found just the ticket for energizing sleepy students in his biology class. Crowther hits them with a few bars of "Glucose, ah Sugar Sugar," or "That's What Slugs are For" or one of the many other science songs he has created. Crowther runs a database of 2,000 such songs he has compiled from the works of other singers.
Valley's Educators Tackle Biotechnology
Nov 22 2005 - The Arizona Republic
Biotechnology is becoming a popular subject in Arizona’s high schools. The trend indicates that even as educators worry about the learning pace of many students, K–12 education is becoming more sophisticated. It also comes at a time of nationwide concern about whether the United States is slipping in the science race, partly because science is not emphasized enough in schools.
Students Get on Fast Track
Nov 17 2005 - Detroit News
“With all the baby boomers retiring, we are going to need a lot more kids interested in math, science, and technology,” said Lon Grantham, a statistical scientist at Pfizer. The company is one of 130 organizations, colleges, and universities, who participated in the “Superhighway to Success” science and technology expo in Pontiac, Michigan. Organizers of the event tried to interest students in careers that require a math or science background. The event came one day after the Michigan Department of Education recommended requiring four years of math and three years of science to graduate from high school, after having no mandates in both subjects for graduation.
Alarms Sounded On Math, Science Needs
Oct 27 2005 - Hartford Courant (Requires free registration)
Top education and business leaders say the number of well-trained workers in science and technology is in short supply to meet the needs of businesses in Connecticut. Since the mid 1990s, fewer students have chosen college majors in science, technology, engineering, and math. Teacher shortages in math and science have also worsened. Education, government, and business leaders hope to combat the problem with a yearlong effort to stimulate more interest in math and science-related careers and bolster the number of well-trained workers.
U.S. Urged to Back Science, Math
Oct 13 2005 - CBS News
The National Academy of Sciences wants the U.S. government to launch a program to boost math and science education and research programs to maintain its economic dominance. Leadership in science and technology helped make the United States a world leader, but there are indications that could slip away, according to a NAS committee. A report by the committee calls for four main efforts to improve the nation’s position. Examples of these efforts include establishing a merit-based scholarship program to attract students to math and science teaching, increasing the nation’s investment in basic research by 10 percent each for the next seven years, and modernizing the U.S. patent system.
If You Want This Major, Focus on GPA- Not 'CSI'
Sep 27 2005 - The Wichita Eagle (Kansas)
With the popularity of television crime shows such as “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: New York,” Wichita State University will try to fill a growing demand for crime scene analysts by offering a bachelor’s degree in forensics next spring. “The degree is designed for people who want to work in a forensic laboratory,” explains Brian Withrow, a criminal justice professor at the university who helped designed the program. “It is sort of a double major in biology and chemistry, with some psychology, some anthropology, and some criminal justice.”
States Help Students Connect With Nature
Sep 26 2005 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Although there are no federal requirements for environmental education, teaching students about the natural world has become more prevalent in recent decades. Congress passed the Environmental Education Act in 1990, which called for the formation of the federal Office of Environmental Education and mandated the federal government to devote funding to education. Since 1992, the office has distributed more than $35 million in grants nationwide, including nearly $7 million in the EPA regions that include Illinois and Missouri. About 20 % of those grants have gone to primary and secondary schools.
Webcast Tackles IT Gender Gap
Sep 26 2005 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
To engage girls in the study of science and technology, educators need to convey the right message about the roles these fields play in society and the skills they require, as well as provide more hands-on activities that have some social value. These were the main lessons imparted in a recent webcast hosted by the National Science Foundation’s Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program. Concerned about the disparity between the number of men and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers, ITEST coordinated the webcast as a way to share ideas on how to spark and retain girls’ interest in these fields.
Winning Formula
Sep 15 2005 - Indianapolis Star
Organizers of an initiative in Indiana hope their efforts will help reverse a troubling national trend. The percentage of high school graduates overall who select engineering has steadily declined since the 1970s, according to data kept by the U.S. Department of Education. The Science Bound program is an initiative that partners students in the Indianapolis public school system with Purdue University. The program is designed to spark urban students’ interest in science, and in studying for careers in science and technology.
U.S. Leaders Fret Over Students' Math and Science Weaknesses
Sep 14 2005 - Education Week (Requires free registration)
Bill Gates, chairman of the Microsoft Corp. says he is a little “scared” by it. Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Michigan) declares it a steadily worsening crisis. The Business Roundtable says the United States cannot wait for another challenge such as the Soviet Union’s launch of the Sputnik satellite before the country starts working on it. What they and other national business and political leaders are worried about is U.S. schools’ ability to stimulate students’ interest in math and science, an area of weakness they say has led to the growing influence of Asian countries, most notably India and China, in the fields of engineering and technology.
Focusing on Beetles Blends Art, Science
Sep 13 2005 - Indianapolis Star
Posters about the sciences fill a wall in Kathy Arduini’s classroom, and a beetle is diagrammed on the chalkboard. Arduini, however, is not a science teacher. She teaches art with a scientific twist. The twist: teaching students about the parts of insect so that their creation of a three-dimensional beetle made out of cardboard and wire is scientifically sound. For more information on Art and Science Integration, NSTA members can refer to the September 2005 issue of Science and Children.
Bringing 'The Deep' to an Area School
Sep 12 2005 - Kansas City Star (Requires free registration)
The closest ocean is nearly a thousand miles away. But that is not stopping some Kansas high school students from studying marine biology. The class is part of the school’s geosciences program that blends hand-on learning and technology with the science of land and sea. Other classes examine oceanography, meteorology, astronomy, and paleontology. The mix seems to work, the classes attract both students who plan science careers, and those who are intrigued by tanks and telescopes. “We have students who are taking three science classes, four science classes in a year, and they are loving it,” observed teacher Sarah Coddington who oversees the program.
Storm's Many Lessons Reach the Classroom
Sep 11 2005 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Whether its science, engineering, or economics, teachers are forming lesson plans to satisfy students’ curiosity about Hurricane Katrina. Science teacher Abby Hendrix is using the storm to engage her eighth graders in discussions about global warming and meteorology. Raquel Marshall’s pre-engineering students at James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, are examining the impact of the levee design failure that led to the massive post-hurricane flooding. “No class has escaped having teachers talk about this and how it affects other children,” observed Ivy Allen, spokeswoman for Loudoun County, Virginia public schools.
NASA's Explorer Schools Land First in Murfreesboro
Sep 8 2005 - The Tennessean
A Tennessee elementary school has joined the list of schools participating in the NASA Explorer Schools program. Hobgood Elementary is the first school in the Midstate to partner with the space agency in the three-year program. Hobgood school officials expect the program to bring a renewed focus on science and technology. Along with a book of suggested lesson plans and NASA-related activities, the Explorer Schools program will provide Hobgood $17,500 in technology funding that will be used toward digital learning equipment for interaction with other Explorer schools, NASA scientists, education specialists, and engineers.
Science Professor Serenades His Students
Sep 1 2005 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
How do you make teaching physics exciting for college students? Sing to them! That’s a lesson professor Walter Smith has learned over the past few years at Haverford College, where he serenades students with songs about electronics and Einstein, oscillations, and Ampere’s Law. Co-written with his wife, Smith says the “kooky” tunes can help students think more creatively about science.
Scientific Savvy? In U.S., Not Much
Aug 30 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Although scientific literacy has doubled over the past two decades, only 20 to 25 % of Americans are “scientifically savvy and alert,” says Jon D. Miller, a political scientist who studies how much Americans know about science and what they think about it. American adults do not understand what molecules are (other than they are really small). Less than a third can identify DNA as a key to heredity and 10 percent know what radiation is, according to Miller’s findings. Miller attributes much of the nation’s collective scientific ignorance to poor education, particularly in high schools.
Seeds of Loudoun Science School Sprout
Aug 30 2005 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
A new program being launched in a Virginia school district may spread nationwide. The Loudoun Academy of Science will enable students in grades 9–12 to perform interdisciplinary hands-on research. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is providing funding for the program. Scientists from the Institute will serve as mentors and research guides for the students in the future. Hughes officials say they will observe the academy’s techniques, with the hope of spreading its successes nationwide.
Why Chemistry Students Need Passports
Aug 29 2005 - Inside Higher Ed
Some professors, government officials, and students say there is a lack of international expertise by chemistry graduate students at a time when their profession increasingly requires a global perspective. The sense of crisis stems from the view that American dominance of chemistry is at a serious risk of ending. Officials with the National Science Foundation say there several programs to support graduate students who want to conduct research abroad. However, NSF officials and Alvin L. Kwiram, a University of Washington chemistry professor, note many of these programs receive few applications and could support more students.
Tennessee Businesses Want Stronger Math, Science Students
Aug 19 2005 - The Tennessean
Business leaders in Tennessee are searching for ways to boost the lack of interest and skill students are showing in math and science. Students across the state tend to score below the national average in math and science, and take fewer rigorous high school courses in those subjects. Ideas under consideration by business leaders include mentoring high school students, lobbying for tougher graduation requirements, sponsoring training programs for students and teachers, as well as funding college scholarships.
National Research Council Criticizes High School Labs
Aug 8 2005 - USA Today
Although criticisms of science labs are not new, teachers say a report released by the National Research Council could give the issue a matter of urgency. The new study shows that most high school science laboratories are “of such poor quality that they don’t follow basic principles of effective science teaching.” The typical lab is an “isolated add-on that lacks clear goals, does not engage students in discussion, and fails to illustrate how science methods lead to knowledge,” the report said. Also contributing to the problem is teachers who are not prepared to teach labs. The study’s authors have recommended no specific policies to fix the problem, but are calling for more research and posing questions for leaders to consider.
Colleges Try to Meet 'CSI' Demand
Aug 5 2005 - Miami Herald (Requires free registration)
Given a nationwide backlog of cases and a growing volume of physical evidence, an estimated 10,000 new forensic scientists are needed in the next decade, according to an article in the Journal of Forensic Science. Colleges and universities in Florida and other parts of the country are responding to the increase. About 100 colleges and universities in the United States have undergraduate or graduate programs in forensic science. Students interested in a career in forensic science typically earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or physics and take criminal justice and law classes.
Business Groups Unite to Command More Attention for Math, Science
Jul 27 2005 - Detroit News
A new group comprised of several businesses plans to launch a campaign to command more attention for math and science. The priorities of the Business Roundtable will focus on improving the nation’s public schools, including more support for teachers and incentives for students to become scientists and engineers. Another goal of the group is to double the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in science, technology, engineering, and math by 2015. The group also supports more research funding and faster security clearances for foreign scholars.
Camps Push Girls Toward a Future in Engineering
Jul 22 2005 - The Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Although there are efforts nationwide to boost the number of female college students studying engineering, the total number has dropped in recent years. In 2004, there were 16,896 female engineering freshmen, down from a record high of 19,509 in 2001, according to the Engineering Workforce Commission of the American Association of Engineering Societies. Percentage-wise, the commission says, the number of females among all freshman engineering students has been slipping since 1996, from 20 percent to 16.3 percent in 2004.
It's Rocket Science
Jul 21 2005 - Washington Times
Flying model rockets may seem like child’s play. Thousands of science teachers nationwide, however, rely heavily on the cardboard creations for classroom lessons. More than 500 middle and high school students convened in May for the third annual Team America Rocketry Challenge in The Plains, Virginia. Teachers are now integrating those efforts into their own plans, letting the rockets’ razzle-dazzle sell students on the physics of flight.
Getting More Girls to Study Math, Tech
Jul 18 2005 - San Francisco Chronicle
Experts say there is still a long way to go in encouraging more girls and women to be interested in science, math, and technology. A 2002 study from the Department of Labor’s women’s bureau found 10 percent of engineers nationwide are female. “I think there has been a tendency to define certain things as masculine and feminine. Science and technology are defined as masculine,” observed Donna Milgram, executive director of the National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology, and Science. Other experts note they give girls the opportunity to avoid stereotyping and learn at their own pace.
IBM Science Camp Targets Girls
Jul 6 2005 - Chicago Tribune
Although women lag men when choosing careers in math and science, IBM is hoping to reverse that trend. The company is sponsoring its annual science camp for more than 1,500 girls this summer at 48 locations across the globe. Girls who attend the camp participate in forensic science, immunology, toxicology, and wildlife science workshops. They also learn how to use a computer program to motorize Lego blocks. The goal of the camp is not to prepare women for careers at IBM, but to help them develop their interest in math and science, a program spokeswoman noted.
Summer Break Spent in a Lab
Jul 5 2005 - Hartford Courant (Requires free registration)
Scientific research is still largely the domain of graduate programs. A growing number of colleges, however, have started to open their science labs to undergraduates. “Undergraduate research is really thriving,” explains Nancy Hensel, executive officer of the Council on Undergraduate Research in Washington, D.C. “I think you would be amazed at what students are doing,” she added. “It’s one of the ways [the nation] can remain competitive in science, technology, and engineering fields.” Teachers and scientists say “there is a clear need for promoting interest in research.”
Putting the Fun in Ocean Sciences
Jun 30 2005 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Teachers and students interested in learning more about ocean science can climb aboard the Indies Trader. Built in 1970 as a salvage boat, the Indies Trader is devoted to exploring the globe for uncharted surf breaks, as well as educating visitors on conservation and researching coral reefs. This summer marks the first time the boat has been on the West Coast of the United States, after it was launched in Australia in March 1999.
Museum and Publisher are Partners in Science
Jun 29 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
The American Museum of Natural History and the educational company Scholastic have started a new partnership. The Science Exploration Program is designed to boost science literacy among students in grades 3–10 while raising the museum’s visibility in schools. Scholastic’s two magazines, Science World and SuperScience, will publish six special editions focused on museum exhibitions during the 2005–2006 school year. Educational material developed jointly by museum scientists and Scholastic reporters will also be posted on Scholastic’s website.
Defying Laws of Physics
Jun 28 2005 - Dallas Morning News (Requires free registration)
Across the nation, men far outnumber women in college engineering programs and the profession. Organizers of a summer physics camp in Plano, Texas, however, hope to change that trend. The aim of the two-week camp is to encourage more women to work in the engineering field by sparking their interest and confidence. The camp also serves as an introduction for students who are about to take a pre-Advanced Placement physics class. Local companies eager to hire the students after college pay for the camp.
Students Learning Clues to Forensic Science
Jun 27 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Hundreds of students are attending camps across the nation this summer to learn more about forensic science. Inspired by the popularity of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and its spinoffs, universities, museums, and other organizations are offering workshops and classes to teach students about the science of sleuthing. NSTA and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences have reported a surge in interest among students, and many schools now include some aspects of forensics in science curriculums.
Science Fair Says Student Project About BB Guns is too Dangerous
Jun 13 2005 - Salt Lake Tribune
Two eighth graders working on a science project to prove how dangerous BB guns can be have been disqualified from a science fair. Nathan C. Woodard and Nathaniel A. Gorlin-Crenshaw spent seven months researching and testing their hypothesis that BB guns can be deadly and should not be used by children. Nancy Degon of the Massachusetts State Science Fair, Inc., and co-chairwoman of the middle school fair, said fair rules prohibit hazardous substances and devices. She added that “the scientific review committee does not consider science projects involving firearms to be safe for middle school students.”
Stanford Teacher's Cartoon Guide Covers Chemistry
Jun 8 2005 - The Mercury News (San Jose, California)
Superman he’s not. But Craig Criddle, a Stanford professor, has helped pull off a herculean task: explaining complex chemistry topics in a comic book format. The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry features Criddle as the action star, shrinking to the size of an atom, making explosive flares out of bat guano, and burning seaweed to make soap. Criddle and co-author Larry Gonick, a San Francisco cartoonist, hope the 255-page guide will be used in classrooms nationwide.
Tsunamis and Earthquakes: What Physics is Interesting?
Jun 7 2005 - Physics Today
Tsunamis present a wonderful opportunity to explain basic physics at work, according to David Stevenson. A George van Osdol professor of planetary science at the California Institute of Technology, Stevenson explains that teachers can enrich a class with a topic that can catch students’ attention as well as convey some very nice ideas, many of which are elementary. Stevenson adds that fluid dynamics is not well covered in standard physics curricula, but the ideas have natural connections to basic conservation laws, optics, and quantum mechanics. They also can be used to enliven a class in differential equations.
College Board Plans Changes to AP Courses
May 25 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
The College Board is quietly mapping out changes to some of its flagship programs amid concerns they cover too much content and don’t allow for in-depth study. Changes are being considered for Advanced Placement courses in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science and other subjects. Research has shown that scoring well on an AP test is a strong predictor of college success. However, the current model for shaping AP classes, through a broad survey of the curriculum of college classes in a particular subject, “doesn’t help us address the concern that AP courses require too much content coverage,” explains Trevor Packer, Advanced Placement executive director.
Born to Science
May 25 2005 - Education Week
Several high school students participating in America’s math and science competitions are the children of immigrants. A 2004 study found those students made up the majority of the nation’s top math and science students, as judged by the finalists at Intel and the U.S. Math Olympiad. The study also suggested that the spigot of talent could dry up if restrictive immigration policies adopted since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were not modified—a concern echoed by numerous scientists and public officials.
Congress Told Schools Need More Math and Science
May 20 2005 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Education and business leaders have told members of Congress that teachers need to hook students on math and science as early as elementary school to keep them interested during high school and later in life. Teachers who accomplish this objective would help the United States close the gap with countries where students have become more proficient in math and science, according to the education and business leaders. The experts note that teacher retention, as well as encouraging more women and minorities to pursue math and science, would also help the United States compete with other nations.
50 Schools Join NASA Mission
May 18 2005 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
NASA has named 50 schools to join its Explorer Schools program. Campuses selected this year range from an Alaska school with 25 students to large schools in Los Angeles and New York City. The Explorer Schools program aims to increase student interest and participation in science, math, and technology; increase the active participation and professional growth of educators in these fields; and boost students’ ability to apply science, mathematics, and technology concepts.
Teens Steel for Judges at Science, Engineering Fair
May 11 2005 - The Arizona Republic
Judges are grilling high school scientists from across the country in Phoenix this week. All the action is part of the 2005 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Although students participating in the competition are nervous, judges also have the jitters. Britt Glaunsinger, a San Francisco microbiologist judging the competition for the first time, worries about having adequate time to evaluate and interview the 25 teens responsible for the projects she is assigned. David Hackleman, who trains the judges, encourages evaluators to look for “the scientist behind the presentations.”
Teens Shine in Science Bowl
May 2 2005 - The Washington Times
The winners of this year’s National Science Bowl will be decided today. More than 300 teen scientists from 1,800 schools in 41 states have convened in the nation’s capital to compete in the annual competition. Participants are asked questions drawn from such subjects as biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth and general science, as well as mathematics. The top four winning teams will have the opportunity to pick a prize for their efforts. Prizes include science-based trips to Australia, Alaska, Charleston, South Carolina, and Colorado.
Where Popular Science Is Called Women's Work
Apr 27 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
No place in America, perhaps, supplies a more forceful rejoinder to conventional assumptions about women and science than Marlborough School, a private all-female institution for grades 7–12 in Los Angeles. Ninety-percent of its 263 upper-school students take more than the two full years of science required for graduation, filling no less than eight physics classes and populating a coveted seminar known as Honors Research. These students have gone on to major in sciences at Stanford, UCLA, Yale, Princeton, John Hopkins, and Harvard.
Forensics is a Favorite
Apr 24 2005 - Baltimore Sun
High school science teachers and guidance counselors nationwide are scrambling to add forensic science courses to their curriculum, thanks in part to the popularity of crime scene investigation television shows. Forensic science classes are also increasing in popularity at the college level, according to experts. “We get calls from all over the country,” observed Lawrence Kobilinsky, a forensics professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Teachers note it’s best for students to study biology, chemistry, and physics before delving into forensic science, which combines elements from those subjects.
D.C. Starts Hearing Debate on Evolution
Apr 20 2005 - The Washington Times
Creationists and Darwinians have convened in the nation’s capital to continue the debate on evolution. A spokesman for the Center for Science and Culture at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute says scientists are abandoning the Charles Darwin theory of evolution to back scientific evidence that shows a “complexity” in human cells that is best explained by a designer or God. An assistant physics professor at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, argues the intelligent design theory is a “close cousin” of creationism and said today’s debate is “scientifically meaningless.”
Building Student Interest in Science
Apr 19 2005 - Inside Higher Ed
Like many institutions, Central Washington University has struggled to retain students in the sciences. School officials, however, hope a new program will reverse that trend. With the help of a grant from the National Science Foundation, the university has created its Science Talent Expansion Program. This initiative enables freshmen to take an intensive science seminar to fulfill the university’s English composition requirement in a course that focuses on science topics. Students are assigned a faculty adviser who helps them plot their academic path. Students also live together with their peers who are interested in studying science. As sophomores, students can apply for a paid internship with a faculty scientist to work on a research project.
'Call to Arms' on Evolution
Mar 24 2005 - USA Today
A recent NSTA Express survey revealed that nearly a third of science teachers feel pressured to include creationism-related ideas in the classroom. But an “alarmed science establishment” is striking back in defense of teaching evolution. Bruce Alberts, chief of the National Academy of Sciences, has called on academy members “to confront the increasing challenges to the teaching of evolution in public schools.” The nation’s top scientists belong to the congressionally chartered academy. A spokesman for the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, which promotes intelligent design, argues scientific leaders such as Alberts “block a fair hearing of evolution alternatives.”
Science Fair Has No Shortage of Girls
Mar 18 2005 - San Diego Union-Tribune
The participation rate for females in the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair has held steady over the years. But national education studies show that encouraging girls to stay interested in math and science and work toward careers in those fields remains a challenge. Women comprise 41.4 percent of all science and engineering graduate students in the United States, according to 2001 data from the National Science Foundation. In the workplace, women who hold doctorates in science and engineering made up 26 percent of the work force in 2001.
N.Y. Teen Wins Science Competition
Mar 16 2005 - Yahoo-Associated Press
A 17-year-old who created a sensor that detects exposure to toxic agents is the 2005 winner of the Intel Science Talent Search. David Bauer of New York City will receive a $100,000 college scholarship for his efforts. Bauer developed a method for rapidly detecting exposure to biochemical agents with hopes that his discovery could be a lifesaver. He was also chosen by his peers for a separate award honoring the student who best personified a commitment to scientific cooperation and communications. Bauer plans to continue his studies in chemistry this fall at The City College of New York.
Battle on Teaching Evolution Sharpens
Mar 14 2005 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Scientists and educators are worried about a growing trend that involves how students are taught about the origins of life. Policymakers in 19 states are considering proposals that question the science of evolution. The proposals stop short of overturning evolution or introducing biblical accounts. Instead, they consist of pleas to teach what advocates consider gaps in Darwinian evolution, with many relying on the idea of intelligent design. Teachers and scientists say this is a “masked effort to replace science with theology.” But anti-evolutionary scientists and Christian activists argue a liberal establishment is persecuting them.
Want to Be an Intel Finalist? You Need the Right Mentor
Mar 9 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
What’s the secret behind producing a stellar science research project for the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search competition? Having an adult mentor, according to the author of this article. Mentors often consist of a university professor and a team of graduate students who will pick topics for student’s projects that will break new ground, yet be manageable. The mentors also supervise students while they prepare for a science fair or competition.
Getting Girls Into Science
Mar 7 2005 - The Arizona Republic
Women are poised to take their place alongside men who outnumber them in science-related jobs in our technology driven world. But experts warn how soon girls are exposed to science and high-tech careers could mean the difference between reaching gender parity in these fields or perpetuating the male-dominated status quo. “Girls often love math and science in elementary school, but later lose interest,” observes an Intel engineer. Several schools are attempting to change that trend by hosting science events and career fairs. Experts add that reversing the trend will take fighting decades-old stereotypes.
Harvard President Hopes Transcript Places Comment in Context
Feb 18 2005 - Boston Herald
Harvard University’s president Lawrence Summers has released a transcript of his remarks on the shortage of women in science and engineering. Summers states “that men are more likely to have science and math test scores in the highest and lowest ranges, while women’s scores often sit in the middle.” He comments that “a clash between family needs and employer demands is a factor that keeps women from top science jobs.” Summers explain he might be wrong in his theories and challenges researchers to study his propositions, according to the transcript. Professors and school leaders have voiced mixed reaction on the transcript’s contents and will discuss their views on Feb. 22.
Science Not For Boys Only
Feb 17 2005 - Hartford Courant (Requires free registration)
Connecticut is one of several states that have recently held events to encourage girls to consider careers in math, science, and technology. The first Girls and Tech Expo held at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford enabled female middle school students to participate in science workshops, play Nutrition Jeopardy, and learn about life in outer space. Event organizers note that National Science Foundation data has shown a need to target female middle school students before they loose interest in math and science. For more information on Science for All, NSTA members can refer to the March 2005 issue of The Science Teacher.
Ex-CEO Eyes Stronger K-12 Education
Feb 13 2005 - Boston Globe
What will it take to maintain the United States’ position as a hotbed of innovation? Robert J. Herbold says the answer is to improve K–12 education. Herbold is a member of President Bush’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, as well as a former executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Microsoft Corporation.
Advocates for Teaching Option to Evolution in Schools Gaining
Feb 11 2005 - San Diego Union-Tribune
Campaigns are under way in at least 18 states to make public schools teach intelligent design. Scientists who espouse the intelligent design theory say it does not question that evolution occurred, but how it took place. But advocates who believe in giving the theory equal treatment in schools disagree. Critics of intelligent design, which include several biology teachers, claim the theory is being used as a version of creationism in schools. Opponents also note the push for intelligent design comes from evangelical Christians, a group key to President Bush winning a second term in November.
At This School the Classwork is a Real Crime
Feb 11 2005 - The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
The popular television show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” has yet another spinoff. A Kentucky middle school has created their own version of the show called “CSI: Southern.” The program consists of two eighth grade science classes who embark on investigations to learn how science is used to solve local criminal cases. Stories about the cases are then featured on a local television station before the real “CSI” show is aired.
Nature Drops in at Classroom
Feb 10 2005 - The Salt Lake Tribune
Dawn the Duck seemed curious as he stared at the crowd. Bart the Beaver focused on his apple chunks. And Trash Can the Opossum yawned, showing what he thought of it all. But for hundreds of Utah elementary students, the special visitors were welcome additions to a presentation on the “Save-A-Duck” program. Sponsored by Dawn Dishwashing liquid, the “Save-A-Duck” program teaches students nationwide about the importance of protecting wildlife from oil spills. For more information on Learning from Nature, NSTA members can refer to the February 2005 issue of Science & Children.
Residents Want Sound Science in Classrooms
Feb 7 2005 - Billings Gazette (Montana)
A group of Montana residents are advocating a joint legislative resolution that would affect science curriculums. The proposal introduced by Sen. Ken Toole would recognize the “importance of separation of church and state and (support) the right of local school board trustees to adopt a science curriculum based on sound scientific principles.” Observers note that the resolution would not carry legal weight if passed, but it would be looked to for guidance by other school districts.
Teachers Torn Over Religion, Evolution
Feb 2 2005 - Education Week
Despite courts’ consistent rejection of attempts to include creationism and other religious-based beliefs in high school science lessons, support for recognition of those views persists. Recent surveys show a percentage of science teachers emphasize creationism. Experts note the force of public opinion and the overall prevalence of Christian beliefs among teachers and the communities they serve are factors in why teachers focus on creationism in science classes. But other experts note teachers may want to introduce intelligent design to students, but fear being fired or sued if they try.
Decoding Why Few Girls Choose Science, Math
Feb 1 2005 - The Washington Post (Requires free registration)
Why do discrepancies exist with uneven numbers of boys and girls in math and science classes? Experts have several different answers, but note it has nothing to do with ability. Teachers and scientists say there are greater differences in learning cycles within each sex than there are between the sexes, and that “any school or teacher that doesn’t approach students as individuals is missing the mark.” Educators, administrators, and students note that enrollment in math and science classes can be attributed to such factors as personal interests and personality, levels of exposure at a young age, and stereotypical signals sent by adults.
An Icy Landscape as a Classroom
Feb 1 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor
Students cheerfully wade into waist-deep snow to count trees and compare tree species in plots of higher elevation. For people interested in arctic climates and cultures, the Center for Northern Studies in Wolcott, Vermont, offers a rare opportunity. Because of the area’s glacial history and current climate, some geological features and plant and animal adaptations resemble those in places much farther north, such as Alaska. And few universities in the United States offer the interdisciplinary approach the center is known for.
The Heights of School Science: Select Student Research Rises to the Top
Jan 31 2005 - Science News
Original scientific research has earned 40 high school students a coveted slot in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. About a third of the 2005 finalists hail from New York. One Maryland high school educated four finalists, and an Illinois school trained three others. Nearly half of the finalists fluently speak at least two languages. Each finalist will receive a notebook computer and a scholarship of $5,000 to $10,000 following a week of science activities and a final round of judging scheduled for March in Washington, D.C.
Science Lessons Keep Cold Out
Jan 31 2005 - The Detroit News
Although it may be cold outside, science teachers can take advantage of the winter season to help students learn about nature. Kindergarten teacher Julie Cowher notes that young students learn best with repetition. She suggests that teachers take students to the same place every season. Cowher adds that young students can benefit from simple experiences, such as taking walks to explore nature. For more information on Learning from Nature, NSTA members can refer to the February 2005 issue of Science & Children.
Student's Prize-Winning Invention Adds Pop to Fizz
Jan 31 2005 - Chicago Sun-Times
If eighth grader Ryan Arciero has his way, fizz won’t be the only thing coming out of soda cans when you pop the top. Arciero was recently named one of the top winners in the national Invent America competition for inventing a straw the comes out of the lid when a soda can is opened. The Illinois resident said his “Pop a Straw” invention was inspired by his grandmother who drinks from a straw because she suffers from arthritis.
How to Teach Tsunami to the Young
Jan 11 2005 - Christian Science Monitor
How are teachers nationwide teaching young students about the tsunami that struck the Asian coastline in December? Educators in New York and Oklahoma are using news reports and images on websites. Students at the International School of Louisiana were able to understand the tsunami by relating it to hurricanes experienced in their part of the world. Other teachers and schools are focusing on the service aspect of the tsunami rather than the science of the disaster.
Interview: Totally Engrossed
Jan 4 2005 - Teacher Magazine
Science doesn’t have to be boring—it can be disgusting. That’s the philosophy of Sylvia Branzei, a 46-year-old former science teacher who has built a career writing about gross topics. Branzei has also inspired an album; launched two science museum shows; and given dozens of workshops based on the theme of “grossology.” Branzei coined the term a decade ago for what has been called “the gleeful study of bodily functions.”
When it Comes to Enthusiasm for Science, High Schools and Colleges Find Crime Does Pay
Dec 14 2004 - Newsday
NSTA calls it the “hottest new trend in science teaching.” Suddenly hip, forensic science has invaded the nation’s classrooms with tsunami-like intensity, fueled by a parallel flow of forensic science in popular culture. Teachers say a key stimulus to student interest is the wildly successful “CSI” franchise. The CBS drama includes such shows as “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: New York,” and “NCIS.”
Building Set Up to Help Minorities go into Sciences
Dec 10 2004 - The Miami Herald (Requires free registration)
St. Thomas University has broken ground on a new science building that will help female and minority middle and high school students pursue careers in the sciences. The 32,000-square-foot building will feature display areas where students can watch science experiments in progress. The building’s classrooms and laboratories will have glass walls, so visiting students can watch professors and college students at work. It will also contain a greenhouse and a rooftop observatory.
Love of Science Pays Off
Dec 8 2004 - The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)
As young girls, Yueqi “Lucie” Guo and Xianlin Li of North Carolina, dreamed of discovering a cure for cancer among other things. Guo and Li’s dream turned into a reality this week when they won the top group prize in this year’s Siemens-Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. Guo and Li were each awarded a $50,000 scholarship for their original research on early detection of breast cancer. “It’s not about the money. We’ll never see the money; the colleges will get that,” said Li. “It’s about what we’re doing now, the memories we’ll have.”
Fresh Challenges in the Old Debate Over Evolution
Dec 7 2004 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
In order to teach evolution in the schools in the current cultural and political environment, educators and scientists are realizing they must educate (or re-educate) the population at large - including future science teachers. About half the students University of Georgia professor David Jackson teaches to become middle school science instructors believe that God created the Earth 6,000 years ago, he says. Some colleagues tell him he shouldn't even bother teaching these students - that future teachers with such beliefs "shouldn't teach." But Jackson says his job to make sure that his students understand evolution, not believe it. Wes McCoy, a science department chair in Georgia, says opinion polls prove that evolution is widely misunderstood. "The parents and school board members I have spoken to who oppose the teaching of evolution seem to have little understanding of what evolution means," McCoy says. "I believe it is my duty ... to discuss with them what we mean by evolution and why it is so vital to teach."
Ninth-grader Named Country's Top Young Scientist
Oct 28 2004 - San Diego Union-Tribune
A 14 year-old from California has won the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist of the Year” for 2004. Shannon McClintock, a ninth-grader at Scripps Ranch High, won the honor after being named the grand prize winner in this year’s Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. McClintock was awarded a $15,000 college scholarship for her effort to show how traction between a train and the tracks affects fuel use
Putting a Cool Spin on Einstein's Theories
Oct 26 2004 - The Washington Post
Whether it was contemplating gravity in an activity called “Skateboard Physics” or tuning unusual musical instruments missing parts in an exercise called “Teeth on Edge: A Real Screech,” the 40 finalists in this year’s Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge were put to the test yesterday on various physics problems. The competition’s scientific challenges are in honor of the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s premier year of discovery. The winner of the Discovery contest will win a $15,000 college scholarship and the honor of being named America’s Top Young Scientist of the Year.
Explorer Proposes Undersea 'Space Center'
Oct 25 2004 - MSNBC
Oceanographer Robert Ballard is proposing an undersea equivalent of a NASA-style space center at the University of Rhode Island. “What Houston is to outer space, the Inner Space Center will be to undersea exploration,” explained Ballard, who co-discovered the wreck of the Titanic. The proposed facility would enable students to explore the ocean in real time from the comfort of their classrooms. Scientists could use the center to participate in expeditions without ever going to sea. Rhode Island voters would need to approve a $14 million bond issue to make the center a reality.
School's Weather Station Gives Nation Aid
Oct 25 2004 - The Detroit News
More than 7,000 WeatherBug tracking stations located at schools across the country are helping to boost the nation’s security efforts. The WeatherBug network, in partnership with the National Weather Service, offers precise forecast models that government agencies, the military, and emergency managers can use to respond to nonweather-related disasters. Teachers note the weather stations can be a benefit in teaching math, science, graphing, and computing.
Ecologists Aim to Change Nature of Learning
Oct 14 2004 - The Seattle Times
Environmental groups are pushing Washington state lawmakers to increase public funding for environmental education. Advocates argue that more money for environmental education can help improve test scores, reduce bad school behavior, and motivate students to learn. Supporters also note that by allowing students an environmental education—which combines various subjects such as math and science—more job opportunities will exist, especially for women and minorities.
Mom Collects Big Game Organs for Science
Sep 30 2004 - ABC News
An Alaska mother is asking hunters to donate organs for her daughter’s science class. Stephanie Bradford says she’s not happy with her daughter, Megan, dissecting frogs in science class. Bradford wants students to cut into the hearts and eyes of moose, caribou, bear, and other large game. “This is certainly a case that is more particular to that part of the country,” noted Anne Tweed, NSTA’s president. She added that “big game would be very uncommon” in other schools across the country.
Hands-On Science Aims to Boost Learning
Sep 29 2004 - Kansas City Star (Requires free registration)
Kansas City has added its name to the list of school districts that have joined with the Bayer Corporation to improve science education. The company is providing $30,000 for teacher training and materials to two schools with hopes of expanding the program to all Kansas City elementary schools over five years. Bayer representatives say the program will provide more hands-on learning for students and teacher materials that educators might not be able to afford. Other school districts participating in the Bayer program are in Pittsburgh; Bushy Park, SC; Clayton, NC; Elkhart, Ind; Martinsville, W.Va; and West Haven, Conn.
Students Get Good Soaking in Basics of Water, Pollution
Sep 25 2004 - Press Herald (Portland, Maine)
Teachers and students across the country were able to learn the basics about water and pollution last week during the nation’s largest water education day. Project WET (water education for teachers) consisted of interactive programs that attracted 50,000 participants to various locations. Participants in the programs were able to study and discuss such topics as the water cycle, how water travels through the ground, as well as the causes and consequences of pollution.
Co. Converts Buses Into Rolling Labs
Sep 23 2004 - Boston Globe
An Ohio company has found a niche by converting yellow school buses into hands-on laboratories in an effort to excite students about science. The mobile labs created by OBS Inc. of Canton, Ohio, contain a satellite link to the Internet and room for 24 students and a teacher, and typically cost $250,000 to $300,000. Laptop computers and other lab equipment can add another $50,000 to $100,000 to the price. Buyers of the buses, usually universities and their partners, pay for most of the costs through grants and donations.
Physics Lessons Stick Like Velcro
Sep 23 2004 - The Seattle Times
Imagine watching a teacher drive a hovercraft into a giant cream pie or observing a rap and dance about force, motion, and acceleration. All the fun is part of FMA Live! Where Science Rocks!, a program that teaches math and science lessons in a rock-concert like environment. The program is designed to pique student interest in math, science, and engineering fields. Funded and created by NASA and Honeywell, a technology company known for its aerospace products, the FMA Live! show is scheduled for stops at schools around the country.
A Mail-Order Science Lesson
Sep 7 2004 - Indianapolis Star
The mission: send a single oyster cracker to school. The catch: the cracker cannot break and must remain edible, and the mailing of the cracker cannot exceed 37 cents. Mailing oyster crackers to school is all part of an effort to keep science exciting for students, says science teacher Natasha Mikus. Besides the scientific method, gravity, and mass, science educators can use this lesson to teach students how the post office system works. In an e-mail era, Mikus adds, students often don’t understand the Postal Service.
School is an Experiment in Learning
Aug 27 2004 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
A joint venture between the Los Angeles Unified School District and the California Science Center has resulted in a new $50 million school. The Science Center School will enable students to participate in a curriculum focused on math, science, and technology. The building's features, which include a wading pool, a garden, a bamboo forest, and high towers, will allow students to conduct experiments and explore scientific concepts. The new school will open on Sept. 9.
Technical School Lets Some Sample Engineering
Aug 26 2004 - Boston Globe
A Massachusetts school is introducing a pre-engineering program to students in an effort to help eliminate the nation’s shortage of engineers. Students at Blue Hills Regional Technical School will take two engineering classes each semester in addition to their vocational course work. Participants who complete the program will receive a pre-engineering certificate.
Science for Women Pushed
Aug 25 2004 - Chicago Tribune
Science teachers will be introduced to Project SUPER through this article. This program aims to encourage women to pursue careers in science and engineering. Women in the program receive a range of support, including mentoring and research opportunities, all in an effort to help them succeed in academic fields that are dominated by men. The ultimate objective of the project is not to make women more competitive with men, but rather to help them reach their personal goals, according to a program spokesman.
Blind Students to Launch NASA Rocket
Aug 17 2004 - Boston Globe
Blind students from across the nation are preparing to launch a NASA rocket. “Astronomy isn’t thought of as something blind people can do, but the images, stars in space for example, are typically high contrast so making them into a tactile format is fairly simple,” observed Mark Riccobono, education programs manager for the National Federation of the Blinds Jernigan Institute in Baltimore, MD. Students plan to launch the rocket on Aug. 19 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Cattell Camp for Kids Mixes Science and Fun
Aug 12 2004 - Des Moines Register
How do you pique students’ interest in science? Send them to science camp. With a $20,000 grant from Pioneer Hi-Bred, an Iowa elementary school and university have pooled their resources to form a week-long science camp for third and fourth graders. The camp is designed to improve leadership skills and enhance teachers’ abilities to teach inquiry-based science as well as educate students about science in a fun group setting.
Tinkering With Their Minds
Jul 29 2004 - The Boston Globe
Organizers of a program that enables high school students to work on research projects in Boston labs hope their efforts will result in more students entering the field of scientific research. The Research Science Institute aims to sell the nation’s top science students on research careers at a time when there is a shortage of U.S.-trained scientists. A recent report by the National Science Board indicated the number of jobs in America requiring science and engineering skills is increasing while the number of Americans working in those fields is declining.
Space Age Classes Flying High
Jul 21 2004 - The Rapid City Journal (South Dakota)
Whether its building a rocket or sending a bubble-wrapped raw egg in a wooden shuttle from one side of a trailer to another, elementary Native American students are engaging in hands-on science activities through the Project New Opportunities Visions and Attitudes (NOVA) program. Project NOVA is affiliated with Starbase, which works with Title I schools that are rural or who have high poverty levels. Nearly 50 Starbase programs have served about 30,000 students in 28 states. For more ideas on Managing Hands-On Materials, NSTA members can refer to the July 2004 issue of Science & Children.
Americans Try to Make Science Fun for Kids
Jul 17 2004 - ABC News
“Remember kids, this might be a fun thing to do when you grow up.” That’s the message computer engineer John Cohn promotes when making science presentations at schools. Cohn is one of several volunteers across the country attempting to excite students about science with such activities as threading a dill pickle on two wires attached to a generator to explain how electricity works. More than 27 percent of Americans volunteer in education or to work with children, according to the Labor Department. The department, however, does not keep track of the number of science volunteers.
Students Await NASA Launching of Their Homemade Rocket
Jul 15 2004 - Billings Gazette (Montana)
NASA hopes the launch of a homemade rocket constructed by college students will inspire pupils nationwide to work for the space agency or in the aerospace industry. Students from the University of Cincinnati and Casper College in Wyoming built the 20-foot, 330-pound rocket dubbed the “Pathfinder.” A NASA spokesman noted the rocket is a seed project for a new initiative where NASA will partner with universities to enable students to build rockets that NASA will launch. The launch of “Pathfinder” will be held July 16 off the coast of Virginia.
Swamp Evolves Into Outdoor Classroom
Jul 12 2004 - Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City, UT)
Teachers will have the opportunity to engage students in hands-on science, after a small patch of wetlands near a historic pond is turned into an outdoor classroom. The Salem Wetland Park in Utah will enable students to learn about the habitat for plants, insects, and other parts of the pond’s ecosystem. The park will be renamed the Salem Outdoor Wetland Classroom during a dedication ceremony in August. For more information on Managing Hands-On Materials, NSTA members can refer to the July 2004 issue of Science & Children.
Wanted: Young American Scientists
Jul 9 2004 - CBS News
The Energy Department plans to launch a new program that it hopes will result in more American students becoming scientists and engineers. The program will consist of 17 national labs hosting 2,000 middle level students for at least one day each year. The labs and the Energy Department will also sponsor an annual science expo, science appreciation days, as well as career days for students. Math and science teachers involved in the program will have the chance to earn scholarships.
Teachers Concerned for Science Education
Jul 3 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Educators, employers, and science experts are voicing mixed reaction to the state of science education in America. Several teachers and experts note that science should receive more attention in the classroom and that educators need more professional development in this subject. Business leaders say they have seen a declining interest in science among students. Daniel Greenberg, a guest scholar at The Brookings Institution, noted that the American scientific exploration will thrive “regardless of the worry-mongers who periodically sound false alarms.”
Teachers Learn Experiments to Interest Students
Jun 28 2004 - The Washington Post
Officials with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute hope a new program being used in Loudoun County, Virginia, this summer will spread to middle school classrooms nationwide in the future. The Institute’s science camp for teachers consists of educators conducting experiments with new equipment, as well as teachers attending a variety of classes. Educators are then invited back at the end of the summer for a refresher course. For more information on summer science activities, NSTA members can refer to the July 2004 issue of Science Scope.
The Natural World is Their Classroom
Jun 22 2004 - The Christian Science Monitor
Environmental education advocates claim that students can improve their performance in the classroom if they spend time outdoors. “Kids who study the environment are better equipped in math and science,” notes Abby Ruskey, president of the North American Association for Environmental Education. “When you get a student out into their environment,” Ruskey says, “in their community, taking water samples from a stream, there is a sense all of a sudden that the world…has suddenly become that much bigger and important.”
Tech Execs Give Congress a Slate of Requests, Recommendations
Jun 17 2004 - USA Today
CEOs of leading technology companies are asking Congress to promote math and science classes in America’s schools. Bill Conner, chief executive at Entrust Inc., says schools should provide better opportunities in math and science for women and minorities. He added that students who excel in these areas continue to be perceived as “nerds.” “We need to turn up the volume, make it OK and cool to be in math and science,” Conner observed.
Concept of Science Must Be Changed
Jun 15 2004 - The Korea Times
Science needs to be regarded as a means of culture in order to develop and improve students’ minds, according to a high-profile Israeli science educator. “You cannot just poor science into the heads of children. It must be an internal process,” observed Dr. Oved Kedem of the Davidson Institute of Science Education. Kedem added that having everyone learn basic science concepts would be a way to close the gap between science and culture.
A Second Look at the Biology Lab
Jun 8 2004 - Christian Science Monitor
Although six million animals are dissected in America's schools each year, the quest is on to find credible alternatives to this activity. Several middle and high school students nationwide are objecting to dissection based on the beliefs of animal rights groups who have increased their efforts to stop the use of animals for research. Several organizations, however, say there is no substitute for dissection, but note teachers should consider students views on the subject. Click here to read NSTA's background paper on the responsible use of organisms in precollege science.
Free From Gravity, Students Taste Outer Space
Jun 8 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Although recent studies indicate that America’s pipeline in science and engineering is drying up, NASA is hoping to change that trend with its educational initiatives. This article introduces readers to the agency’s student flight project, a one-week program held in Houston that enables college students from across the nation to create experiments that can be performed aboard NASA’s KC-135 low gravity plane.
School Plans 'CSI'-Type Training
May 24 2004 - Des Moines Register
An Iowa university hopes to entice students to study forensic science. St. Ambrose University will offer Iowa’s first undergraduate program in criminalistics this fall. The program will include classes in biology, chemistry, physics, and criminal justice. Although television shows such as CSI have helped ignite student interest in forensic science and there is a national need for criminal lab technicians, experts say the job outlook for this industry lacks promise.
Studies Suggest Science Education Neglected
May 19 2004 - Education Week
Two studies have revealed that science education is being neglected in elementary classrooms and in teacher training programs, and that high school and college students’ interest in science or engineering is falling. Gerry Wheeler, NSTA’s executive director, notes in this article that early science preparation for students “is so important to their future choices in high schools and in their careers.” Wheeler adds that the United States needs to make science education a higher priority, especially in the earlier grades.
Giant African Snails Targeted for Roundup
May 18 2004 - NSTA - Tim Weber
The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is engaged in an effort to collect the giant African snails being used in classrooms and nature centers or kept as pets in private homes. The Service encourages anyone who has the highly invasive snails to turn them in voluntarily without fear of penalty.
Former Astronaut Points Girls to Science
May 17 2004 - Sacramento Bee
America’s first female astronaut is encouraging middle level girls to study math and science. During a recent festival in California, Sally Ride explained that hard work was the key ingredient in becoming an astronaut. Ride believes that schools should teach science earlier and use “real world” projects to engage students. “One of the problems that still remains is the lingering stereotype that an engineer is an old guy in a lab coat with a pocket protector. That’s not what an 11-year-old girl wants to be,” Ride noted.
Science Fairs Are Turning to U.S. Security
May 16 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
National security has become a growing theme in high school science fair projects. Fair organizers and judges say the September 11 terrorist attacks and the military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan have prompted students to research issues related to domestic security instead of studying tree frogs or volcanoes. Students who develop innovative projects can be rewarded for their efforts. Six winners at this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair were awarded $20,000 scholarships from the Department of Homeland Security.
From School Project to FDA Investigation
May 15 2004 - Baltimore Sun
A 13-year-old’s science fair project has sparked a federal investigation into lead-tainted food cans. Ilana Edelman won first place in the middle school biology division at the Baltimore Science Fair, after finding lead-sealed cans in two markets that cater to immigrants from East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia. The Food and Drug Administration imposed a ban on the cans in 1995. FDA inspectors are investigating stores in Maryland and Virginia where the illegal cans have been found, but noted the probe could extend into other states.
Science Fair Attracts Top Students
May 14 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Hundreds of teens from across the globe have converged in Portland, Oregon, this weekend to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. This year’s panel of judges includes a record number of Nobel laureates, according to Intel officials. Students participating in the science fair will have the chance to compete for $3 million in scholarships and prizes, including a trip to Stockholm for a Nobel Prize ceremony.
NASA Introduces New Class of 11 Astronauts
May 6 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Three teachers are part of NASA’s new class of eleven astronauts. The educators will work and train with more than 100 astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. After they finish their training, the teachers will be scheduled for a space flight by 2009. “I’ve always encouraged my students to follow their dreams,” noted Richard Arnold of Maryland, one of the three selected teachers. “I hope I’m setting the same example for my kids.”
Robot Games Draw Thousands of Teenagers
Apr 16 2004 - USA Today
To Dean Kamen, it’s about “developing the muscle that’s hanging between your ears.” Kamen is the founder of the annual robotics competition called FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Kamen said he founded the competition as a way to promote science and technology, careers that society overlooks. Approximately 7,000 high school students nationwide will compete in the program this weekend in Atlanta. The competition encourages students to design robots and compete against their peers for $4.5 million in scholarships.
Girls Taking On World in Robotics
Apr 13 2004 - The Mercury News (San Jose, CA)
A group of female California students competing in this year’s First Lego League Invitational International hopes to debunk the notion that girls can’t be scientists or engineers. The global competition will feature 48 student teams from the United States, Canada, Korea, Scandinavia, and Britain, but only a handful of the teams are entirely female. Experts note that girls are just as smart and as interested in science and technology as boys. Females, however, shy away from those subjects because they don’t think they will be successful at them or they might feel intimidated by boys in classes.
Taking Science Lab on the Road, and Bringing Some Magic, Too
Apr 7 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
How do you make science exciting for students attending high schools in rural areas? Hire a mobile educator from Science in Motion. This program consists of sending lab equipment and materials to rural high schools along with teachers to conduct labs for students. Financed by the National Science Foundation in 1987, Pennsylvania’s legislature now funds the program, which has gained in popularity. Other states that have replicated the project include Indiana, Alabama, North Carolina, Delaware, and California.
Roving the World
Mar 31 2004 - Education Week
High school students across the globe are receiving a rare opportunity to learn science at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. The Red Rover Goes to Mars program enables students to work directly on projects associated with the mission to Mars. Students are also responsible for writing daily journal entries that are posted on the Planetary Society’s website. Sixteen students were selected for this year’s program out of 500 applicants.
Federal Agencies Train Spotlight On Science Instruction
Mar 24 2004 - Education Week
Federal agencies are hoping to put a spotlight on improving science education. Education Secretary Rod Paige says enhanced research needs to be conducted into “what works in science education.” The Education Department plans to launch a public awareness campaign that will involve teachers, students, as well as community and business leaders in the project. Paige’s remarks were made at a recent session of “Excellence in Science, Technology, and Mathematics Education Week,” a joint effort of the Education Department and the National Science Foundation.
Mass. Student Wins Young Scientist Prize
Mar 17 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
A Massachusetts teen is this year’s grand prize winner of the Intel Science Talent Search. Herbert Mason Hedberg will receive a $100,000 scholarship for creating a faster way to diagnose cancer. The 17-year-old’s project for the national contest involved experimenting with the telomerase enzyme found in cancer cells. Hedberg found a way to screen for telomerase inhibitors and rank their potency in suppressing tumors.
Science Students Vie For 'Junior Nobel Prize'
Mar 11 2004 - CNN.com
Science students across the country will gather in the nation’s capital this week to compete in a contest dubbed the “junior Nobel prize.” The Intel Science Talent Search will consist of 40 finalists competing for more than $1 million in scholarships and cash. Projects entered in this year’s event range from a diagnostic test for breast cancer to a study of a method for determining the distance to a near-Earth asteroid. The grand prize winner, who will be announced March 16, will receive a $100,000 four-year scholarship. For more information on Science Fairs, NSTA members can refer to the March 2004 issue of Science Scope.
Scholarships Await Top Students in Science Fair
Mar 7 2004 - The Oregonian
Students competing in this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair will be able to win thousands of dollars in scholarships, thanks to Oregon’s public and private universities. Public universities in Oregon are donating 27 scholarships worth a total of $142,500 a year for four years. Eight private universities have pledged 20 scholarships worth a total of $138,900 a year for four years. The international science event is expected to draw more than a thousand students from 40 nations. For more information on Science Fairs, NSTA members can refer to the March 2004 issue of Science Scope.
Kids Engineer a Bright Future For Our Cities
Mar 1 2004 - USA Today
Middle school students nationwide recently displayed their creations at the National Engineers Week’s Future City Competition in Washington, D.C. Entries submitted by students included a floating city, a municipality powered by hydrogen fuel cells, and an outpost on Mars named Lewis and Clark. Experts note the competition is not only an exercise in engineering, but an opportunity for students to improve their teamwork skills. For more information on Science Fairs, NSTA members can refer to the March 2004 issue of Science Scope.
Interest in School Science Programs Up
Feb 23 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Student interest in science is on the rise thanks to an educational program called For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology or FIRST. More than 600 teams participate in the competition compared to 200 teams 10 years ago. The program consists of high school student teams from across the nation who partner with engineers from a corporate sponsor to design and build a robot. The robots are then judged at regional and national competitions. The deadline for this year’s competition is 5 p.m. (EDT) Feb. 24.
Snails, Highly Valued by Teachers, are Blacklisted
Feb 18 2004 - Pioneer Press (MN)
Last summer, the US Agriculture Department banned the interstate transport of Helix aspersa, throwing school science into disarray and setting off a last-minute search for a substitute that has at least as much personality as the snail. French immigrants apparently introduced Helix aspersa to California in the 1800s. The ravenous, fast-breeding organism took hold, infesting the state's citrus crop and threatening its nursery plant industry. The snail is now seen as "a major pest beyond the hope of eradication" in California, and as it inches east, state agriculture departments everywhere are wary.
Georgia Science Teachers to Keep Evolution
Feb 13 2004 - Yahoo News/AP
A group of Georgia science teachers, convened by the state schools superintendent to help resolve an imbroglio regarding the treatment of evolution in state's science curriculum, has decided in favor of retaining the term and its related concepts. "We're empowering the teachers of Georgia to teach science as it should be taught," said Stephen Pruitt, the state's science curriculum specialist. "No teacher will have to stand in front of the Board of Education or anybody else and have to defend why they are teaching evolution."
Science Theory Backed; Evolution Part of Standards
Feb 12 2004 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Without using the word "evolution," the state Board of Education made it clear it thinks the scientific theory should be taught to Georgia's students in its entirety. During an hourlong discussion, the state board put together a public statement that calls for all areas of the state's new curriculum to be "world-class, beginning with the full inclusion of the recognized national standards in each curriculum area...." That includes national science standards, which call for teaching evolution and using the word in the classroom.
Georgia Chief Backs Down On "Evolution" Stance
Feb 11 2004 - Education Week (requires free registration)
Georgia's schools chief ended her attempt to remove the word "evolution" from the state's proposed academic standards after receiving complaints from parents, educators, and politicians. Putting the word "evolution" back into the standards is "a step in the right direction," said Cynthia S. Workosky, a spokeswoman for the National Science Teachers Association. But, she added, the superintendent's office has also attempted to weaken the state's science standards by omitting concepts related to natural selection, the age of the Earth, and genetic science. "We feel they need to be put back in," Ms. Workosky said.
Math, Science Grants In Federal Cross Hairs
Feb 11 2004 - Education Week (requires free registration)
The White House recommended last week stripping $140 million for math and science education research away from the National Science Foundation and giving it to the US Department of Education. Critics charge this allows the Bush administration to set the research agenda for how those subjects are taught in the nation's classrooms. "They would be the ones making decisions on grants," said Jodi Peterson, the director of legislative affairs for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). In addition, with its emphasis on math, the proposal will leave science out of the loop, according to Gerald Wheeler, NSTA's executive director. The change "will almost guarantee that science cannot be adequately addressed by the math- and science-partnership programs."
High School Scientists of Tomorrow Compete for a Major Prize
Jan 29 2004 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
Forty students from 14 states and the District of Columbia have been named finalists in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. Each finalist receives a laptop computer and $5,000 and will travel to the nation’s capital in March to compete for $530,000 in scholarships. While in Washington, the finalists will present their projects at the National Academy of Sciences to a panel of 12 judges who will rank each project on visual display, sophistication of research, innovation in conclusions and the student’s knowledge of various topics within their respective field, according to an Intel spokesperson.
Bush's Space Plan Eyes New Generation
Jan 21 2004 - Boston Globe
A new generation of scientists and engineers will be needed if President Bush’s space plan is to be a success, according to this article. Bush plans to send humans back into space between 2015 and 2020, but that goal won't become a reality unless universities play a significant role in encouraging students to study math and science. A NASA spokesman noted the space agency would need to recruit new employees with engineering and science backgrounds from graduate schools since 25 percent of its workforce is near retirement age.
Visiting Labs Have Kids Seeing Stars
Jan 21 2004 - Baltimore Sun
A Maryland county has purchased two new teaching tools in hopes of increasing student interest in math and science. Starlabs look like inflated igloos from the outside, but resemble planetariums from the inside. The labs are designed to spark student interest in the stars, the universe, and science in general, according to school officials. The portable planetariums also provide a chance for all students to share the excitement of space. For more information about Science and Math Integration, NSTA members can read the January 2004 issue of Science & Children.
Dissecting Mice: Rite of Passage or Cruelty?
Jan 21 2004 - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minnesota teachers are facing a challenge that science educators nationwide have dealt with in recent years: finding alternatives to dissection. The effort was recently prompted by a student's refusal to dissect a mouse. Ashley Curtis said she thinks dissection is cruel. Proponents argue that there is "no comparison to studying life in the flesh." School officials said they plan to examine alternatives to dissection to help resolve the issue. For NSTA's views on dissection, read this NSTA background paper.
Science Teacher Brings ISU Lab Lessons to Students
Jan 15 2004 - Des Moines Register
Science educator Maureen Griffin has been able to teach her students the importance of problem-based learning, thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. The Combined Research and Curriculum Development grant has enabled Griffin to take problem-based units she created at Iowa State University and share them with her advanced chemistry students. As a result, Griffin’s students have learned about mixture separations and will soon study polymers. For more information about Designing Inquiry Pathways, NSTA members can read the January 2004 issue of The Science Teacher.
Teachers Using Mars Mission in Classroom
Jan 11 2004 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Teachers across the globe are helping their students experience the excitement of the current mission to Mars with a variety of educational programs. Students from the United States, Brazil, India and other countries are working with NASA engineers at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Student teams are also tracking data from the mission for NASA at several colleges and schools from Utah to New York. “We really want to communicate to students that science is amazingly fun,” observed Michelle Viotti, a NASA education outreach specialist.
Program Places Weather Stations in Schools
Dec 30 2003 - The Charlotte Observer (Requires free registration)
More than 6,500 schools nationwide are using a new program as part of their science curriculum. WeatherNet Classroom is a partnership between the National Weather Service and the private American Weather Service. Schools pay $5,000 for the program, which consists of sophisticated reporting stations that provide round-the-clock data on precipitation, temperature, wind speed, and direction.
Studies of Brain Disorders, West Nile Take Top Science Prize
Dec 9 2003 - USA Today
Two brothers from Connecticut and a New York teen have claimed the top prizes in this year’s Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. Yin Li of Stuyvesant High School in New York won the overall individual prize for his work involving a class of proteins that can warp and trigger a variety of brain disorders such as mad cow disease. Brothers Mark and Jeffrey Schneider of South Windsor High School in Connecticut won the team prize for developing an analytical model of West Nile virus transmission.
Young U.S. Science 'Geniuses' Compete
Dec 8 2003 - The Washington Times
The discovery of a previously unknown active galaxy and a computer model that could help control the deadly West Nile virus are among the projects entered in this year’s Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. Six prizes will be awarded today to finalists who competed in the program, one of the top science research contests for high school students in the country.
Formula for Scientists of the Future
Oct 22 2003 - The Washington Post
Teachers looking for creative ways to engage their students in science can check out this article. The story discusses a variety of scientific challenges undertaken by the 40 finalists in this year’s Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge held in the nation’s capital. The winner of the competition wins a $15,000 scholarship and the title of being “America’s Top Young Scientist.”
Space Workshop at Vanderbilt Inspires 3rd-Graders, Teachers
Oct 20 2003 - The Tennessean
Science teachers will learn about the Drawn to Space program in this article. The two-day workshop teaches educators how to integrate art and writing into their school’s space curriculum. For more information about Science and Literature Connections, NSTA members can refer to the October 2003 issue of Science & Children.
Pupils Keep Plugging Along
Oct 18 2003 - The Baltimore Sun
Middle school teachers looking for a great way to teach their students science in the outdoors will want to read this article. The story discusses a program involving students and teachers learning the mechanics of marsh restoration in Blackwater, the largest stretch of unbroken marsh on the Chesapeake Bay. For more information on The Great Outdoors, NSTA members can refer to the October 2003 issue of Science Scope.
Classrooms Spill Over Into Gardens
Oct 14 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
Science teachers looking for a creative way to teach students about the outdoors can check out this article. The author discusses how schools nationwide are cultivating their gardens to help students learn about plants, animals, trees, and collect information about the weather in a hands-on environment. Observers note this teaching technique can help boost student test scores and excitement for science. For more information about The Great Outdoors, NSTA members can refer to the October 2003 issue of Science Scope.
Outdoors Experience Teaches Youngsters
Oct 8 2003 - The Baltimore Sun
Teachers at one Maryland middle school are using after-school hours to teach their students about the outdoors. Camp Letts, a YMCA facility in Edgewater, Maryland, enables students to observe animals in their natural habitat, work on team problem-solving exercises such as orienteering, and study a campground’s environment. Teachers then use the camp experience as teaching tool in the classroom. For more information on The Great Outdoors, NSTA members can refer to the October 2003 issue of Science Scope.
Students Dive into Lessons
Oct 7 2003 - Indianapolis Star
Air tanks, flippers, and goggles are typically not part of the marine biology curriculum at most schools. Biology teacher Mark Francis, however, has equipped his students with such items as part of an annual scuba diving trip since 1998 to teach students about marine life. Francis claims “hands-on learning is what marine biology is all about.” “When you see marine life in its element, then you have a true understanding for it,” he observed. For more information on The Great Outdoors, NSTA members can refer to the October 2003 issue of Science Scope.
NSTA WebNews Analysis: Teaching Evolution
Sep 26 2003 - NSTA - Kristin Collins
The subject of how to teach evolution and whether alternative views should be presented to the theory have been controversial topics debated for many years. The month of September proved to be no different. Teachers, scientists, and religious leaders in Texas, for example, voiced mixed reactions Sept. 10 over how students should learn evolution through biology textbooks. Michigan lawmakers and religious leaders are also debating creationism and the theory of evolution. School board members in California's Roseville Joint Union High School District agreed Sept. 2 to let each school decide how to teach evolution instead of forming a districtwide policy.
Teachers Use Creatures for Fun Lessons
Sep 23 2003 - The Tennessean
Teachers across Tennessee are using creative methods to teach students science. The article notes that animals have a way of engaging students in a way books and television cannot. Teachers, for example, have students use guinea pigs and birds to learn about nature. Students also read about the animals in the works of British author Beatrix Potter. For more information about Science and Literature Connections, NSTA members can refer to the October 2003 issue of Science & Children.
Testing 'Harming School Science'
Sep 18 2003 - BBC News
A new study shows teaching elementary students to pass tests is damaging their enthusiasm for science. The study for the Futurelab of the National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts also revealed some science lessons are too difficult for non-specialist teachers to teach students. The report suggests a new approach to science teaching with more experimentation and observation methods needed, and less rote learning.
Brave New Science
Sep 17 2003 - Education Week
Schools across the country are starting biotechnology programs, an emerging field of science that combines technology and engineering with biology. “Every state is focusing on biotech to some degree,” added Kathy Frame, an education programs director at the Biotechnology Institute in Arlington, VA. Most students who participate in such programs enter college. Teachers and administrators emphasize, however, that students don’t need to be future Einsteins to be in biotechnology programs; rather their interest in science and technology is what matters.
Purdue-IPS Initiative Draws Kids to Science
Sep 9 2003 - The Indianapolis Star
Indiana students are participating in a project that organizers hope will lead them to college and careers in science. The Science Bound program, a partnership between Indianapolis Public Schools and Purdue University, awards scholarships to students who maintain a minimum of a C average, earn high school diplomas, and choose accepted science majors at Purdue. Program participants take part in field trips, after-school programs, and summer camps held at Purdue. Experts note the program is reaching students at an age when they begin to tune out lessons. For more information on Inquiry: Start off on the Right Foot, NSTA members can refer to the September 2003 issue of Science Scope.
Cadavers Help Keep Class Lively
Sep 9 2003 - The Cincinnati Enquirer
Science teacher Mo Henning knows how to bring textbooks to life. The 51-year-old educator who teaches anatomy and physiology provides high school students opportunities to see how the human body functions. Students work with first-year medical students to help them dissect human cadavers. They also observe surgeries, listen to guest speakers, and use popular music to learn lessons. Henning notes that the sights, smells, and sounds of the human body cannot be fully understood through textbooks. For more information on how to Engage Your Students, NSTA members can refer to the September 2003 issue of The Science Teacher.
A Fair Battle of the Bots
Sep 2 2003 - The Baltimore Sun
High school student teams recently put their skills to the test in a regional robotic competition at the Maryland State Fair. The competition, dubbed “stack attack,” pitted robots against piles of plastic five-gallon storage bins atop a platform. The local event was part of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology project, a national initiative started by NASA nine years ago. For more information on how to Engage Your Students, NSTA members can refer to the September 2003 issue of The Science Teacher.
Mano a Mano, Iron Teachers and Science!
Aug 5 2003 - New York Times (requires free registration)
"Let's mercilessly brutalize some strawberries!" Dr. Steve Ribisi shouted to the 100 or so people watching him at the Exploratorium, San Francisco's science museum. He was competing against six contestants in another Web episode of "Iron Science Teacher," a program based loosely on the Japanese television show "Iron Chef." Dr. Ribisi declared his goal: to extract DNA from fruit, using the "secret ingredient" — kitchen utensils.
Where are the Future Scientists?
Jul 29 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
Teachers and others who work in the science and technology industry will need to make science more exciting if they want to draw a variety of future workers, according to this article. Previous studies have focused on the gender gap in math, science, and technology. Experts note, however, the real challenge in attracting future scientists is finding students who are opinionated and aggressive.
Digital Library Opens the World of Science-Without Gender Bias
Jul 29 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
Science educators can expose their students to the Gender and Science Digital Library, an online collection of “gender-fair resources” such as books and videos in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Project officials note the online library is part of a larger effort to engage learners of all ages, as well as connect students with mentors and other students who share their curiosity.
Group Uses Mousetrap Races to Excite Kids About Science
Jul 22 2003 - The Tennessean
Middle and high school students across the country and the Bahamas recently put their skills to the test at the national mousetrap competition at Tennessee State University. This annual event aims to encourage students to enter the fields of science, math, engineering, and technology by having them build cars with a mousetrap engine. Click on the above link to learn more.
Ride Steers Girls Toward Math, Science
Jul 8 2003 - The Sacramento Bee
Sally Ride, the first American woman to travel into space, hopes to sustain girls interest in science beyond the elementary years. The 52-year-old teacher and former astronaut has created a summer camp for sixth through eighth-grade girls at Stanford University in California. According to Ride’s organization, Imaginary Lines, if only a fraction of girls who drop science would continue in the field, the nation would not face a shortage of scientists and engineers.
Camps Steer Girls Toward Science
Jul 7 2003 - Boston Globe
Hundreds of girls nationwide will attend science and technology camps this summer. Proponents say the camps can expose girls to a range of scientific professions and encourage them to pursue degrees in science, math, and engineering. Critics, however, question the effectiveness of such camps. They note that the percentage of women in the technology work force dropped to 34.9 percent in 2002 from 41 percent in 1996.
BattleBots Inspire a Battle of Brains
Jun 27 2003 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, MN)
The task: build a little robot that can defeat the little robots the other kids have built. It's a challenge students accept with gusto. The larger challenge: make sure the students master some science, math, and engineering principles along the way. Twenty teachers came together in Minneapolis this week to figure out how to do just that. They took a class in designing and building steel robots and learning the coursework tailored two years ago by the originators of the BattleBots TV show.
Bioterrorism a New Topic in Science Class
Jun 18 2003 - Education Week
As a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, some teachers across the country have started experimenting with the best way to approach the subject of bioterrorism in science class, but few educators have started such instruction. Education experts say the topic should be addressed so students can have the “requisite scientific knowledge to grasp the policy debates that span from public health to national defense.” Experts also note the topic of bioterrorism can provide science teachers a new opportunity to teach biology concepts.
Schools Ponder Alternatives to Animal Dissections in Class
Jun 6 2003 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
A recent survey of 5,000 biology teachers shows 65 percent of educators support alternatives to dissection. Teachers say dissection, a ritual of science classes for decades, can excite or disgust students. Videos and computer programs are two examples of dissection alternatives for students. NSTA supports dissection, but encourages teachers to be sensitive to student concerns.
Rocket Kids
May 14 2003 - Education Week
The Feb. 1 loss of the space shuttle Columbia may have put NASA in a holding pattern, but enthusiasm for space travel among campers hasn’t wavered. Each year, more than 100 school groups travel to Space Camp, held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The week-long program enables students to learn the role of an astronaut and the history of space travel.
Kids, Dollars, and Science
May 13 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
The times have changed for the nation’s top science contests such as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and the Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. “In my day, the science fair was a tournament for geeks, mainly guys, who wanted to showcase their brains. We did it for the fun of it," observed Paul Lubin, a science fair judge. Experts note, however, that judges now spend time evaluating PhD-quality work and contest winners earn enough money to help pay for their college tuition.
Iowa Science Teacher Gives a Lego Up to Inquisitive Students
May 13 2003 - USA TODAY
NSTA member Hector Ibarra says he would rather use hands-on activities than textbooks to teach students science. Since 1992, Ibarra has received nearly $500,000 in grants to fund his hands-on activities for students. Ibarra credits his hands-on teaching style to John Dunkhase, a lecturer at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Ibarra also notes that his students have played a “huge part” in his success.
Nurturing Seeds of Knowledge
May 12 2003 - The Washington Times
Science teachers will be introduced to the Retirees Enhancing Science Education Through Experiments and Demonstrations program in this article. This project aims to recruit retired professionals with science backgrounds into the classroom to help educators who lack sufficient training to teach science. Retirees who participate in the program receive 40 hours of training and are required to work at least one day a week for a year.
Middle School Texts Don't Make the Grade
May 5 2003 - Physics Today
A new study shows middle school physical science textbooks are filled with errors and contain irrelevant information. John Hubisz, a visiting professor of physics at North Carolina University in Raleigh, recently reviewed and critiqued 12 of the most popular physical science textbooks with a committee from the American Association of Physics Teachers. The group concluded that physicists have contributed to the problem by not helping to meet the needs of teachers.
Simple Science Fairs Go the Way of the Dinosaurs
Apr 30 2003 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
The scope of science fairs is changing in society. According to experts, the days of creating a simple project have turned into a “research extravaganza” with students exploring more ambitious terrain with sophisticated technology such as computers and electron microscopes. Julianne Bochinski, a science fair book author, observed that high school students are conducting “experiments once possible only for Ph.D. candidates.”
Nurturing an Inner Passion for Outer Space
Apr 29 2003 - The Washington Post
Educator Astronaut and NSTA member Barbara Morgan is back in the headlines. This article discusses Morgan’s “unshakable determination” to fly into space and to teach students about the universe. “We need to motivate people, to get them to study math, science, technology, and also to get more people to enter the teaching profession,” observed Morgan.
Gravity, Zero; Thrills, Countless
Apr 29 2003 - Baltimore Sun
Dubbed the Vomit Comet, students from 12 colleges around the country recently performed experiments on NASA’s Weightless Wonder. The experimental aircraft is used to give astronauts a taste of weightlessness and to test equipment from showerheads to space suits before launching them into orbit. NASA officials also use the aircraft to promote an interest in science and space flight among undergraduates.
State Science Festival Draws National Attention
Apr 22 2003 - The Oklahoman (Requires free registration)
States and cities across America are taking notice of ScienceFest Oklahoma. The Earth Day celebration enables students to learn about the environment through hands-on workshops, musical performances, and other activities. Toni Payne, an epidemiologist for Oklahoma’s Environmental Quality Department, observed that ScienceFest has attracted national attention because localities are looking for a model for learning events.
Teacher Uses Physics to Engage Students
Apr 15 2003 - The Mercury News (San Jose, CA)
Science teacher Charles Hibbard says he never wants his students to leave class hating physics. The California high school teacher has achieved that goal by infusing a level of creativity and craziness into his lab experiments that have won him the honor of being named to his students best-loved science teacher list. Hibbard notes the honor is not as important as the need to be creative, which can help students learn.
Young Geniuses Get Set for Battle of Bots
Apr 11 2003 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
High school students from around the world are competing in the finals of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics (FIRST) competition in Houston this weekend. The FIRST program encourages teams of high school students to design and build robots. Click on the above link to learn more about this year’s final championship.
Science Fair Aims to Pique Students' Interest in Science
Apr 10 2003 - The Kansas City Star
How do you make science fun and interesting for students? Sponsored by the nonprofit group Science Pioneers, the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair encourages students to create their own experiments and inventions. “We want kids to use science in their daily lives,” observed Laura Dickinson, the group’s executive director. “This is the fun way to do that.”
Students' Bill Makes the Cut
Apr 10 2003 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Developers and other property owners will now have some tax relief, thanks to a bill crafted by high school teachers and students in Georgia. The new measure approved by Georgia lawmakers gives tax relief to property owners if they build man-made wetlands to store and clean runoff from parking lots, rooftops, driveways, and streets when it rains. After years of research, the students claim wetlands do a better job of filtering pollutants than concrete culverts and drainage ponds.
Teacher-Astronaut Outlines Her Role For Shuttle Operations
Apr 9 2003 - Education Week
Though her flight date remains uncertain, Educator Astronaut and NSTA member Barbara Morgan recently told teachers at the Association’s national convention in Philadelphia that she is preparing to travel into space. After Morgan enters orbit, she will help astronauts walk in space, monitor pictures of Earth, as well as assist the flight crew in landing the spacecraft. Morgan will also help teachers show their students the science behind the flight mission through e-mail, video downlinks, and ham radios.
Students, Teachers Dig Environmental Lessons
Apr 9 2003 - The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Environmental projects and hands-on learning is shaping the curriculum of several North Carolina schools. Nearly all schools in the Triangle area of North Carolina have implemented outdoor learning activities as part of their daily lesson plans. Lisa Tolley of the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education said the reason is simple: “students are more engaged working outside the classroom than reading textbooks.”
Group is Driven to Reduce Levels of Air Pollutants
Apr 9 2003 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Houston biology teacher David Martin has translated his love for a new Honda Civic Hybrid car into a campaign that involves his students educating the public on how to reduce levels of air pollutants. Students in Martin’s Ground Level Ozone Reduction program encourage parents and others to use energy-efficient light bulbs, conserve air conditioning, carpool, keep vehicles in good shape, and consider purchasing a hybrid car. The students also educate the public on what ground level ozone is and how it can affect their health.
Living Lab is a Smart Approach to Teaching
Apr 2 2003 - USA TODAY
Peggy Carlisle, a teacher at Pecan Park Elementary School in Mississippi, knows how to motivate her students to learn. Since August 2001, the award-winning educator has been teaching language arts and math through hands-on science in a program called Extension to Create and Enrich Learning. The curriculum enables students to develop their own questions for inquiry-based learning. “If we thoroughly interest children, we can pretty much go anywhere with them,” Carlisle observed.
'Bot' Competition Inspires Technical Teamwork Around the Country
Apr 1 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
Dubbed the Super Bowl of Smarts, the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science Technology (FIRST) Robotics competition emphasizes cooperation and teamwork skills over technical ability. Nearly 20,000 high school students from the United States, Canada, Britain, and Brazil are participating in regional competitions this spring in hopes of winning a spot at the FIRST finals scheduled for April 10–12, in Houston.
Student Scientist Says you Shouldn't Sip Soda and Sing
Mar 30 2003 - The Dallas Morning News
How does drinking soda affect the voice? Does playing arcade games count as a form of exercise? Students in north Texas attempted to answer those questions through various science projects displayed at the Dallas Morning News-Toyota Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The event attracted 800 middle and high school students who competed for cash awards and scholarships. The winners of the fair will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair scheduled for May 11–17 in Cleveland.
Manual Student is Honored for Science Research
Mar 24 2003 - The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Science teachers will learn about Vinita Alexander in this article. Alexander, one of 300 winners and the only semi-finalist from Kentucky in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search contest, was awarded a $1,000 prize for her research project on how to eliminate proteins that block the brain from sending messages to other parts of the body. University of Louisville nanotechnology professors claim Alexander’s research could lead to healing paralysis sparked by exposure to chemicals.
Pupils Do Their Part for the Bay
Mar 23 2003 - The Baltimore Sun
Classes at Perryville Middle School in Maryland recently competed to earn the designation “Most Water Saved.” The competition was part of a program sponsored by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. The middle school partnered with the commission to teach students water conservation. “What I hope is that this project will help students understand that each and every child can conserve water,” said Del. David Rudolph, a Maryland Democrat who came up with the idea for the school.
Landfill Now is Students' Learning Ground
Mar 23 2003 - Chicago Tribune
Illinois high school teachers and students have turned a former landfill into an outdoor science classroom. “The science department is using it as a living laboratory,” said Robin Hunt, a spokeswoman for Loyola Academy in Glenview. Biology students and members of the academy’s astronomy club plan to use their new classroom to grow plants, breed beetles, and wire an observation deck telescope.
In-Line Skates=Physics Lesson=(PAEMST) Award
Mar 21 2003 - The Hartford Courant (Connecticut)
Four Connecticut teachers are among the 200 winners of this year’s Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, a program that recognizes outstanding K–12 math and science educators. “Educators like these bring contagious enthusiasm into the classroom and weave the essential life skill of critical thinking into the fabric of our rising generations,” observed Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation, the sponsor of the program.
Teacher, Students Sought to Help Put Robots on Mars
Mar 19 2003 - The Birmingham News (Alabama)
Astrophysicist Thomas Wdowiak is seeking a science teacher and two students from Birmingham, Alabama to help his NASA team put robots on Mars. Wdowiak, a journalist for The Birmingham News, is part of the Athena team, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration group of scientists who plan to send robots to Mars to determine if life ever existed on the planet. The winning teacher and students will work with Wdowiak before and during two scheduled launches set for May and June.
Hebrew School Tops at Science Fair
Mar 18 2003 - Denver Post
More than half of the 47 students at the Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy in Colorado recently took home prizes after competing in the Denver Metropolitan Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Bryan Hay, head of school, explains the students’ parents are medical professionals who insist their children get a solid education in math and science.
561 Students Set for Science Expo
Mar 18 2003 - Billings Gazette (Montana)
More than 500 students will compete in the annual Deaconess Billings Clinic Research Division Science Expo, to be held March 22 at Montana State University in Billings. Carole Baldwin, a Smithsonian marine biologist, will serve as guest speaker. The event will also feature more than 40 science-related companies from Montana and Washington who will demonstrate various science experiments. The top winners from the competition will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Cleveland, Ohio in May.
Students Glimpse the Future. And it's Tiny
Mar 18 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
Nanotechnology—the science of manipulating structures from atoms—is becoming a popular subject in today’s science classroom. Students in Washington, for example, are engaging in a curriculum called Future Problem Solving, a program that involves applying nanotechnology to real life situations. Cornell University in New York recently started “It’s a Nanoworld,” an interactive traveling museum for students ages 5 to 8. Science teachers say nanotechnology is a “relevant part of a standard contemporary science curriculum.”
Hopes and Creativity Soar at Science Olympiad
Mar 16 2003 - Minneapolis Star Tribune
From building paper airplanes to making robots perform tricks, science students recently put their skills to the test at the Minnesota Science Olympiad. The competition featured 450 high school students in 23 events designed to test creativity and scientific savvy. The team who wins the competition advances to the national tournament scheduled for May in Ohio.
Astronauts: The Next Generation
Mar 14 2003 - The Arizona Republic
Washington Elementary School students are getting a taste of space. Students at the Arizona school recently completed a 24-hour NASA flight simulation in their school's multipurpose room. “The project helps students develop strong critical thinking skills while promoting the application of math, science, and technology,” observed teacher advisors Colleen Howard and Judy Simons.
Got Milk? Only if Mozart's On
Mar 14 2003 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What’s the scientific connection between music and milking cows? According to a Georgia science fair winner, cows produce a thousand pounds more milk if they listen to classical music. Daniel McElmurray recently won first place in a regional science fair after testing the effects of classical, country, and rock music on cows while they produce milk. “I guess a slower beat helps them relax,” McElmurray observed.
Spouse of Columbia Victim Tells Schools to Use Article
Mar 13 2003 - CNN.com
The husband of the fallen astronaut Laurel Clark is urging teachers to use an article about his wife published in Scholastic News, despite advice from the publication’s editors that educators should ignore the story. A recent issue of the magazine featured a spread titled “My Mom is an Astronaut,” which included a story and photos on Clark and her 8-year-old son Iain. Clark died Feb. 1 after the space shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Scholastic News wrote the article before the disaster, but sent the magazine to schools after the tragedy.
Passion Drives Students in Science Research
Mar 12 2003 - CNN.com
Some of the finalists in this week's Intel Science Talent Search, the premier science competition for high school seniors, share their thoughts on what motivates them in their research. The common denominator: passion.
Knowledge Grows in Schoolyard Gardens
Mar 4 2003 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
California teachers and students are learning math and science concepts, thanks to school gardens filled with plants and vegetables. Nearly a third of California public schools have created gardens as a result of the Garden in Every School program, an effort started in 1995 by Delaine Eastin, a former state superintendent of public instruction. Eastin noted the program aims to link gardens with good nutrition habits in students.
1,200 Students Will Compete at Science and Engineering Fair
Mar 4 2003 - The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
Cleveland will play host to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, to be held May 11–17, 2003 at the Cleveland Convention Center. High school students from 41 countries will participate in the competition and will vie for $3 million in prizes and scholarships. Event organizers say the city was chosen to host the fair because of the convention center’s proximity to hotels and the Great Lakes Science Center. Cleveland previously hosted the competition in 1977.
Forensic Science is Hot New Thing
Mar 1 2003 - The Baltimore Sun
Forensic science continues to be a popular subject to study in the nation’s high schools and colleges, thanks to television crime shows and popular trials. Education experts say they have not seen this much attention toward science since American’s dreamed of space in the 1960s. They note, however, the popularity of forensic science “has brought its share of worries,” including teachers being criticized over conducting mock murder investigations in the classroom and students who say they prefer to study the subject instead of biology, physics, or chemistry.
Sixth-grade Science Lesson Starts Out With a Bang
Feb 28 2003 - Chicago Tribune (Requires free registration)
Science teachers will learn about a problem-based teaching approach to help their students study hearing and noise in this article. Misty Galloway, an Illinois science teacher, recently had her students collect data on noise decibels after they slammed lockers, listened to rock music, and operated blow dryers. Galloway’s students plan to translate the information into posters to help educate teens on the causes of hearing loss. The lesson will also include students presenting their findings to a college audiologist.
Scientific Whodunits Win Award
Feb 24 2003 - The Cincinnati Enquirer
This article profiles Robert Seiple of Ohio, one of eight science educators who will be honored as part of the first Young Epidemiology Scholars award program. This project aims to encourage students and educators to take an interest in epidemiology and public health. The College Board and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will present the eight winners with $20,000 cash awards at a ceremony scheduled for Feb. 25 in Chicago.
Mobile Labs Take Science Education to the Street
Feb 20 2003 - USA TODAY
The idea of bringing a science lab on wheels to schools is increasing in popularity. The Maryland BioLab, a mobile science lab housed in an 18-wheel trailer, will travel to each high school in the state during the next four years. Students who visit the lab will conduct experiments and teachers will learn how to recreate the experiments, as well as receive free loaner lab kits. The mobile science lab idea has already spread to Connecticut and North Carolina. South Dakota plans to start a similar program in the fall.
Science Moving to Front Burner
Feb 20 2003 - Chicago Tribune
Chicago schools have decided to make teaching science and math a top priority. The school system recently announced a $14.5 million effort that will include assigning math and science coaches to schools and school offices, as well as increasing the instruction time for both subjects. Schools with coaches will also receive $10,000 to purchase new textbooks and equipment. This effort will also include professional development workshops for teachers through partnerships with local universities.
Teacher Makes Science Relevant
Feb 20 2003 - The Indianapolis Star
Making science fun and interesting for students can be a challenge, as Alisa Smith, an Indiana middle school teacher explains in this article. Smith, an educator for 10 years, says the key to successful science teaching is taking a lesson plan and connecting it to the real world. Smith also notes it’s important to make the subject matter relevant to all students, no matter what background they come from.
Reality Science
Feb 14 2003 - Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Forensic science has become a popular topic to study in school. Students at Waltrip High School in Texas recently took their first field trip to a mock crime scene with the help of the Houston Police Department. Officers from the department showed students how to measure, diagram, and collect evidence. Students who complete the project can earn credit as part of the school’s international baccalaureate program.
Southwest Airlines Pilots Help Primary Pupils' Aspirations Soar
Feb 14 2003 - The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
Science teachers will be introduced to the Adopt-A-Pilot program in this article. This project enables elementary students to learn lessons about flight from pilots who work with Southwest Airlines. Pilots from the airline visit students when they are not traveling and help them conduct science experiments. The National Air and Space Museum, the National Association of Teachers of Math, and the U.S. Department of Education partnered with Southwest Airlines to develop the program.
Teenage Girls to Get Their Hands on Science
Feb 11 2003 - The Tennessean (Nashville)
The first Tennessee Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (TWISTER) conference will take place Feb. 15 in Nashville. This event will enable female high school students to participate in hands-on workshops taught by women working in the fields of science, math, and engineering. Event organizers note the conference will offer a rare opportunity for girls in rural Tennessee to interact with female scientists.
Educators Undeterred by Loss of Columbia
Feb 7 2003 - The Seattle Times
The space shuttle Columbia may have exploded on Feb. 1. The tragedy, however, has not deterred educators from wanting to travel to space. More than 3,000 teachers have applied or been nominated for NASA’s Educator Astronaut program, an initiative announced in January to recruit teachers as astronauts. As NSTA’s Executive Director Gerry Wheeler notes in this article, “it’s the ultimate opportunity to teach.”
Science Projects Teach Kids to Think
Feb 6 2003 - The Indianapolis Star
From testing the density of various liquids to investigating what happens when you omit an ingredient from a cookie recipe, students at four Indiana schools are putting their skills to the test in hopes of winning the grand prize at a science fair. Troy Watkins, a principal at Northeast Elementary School, notes science fairs can teach students problem solving skills and increase their ability to test a theory. “It’s important for the students to learn the scientific method so they can apply it throughout their lives,” Watkins observed.
Science, Math Class May Divide
Feb 4 2003 - The Detroit News
Michigan lawmakers are considering a plan that would allow school districts to offer separate single sex science and math classes for students in grades 6–8. Proponents say the plan would allow female students to perform better without having to compete with boys. Opponents argue female and male students need to work together to prepare for “real-world competition.”
After-School Camp Finds the Fun in Physics
Feb 4 2003 - The Houston Chronicle (Requires free registration)
Teachers will learn about the Physics Factory program in this article. The after-school science camp enables elementary students to take part in fun activities such as creating balloon-powered drag racers that reaffirm physics concepts learned in the classroom. Educators observe such programs teach problem-solving skills that can help students when taking state assessment tests.
NASA Reconsidering Program to Launch Educators Into Space
Feb 3 2003 - The Dallas Morning News (Requires free registration)
The loss of the space shuttle Columbia has forced NASA officials to reconsider the timeline for its Educator Astronaut Program, an initiative announced in January to recruit and train America’s K–12 teachers as astronauts. Sonja Alexander, a NASA spokeswoman, said it’s “too early to tell what will happen.” She added that the recent disaster has not hindered educators from applying for the program, noting that NASA received 100 applications from educators on Feb. 1, the day of the tragedy.
Science Students Drawn by Agnes Scott Building
Feb 3 2003 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In an effort to attract more women to science, Agnes Scott College in Georgia recently opened a new $36.5 million science center. The four-story building features colored walls with lounge areas and each floor has a balcony to enable future scientists to communicate with their peers. “The objective is to reinforce the idea that a science building is an attractive workplace, and the best way for scientists to work is” as a team, observed Sandra Bowden and Harry Wistrand, two biology professors involved in the building’s design.
Teachers Adjusting Lesson Plans
Feb 3 2003 - The Dallas Morning News (Requires free registration)
Teachers across the nation are facing the challenge of how to talk with their students about the Feb. 1 loss of the space shuttle Columbia. Counselors and teachers say the best way to approach this topic “is to discuss it openly and sensitively.” Wendell Mohling, NSTA’s associate executive director for professional programs and a former science teacher, also notes in this article “it’s our challenge to make sure students understand that accidents like this happen in science, but the quest for exploration must go on.”
New Yorkers Take Half the Slots in Finals of Top Science Contest
Jan 30 2003 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
Twenty of the 40 finalists selected for the nation’s top science contest are from New York. The Intel Science Talent Search encourages high school students to pursue research projects in physics, chemistry, and other areas. Students named as finalists receive a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, DC to compete for the top prize of $100,000.
Science is Cool in Bill Nye's Hands
Jan 30 2003 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Bill Nye the Science Guy will conduct a family science workshop this weekend in Beverly Hills, California. The popular science educator will perform three experiments from his new book titled Bill Nye the Science Guy’s Great Big Dinosaur Dig. “Doing hands-on experiments is the most important thing in the world,” observed Nye. Teachers will also learn in this article about other science projects Nye has planned for the future.
Project on Pot Gets OK, Student Wins Fight Over Science Exhibit
Jan 30 2003 - The Mercury News (San Jose, CA)
A California eighth-grader has won the right to enter her medical marijuana project into her school’s science fair. The principal of Ralston Middle School banned Veronica Mouser’s project on Jan. 17 saying “science fair projects require experiments that Veronica could not do because pot is still illegal under federal law.” California, however, allows marijuana to be used for medical purposes. District school officials reversed the middle school’s decision noting Mouser’s project stayed within legal bounds and met science fair guidelines.
Teaching Physics First Ignites Debate
Jan 28 2003 - The Washington Post
Teachers and scientists are debating the concept of switching the traditional order of high school science courses. Six Maryland schools have joined a nationwide effort to teach students physics first instead of starting with biology as a way to improve science test scores. Some teachers say biology “provides an easier medium” to excite students about science. Critics, however, argue they have produced better science students by teaching them physics first.
Students Build Future Cities
Jan 27 2003 - The Detroit News
Middle school science teachers will learn about a nine-week course called “Some Day in the Future” in this article. The class involves students working with a practicing engineer and using a computer software program to make a scale model of an actual city. Students can then enter their creation in Michigan’s Regional Future City competition.
Ballard and Students to Explore California Seas, Coast
Jan 27 2003 - National Geographic
Teachers and students from around the globe will explore California’s Channel Islands as part of this year’s JASON Project, a program that enables participants to conduct field work, perform experiments, and communicate with scientists in real time using satellites and Internet technology. Live telecasts of this year’s JASON Project will begin Jan. 28 at the National Geographic Society’s world headquarters in Washington, DC.
Science is the New Drug Antidote
Jan 23 2003 - The Arizona Republic
The Arizona Science Center has unveiled a new exhibit to persuade students to be drug-free. The exhibit, “Science of Addiction,” shows students how various drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and Ecstasy desensitize parts of their brain’s pleasure system and create long-term addition. Science centers across the country are expected to unveil similar exhibits in the coming months.
Chemistry Teacher Uses an Element of Drama
Jan 22 2003 - The Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Science teacher John Severson knows how to make his chemistry classes exciting. The former psychiatric counselor’s lesson plans have included teaching students how to ignite columns of soap bubbles, inject white t-shirts with a petrochemical dye, and create a flaming tornado in a garbage can. “You never know what to expect,” noted Kerry Early, one of Severson’s chemistry students.
Hyde School Stages an Academic Whodunit
Jan 14 2003 - The Portland Press Herald (Maine)
Science teachers will learn a new way to teach their students genetics in this article. Kate Belanger, a biology teacher at the Hyde School in Bath, Maine has given her students until Jan. 20 to solve a mock murder investigation. The project involves students collecting evidence from a crime scene, interviewing suspects, and analyzing DNA samples. “I wanted to give them something that they could wrap their minds around,” Belanger said of the activity.
Not Your Father's Science Lab, Programs Get Students Outside for 'Minds-On' Work
Jan 13 2003 - The Hartford Courant (Connecticut)
Science teachers will learn about a variety of hands-on programs to engage their students in the study of water quality in this article. The projects, according to educators, offer an alternative to the “routine textbook lessons.” “It’s the idea of putting kids in the field in a situation where they’re doing science instead of being lectured to,” observed science teacher James Lucey.
Teachers Using Mars Mission in Classroom
Jan 11 2003 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Teachers across the globe are helping their students experience the excitement of the current mission to Mars with a variety of educational programs. Students from the United States, Brazil, India, and other countries are working with NASA engineers at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Student teams are also tracking data from the mission for NASA at several colleges and schools from Utah to New York. “We really want to communicate to students that science is amazingly fun,” observed Michelle Viotti, a NASA education outreach specialist.
Cobb Issues Evolution Guidelines to Teachers
Jan 9 2003 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Teachers in Cobb County, Georgia, will keep teaching the topic of evolution as they always have, despite a recently approved policy that directed educators to incorporate “disputed views” of the subject into their lesson plans. County school officials recently issued guidelines to teachers that advise educators to “stick to state standards and keep science classes focused on science.” Teachers have reacted to the plan with some indifference but parents are complaining about the new guidelines.
Study Probes Technology's Effect on Math and Science
Jan 8 2003 - eSchool News
Computer drills and tutorials can have positive effects on academic performance in math and science, according to a research review to be released this spring by the National Science Foundation. The review, however, noted computer simulations, such as virtual dissections, may have fewer benefits.
Family Fun Meets Science
Dec 19 2002 - The St. Petersburg (Florida) Times
From making ants out of clay or Tootsie Rolls and toothpicks to crafting star votives with yellow paint and glitter, students and parents at Inverness Primary School in Florida recently conducted a variety of experiments to learn science. The activities were part of a Family Fun Night, a partnership between teachers at Inverness and the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa. “Kids learn and learn better with hand-on activities,” observed teacher Ann Daniel. “And it gets them interested in science.”
Rube Goldberg: Take a Bow
Dec 19 2002 - The Detroit News
Physics teachers will learn about the Rube Goldberg Day program in this article. The competition, named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, enables students to learn about conceptual physics by applying concepts they have studied in the classroom such as motion and energy to their daily lives.
Lunar Trips Seen on Horizon
Dec 12 2002 - The Birmingham (Alabama) News
Former Apollo astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt say it’s time to educate and inspire a new generation of space explorers to return to the moon. “I firmly believe that within 10 to 15 years we’ll be back,” Schmitt told students in Alabama this week during a video teleconference to mark the 30th anniversary celebration of Apollo 17. Cernan and Schmitt said, however, it will probably take a combination of private and government funding to make the future space trip a reality.
Scientists Answer Kids' Mars Questions
Dec 12 2002 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Science teachers can help their students understand more about the possibility of humans living on Mars and what it would take to do it, thanks to NASA. The organization plans to challenge students to create some of their own questions about humans living on the so-called Red planet during an hour-long program called “Imagine Mars.” The program will air at 2 p.m. (EST) Dec. 13. on the website listed in this article.
Science Winners Snag Bucks and Headlines
Dec 10 2002 - USA TODAY
A Massachusetts teen is the latest winner of the fourth annual Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. Steven Byrnes, 18, of Lexington was awarded a $100,000 scholarship on Dec. 9 after devising a theorem that could apply to code cracking and artificial intelligence. “I’d like to advance science and advance human knowledge to bring tangible benefits to society,” Byrnes observed.
Online-Lab Software Simulates Chemical Interactions and Explosions
Dec 10 2002 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
College students can now get hands-on chemistry experience without actually putting their hands on any chemicals, thanks to a Brigham Young University professor. Brian F. Woodfield, an assistant professor of chemistry, recently developed a software program called Virtual ChemLab. This program enables students to complete lab assignments on a computer and submit lab reports online.
In Forensic Science Class, Dead Men Do Tell Tales
Dec 3 2002 - The New York Times (Requires Free Registration)
Forensic science classes are becoming extremely popular in America’s middle and high schools. Academic experts, however, are complaining that such courses pander to students’ fascination “with guts and gore.” “I don’t question the popularity,” said James Alan Fox, a criminal justice professor at Northeastern University in Boston. “I even understand why they are doing it—because kids just don’t seem interested in science. I only question the appropriateness.”
Governor's Bill Aims to Boost Science Education
Nov 27 2002 - The Dallas Morning News
Science education might get a boost in Texas if legislation proposed by the state’s governor goes into effect. Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently announced a plan that would make teachers eligible for a $5,000 annual stipend if they improve their knowledge of science and mentor fellow teachers in the field. "It's time to do for science what we have done for reading and math in Texas," Perry observed.
Lessons for a Lifetime: Lisa Kane Shows Children Where the Wild Things Are
Nov 26 2002 - Portland (Maine) Press Herald
Through a question and answer format, this article profiles Lisa Kane, one of four natural science educators with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Maine. The story also provides information about the Project Wild program, an initiative that offers teacher workshops that focus on wildlife conservation and habitats.
Songs Tune Up Kids for MEAP
Nov 25 2002 - The Detroit News
Imagine belting out a tune that sounds similar to Jingle Bells. But instead of learning how much fun it is to ride in a sleigh, you are singing “carnivores eat meat, herbivores eat plants” and “omnivores eat everything, like seeds, and grass, and ants.” That’s what students are doing in the Van Dyke School District in Michigan to help them prepare for state tests, thanks to a program by Science Explosion, Inc. The company sells musical compact discs to teachers to help them teach students earth science, biology, technology, and other subjects.
500 Kids Take to Parks, Searching for Secret of Life
Nov 21 2002 - Chicago Sun Times
Teachers will learn about a pioneering science program that enables students to learn about plant life in parks in this article. The story details a field trip to a local park conducted by Angela Dumas, a 12-year Chicago public schools teacher and fellow as part of the Exelon program. Exelon officials say if the program is successful, the project will be taken nationwide.
Teacher's Research Will Take 40,000 Students to Bottom of Sea
Oct 16 2002 - The News Journal
More than 40,000 students in about 500 schools in the United States and abroad will travel to the bottom of the sea thanks to a Delaware teacher and others who will participate in Extreme 2002: Mission to the Abyss, a research expedition to study hydrothermal vents nearly two miles below the ocean’s surface. This article details why Hepsi Zsoldos was selected for the trip and how teachers can participate in the expedition via the Internet. Students can participate by asking scientists questions and suggesting topics for experiments. The expedition is scheduled to begin October 20 from San Diego, CA aboard the research vessel Atlantis.
Ohio OKs Creation in Science Class
Oct 15 2002 - Associated Press
The Ohio Board of Education unanimously voted Tuesday to accept a science curriculum that will enable school districts to teach evolution along with competing ideas on how life originated. "In no way does this advocate for creation or intelligent design," commented Michael Cochran, a board member who advocated the concept be included in the standards. "I do look upon this as a compromise." The school board is scheduled to formally adopt the standards in December.
Science Teacher Gets Big Results at a Tiny School
Oct 9 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Longtime NSTA member Karen Howell sure knows how to motivate her students. The fact that they win science competitions in disproportionate numbers is only part of the story. Many students enter school knowing the legend of Mrs. Howell. "My brother always told me what a good teacher she was," said one fourth-grader. "Now I have Mrs. Howell and I turned my room at home into a scientist's lab. I have microscopes and test things there."
Students Shunning Animal Dissection Ritual
Oct 2 2002 - CNN.com
More and more high school students are trying to opt out of dissection. The pressure to cut back on dissections is even being felt in college and graduate programs. "There were few suitable alternatives when I taught, but now there are some extremely sophisticated virtual technologies," said Wendell Mohling, a former biology teacher in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, who is associate executive director of the National Science Teachers Association. (You can read NSTA's position statement "Guidelines for Responsible Use of Animals in the Classroom" online.)
Cobb Teachers Ponder New Rule
Sep 30 2002 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Teachers in Cobb County, Georgia, are dealing with the mixed messages coming from their school board. In a ruling last week, the board opened the door to discussion of "disputed views" on the origin of the human race in the science classroom. But the policy fails to identify which disputed views of evolution can be taught. To add to the confusion, the board's chairman said that the board expected teachers to continue to teach evolution and did not expect them to teach creationism.
Ga. Board OKs Evolution Options
Sep 27 2002 - Yahoo! News / AP
School board members in Cobb County, Georgia, voted unanimously Thursday night to give its teachers permission to introduce students to different theories on the origin of life, including creationism. Opponents said the decision opened a backdoor to letting religion into classrooms. They said Thursday's vote would not end the debate. (See also this story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.)
Student Allowed Back into Anatomy Class
Sep 27 2002 - Baltimore Sun
Three days after a high school junior left an anatomy class because she refused to dissect a cat, the Baltimore County school system let her return to the honors course yesterday and perform simulated dissections on a computer. (See previous story.)
Girl, 16, Forced Out of Anatomy Class
Sep 25 2002 - Baltimore Sun
A Maryland high school student who refused to dissect a cat was forced to abandon her honors anatomy and physiology class. Her mother offered to buy a computer alternative. A spokesperson for the school system said, "The teacher felt this was an integral part of the classroom experience and therefore the course could not be completed without participating in the dissection." (See NSTA's position statement, Guidelines for Responsible Use of Animals in the Classroom, which states that "[s]tudent views or beliefs sensitive to dissection must be considered; the teacher will respond appropriately.")
Federal Law Ignites Evolution Debate
Sep 16 2002 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ohio has become the first state to try to take advantage of the "Santorum amendment," which suggested that when teaching biological science, the curriculum "should help students understand why the subject generates so much continuing controversy." Although Darwinian evolution is not considered "controversial" by the 100 scientific societies that weighed in on it, the amendment was intended to allow teachers to bring "intelligent design" and other concepts into the science classroom. It was removed by the conference committee that reconciled the versions of the No Child Left Behind Act passed by the House and Senate. The "amendment" then evolved into an "explanatory statement" in the conference report. Two Ohio representatives have claimed "the Santorum language is now part of the law" and warn that controversies surrounding Darwin's theory of evolution should not be "censored." A law professor disagrees: "The Santorum language is not law - it is legislative history." Law or not, it is being used as ammunition.
NASA Changes Its Tune on Space Tourists; Embraces Pop Star as Conduit to Young People
Aug 30 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Teen idol Lance Bass of 'N Sync is being embraced by NASA as a way to attract a new generation of space explorers, the above article reports. Bass, who is training to fly to the International Space Station aboard a Russian spacecraft, would be the third tourist to visit the station -- and the youngest person ever to travel into space. At a NASA news conference yesterday, Bass said he wants to take the trip, in part, to show young people that interest in science and mathematics can open up exciting career opportunities.
Cobb County Evolution Debate: Teachers on Front Lines of Conflict
Aug 26 2002 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As reported earlier, the Cobb County (GA) school board voted unanimously last week to consider a new policy that would potentially open up science classrooms to wider discussions on the origins of life, including discussions of creationism (see previous story). What do science educators in the Cobb County area think of the move? As the above article reports, reactions have varied, with several saying that it is important for educators to distinguish scientific knowledge from religious beliefs.
Cobb County (GA) Policy May Allow Evolution Alternatives
Aug 23 2002 - SFGate.com -- New York Times
Cobb County, Georgia’s second largest school district, adopted a draft policy last night that would permit teachers to give a “balanced education” on the origins of life, a move that could open the door to discussions of creationism in science classrooms. While it is still unclear how the rule (if ratified on Sep. 26) would affect current classroom practices, many parents at a packed meeting yesterday reportedly urged the school board not to adopt the policy, saying it would dilute the quality of science education and hurt the district’s reputation among colleges. Click above for the New York Times article (reprinted at SFGate.com), or click here for a related article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Crow Girls' Winning Science Project Is Not The Last Straw
Aug 21 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
When four middle school girls from the Crow tribe in Montana entered the Bayer/National Science Foundation science competition two years ago, nobody could have ever imagined what would follow: first prize in the prestigious contest, an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show, and enough prize money to turn their idea -- using straw bales as a safe, energy-efficient building material -- into a reality. Not bad for something that started out as a simple series of experiments. And as for all those boys in their class who once ridiculed their hard work? Well, as their teacher put it: "You might just say those boys are now eating crow."
Commentary: Whyville -- The Place Girls Love To Go For Science
Aug 20 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
"One of the real lights in the echoing darkness of science education is a small independent company called Numedeon, which runs a [science education] website called Whyville," writes astronomer and science educator Michelle Thaller in the above commentary. Whyville, she says, "has managed to do the impossible -- generate massive interest in science among adolescent girls," making it a "guiding light for all us science educators." What's the key to Whyville's success? Click above to learn more...
Teachers Learn High-Tech Skills on Summer Jobs
Aug 20 2002 - Los Angeles Times (requires free registration)
Ever wonder what it's like to work at a high-tech company, NASA research center, or particle accelerator lab? Many Bay Area teachers are finding out this summer, the above article reports, thanks to an innovative program that puts educators to work at technology companies and science research centers. Participants say the partnership is a win-win endeavor, with employers getting great communicators and teachers getting useful information they can take back to their classrooms.
Back to School: Teachers Explore Science at NSF Summer Programs
Aug 16 2002 - National Science Foundation
How have science teachers been spending their summers? Just like their students, many educators are spending a portion of their summer "in school," advancing their learning. Of course, it's hard to remember a time when school was this much fun. For example, at various NSF-supported programs this summer, teachers have turned school rooftops in Nebraska into cosmic ray research stations; worked with particle physicists at the Fermi Lab in Illinois; and conducted geological research in Michigan's copper mines. What else have they been up to? Click above to find out...
Georgia County Mulls Teaching Evolution Alternatives
Aug 16 2002 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Cobb County School Board is reportedly considering a policy that would allow science teachers to introduce alternatives to evolution, including "intelligent design" and what one board member called "scientific creationism." What distinguishes scientific creationism from creationism? "I don't know that it is any different, to be honest," the board member said. Scientists say that religious-based ideas should be left out of the science classroom.
A Space Flight of Fancy in Science Class: NASA Summer Workshops Help Teachers Make Lessons Come Alive
Aug 15 2002 - LA Times (requires free registration)
Have you ever participated in a NASA Educational Workshop? As the above article reports, these one-to-two-week-long summer workshops are a great professional development opportunity, offering preK-12 teachers the chance to learn about the real-world applications of the subjects they teach: science, math, geography, and technology. They also equip teachers with easy-to-implement lessons and experiments that they can take back to their classrooms. "These are things anyone can do. Even for teachers who may only have $50 a year to spend," one participant said. Click above to read the LA Times article. Or to learn more about the workshops, which are run in cooperation with NSTA, visit www.nsta.org/new.
Science Teachers Dive Into JASON Project
Aug 14 2002 - Richmond Times-Dispatch
Talk about getting immersed in your work! Earlier this week, about 30 Richmond-area teachers took an introductory scuba class as part of their curriculum training for the JASON Project, an innovative program that links K-12 science students across the country with international researchers who are doing "real science." This year's curriculum theme is "From Shore to Sea," which Richmond educators say they'll use to teach laws of motion, marine science, biology, and life science. And best of all, in early 2003, pupils who have JASON-trained teachers will have the opportunity to talk live with scientists who are studying ecosystems around the Channel Islands region of California. Click above for the news article, or to learn more about the JASON Project, visit www.jasonproject.org.
NASA Working to Boost Student Interest in Math, Science
Aug 14 2002 - Houston Chronicle (requires free registration)
According to its own statistics, NASA has three times as many scientists and engineers over 60 years old as it does under 30, with a quarter of the agency's work force eligible to retire in five years. Who's going to fill all these soon-to-be-vacant jobs? According to the above article, no one is more concerned about that question than NASA itself, which is mounting a growing outreach campaign aimed at stoking interest in math and science among K-12 students.
Editorial: Recruit Math and Science Ph.D.s for K-12 Classrooms
Aug 12 2002 - USA Today
"At a time when many...new Ph.D.s are struggling to find jobs in business or at colleges and universities, tapping them to fill some of the K-12 math and science vacancies makes sense," says the above editorial, which endorses the findings of a recent report by the National Research Council. That report (see previous story)
recommended creating a national fellowship program to attract recent recipients of math and science doctorates to K-12 teaching careers.
Report: National Program Needed to Draw Postdoctoral Scholars into K-12 Math/Science Education
Jul 31 2002 - National Research Council
The United States, in dire need of more science and math teachers, should create a national fellowship program to attract recent recipients of doctorates to K-12 teaching careers, says a new report from the National Academies' National Research Council. The program would help underwrite the preparation necessary for teacher certification, including time spent working in a K-12 environment, while serving as a bridge between secondary and higher education. Click here to read the Research Council's press release or here to go to the full report.
(MS)2 Summer Program: It's Tough, It's Intense -- and Kids Love It
Jul 30 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
The above article profiles the Math and Science for Minority Students program, a rigorous summer camp for high school students from inner cities and Indian reservations. Dubbed (MS)2 and based at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, the program is a virtual academic boot camp, packing in whole years' worth of courses like physics and calculus over three consecutive summers. But while the program is not for the faint of heart, many participants call it the best experience of their lives. Click above to see why.
Chemistry Lab Accidents on the Rise
Jul 29 2002 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Lab injuries should never happen. But evidence nationwide suggests that such accidents are happening, and with growing frequency as schools move toward more hands-on experimenting in science classrooms, the above article reports. Still, many say, the answer is not to cut down on the number of experiments, but to make sure that science labs are properly equipped and teachers adequately trained.
Mentors Guide Active Minds (Profile of a Program in CT)
Jul 25 2002 - Hartford Courant
The above article profiles the Mentor Connection, a summer program that pairs bright high school students with University of Connecticut faculty, allowing the teenagers to do hands-on research in the sciences and arts. Now in its seventh year, the program enrolls 84 students, about two-thirds of whom attend on full or partial scholarships. "In high school class, you read about what other people do," said one student participant who is helping with research into learning disabilities. "You learn a lot more when you're doing it hands-on."
San Diego Invests Millions in Teacher Training; Makes Science a Priority
Jul 23 2002 - San Diego Union-Tribune
Over the last four years, San Diego’s annual teacher training budget has risen from $1 million to $60 million – an investment that Chancellor of Instruction Anthony Alvarado says is unmatched in the nation. The training features peer observation, expert mentoring, and as of last year, a strong emphasis on improving science content knowledge and teaching methods. “You’re not an island. You’re not alone. No one should have to feel like that,” said one sixth-grade teacher who recently participated in a science teaching conference. Click above to read more about what San Diego's teachers are doing – and what the district hopes to accomplish.
Space Playtime Teaches Physics to Kids on Earth
Jul 23 2002 - Houston Chronicle (requires free registration)
For years, astronauts have been playing with toys in space as part of a NASA program, videotaping the demonstrations for use in classrooms. But last week marked the first time that children participated in a live downlink, with members of the space station crew demonstrating the effects of microgravity for enthralled audiences in Houston and New York. "It's fun to think about the physics of why things are working or not working like you would expect them to," American astronaut Peggy Whitson told the children, as she and her colleagues played with an assortment of yo-yos, jump-ropes, and marbles. Click above for the news article, or click here to learn more about the program.
Award-Winning Physics Teacher Can't Defy Fate (Profile of NSTA Member)
Jul 22 2002 - Richmond Times-Dispatch
The above article profiles NSTA member Deborah Roudebush, who was one of three Virginians given the 2001 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Roudebush, the article says, has taught physics for 20 years and in recent years has shared her expertise by leading summer workshops for other teachers. "I love it, because it's making mathematical models to describe the everyday world around you," Roudebush says of the subject that has captivated her since college. On teaching, she adds: "I think teaching's a gene...if you're meant to be a teacher, then you just can't avoid it." Read more...
Rutgers Program Helps Girls Explore Math, Science, and Untapped Abilities
Jul 19 2002 - Philadelphia Inquirer
The above article profiles the Girls in Engineering, Science and Math Program at Rutgers University, an NSF-funded program designed to spark interest in science careers among urban high school girls. Above all, the article says, the four-week program aims to instill confidence in participants, showing them that they can hold their own and then some in fields where women and minorities have been traditionally underrepresented. "They found out they can do things they never dreamed of," one teacher beamed. Read more...
UK Report: Science Lessons "Tedious and Dull"
Jul 17 2002 - BBC News
Apparently, Americans aren't the only ones struggling with how to make science interesting for students. According to the above article, a cross-party group of Parliament members has warned that science lessons in the UK are so boring that they run the risk of putting young people off science for life. The group called for greater flexibility in the science curriculum and greater focus on contemporary science.
High-tech Leaders: America Needs Better Math, Science Education
Jul 8 2002 - eSchoolNews
At a recent White House forum, President Bush gathered with more than 100 high-tech executives to discuss the future of technology. Among their top concerns: how to improve math and science education across the nation.
School Science Labs are Often Experiments in Danger
Jul 8 2002 - LA Times -- AP (requires free registration)
As schools try to meet tough new science standards, many students are spending more time in laboratories -- a situation, the above article reports, that may be setting the stage for a sharp rise in serious lab injuries. What's more, the article notes, weak safety laws, outdated facilities, and insufficient safety training for teachers only compound the risk. "You have to have safety concerns as job one, but some schools don't," says Kenneth Roy, chairperson of NSTA's Science Safety Advisory Board. "You send your kids to school because you think they're safe. It burns me that [accidents] are happening when they're preventable."
Expert Review Likely to Heighten Ohio Science Standards Debate
Jun 27 2002 - Columbus Dispatch (requires free registration)
The ongoing effort to adopt Ohio's first science-education standards will move to a new stage next month, when the current draft is turned over to a team of yet-to-be-named experts for review. So far, the draft has drawn criticism from both evolution opponents (who want to include so-called "intelligent design" in the standards) and scientists (who are concerned that language on evolution has already been too watered down). The State Board of Education is expected to approve a final version of the standards by December.
Failure Rate Up on Regents Physics Exam; Officials are Investigating
Jun 25 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Students, teachers, and administrators have complained to the New York State Education Department that the Regents exam in physics, administered last week, was substantially more difficult this year, causing a sharp drop in students' passing rates. In response, state officials (who are still waiting for some schools to send in their information) have begun an investigation into the matter. "It's clear there is a decline in the number of students who passed, but it is hard to know to what extent or what it means," an official said. Read more...
Educators Express Concern Over Scientific Illiteracy
Jun 17 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
With science playing a bigger role in our day-to-day lives, and with more and more jobs requiring a strong science background, many educators see cause for concern in a recent National Science Foundation Survey that shows widespread scientific illiteracy among American adults. Among the discouraging findings, only about one-third of survey participants showed a good understanding of the scientific process, including how ideas are investigated and analyzed. So what's the key to increasing Americans' understanding of science? According to experts, the real engine is the schoolroom, where new approaches to teaching science are starting to take root. Click above to learn more...
And Congress Said, Let There Be Other Views. Or Did It?
Jun 12 2002 - Education Week
As reported earlier (see previous story), a conference report accompanying the "No Child Left Behind" Act includes language stating that a science curriculum should "help students to understand the full range of scientific views that exist" on controversial topics, such as evolution. What should school officials and science teachers make of this language? While some evolution opponents are using the language as a pretext to challenge the teaching of evolution in schools, science education advocates are urging schools to remember that the language has no force of law. Schools, they say, should continue to teach evolution, the theory that represents the scientific consensus on how life developed on Earth. Click above to learn more...
Poll: Ohioans Want "Intelligent Design" Taught in Schools
Jun 10 2002 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
According to a statewide poll, a majority of Ohio's residents (59 percent) favor teaching evolution in tandem with "intelligent design" in public-school science classes. The poll comes in the midst of a yearlong process to revamp the state's science curriculum guidelines. Most scientists deride intelligent design as a pseudo-scientific notion that does not deserve a place in the classroom -- particularly in contrast to the theory of evolution, which is bolstered by a wealth of data. Nevertheless, evolution supporters admit that the poll's findings are alarming. "This tells me that science education has a long way to go," said Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, an organization that defends the teaching of evolution.
Teachers Get a Science Lesson at NASA Workshop
Jun 6 2002 - Salt Lake Tribune
The above article profiles a NASA-organized educational program for science teachers, which recently took place at Utah State University. The goal of the four-day workshop was to give educators ideas for how to improve lesson plans, particularly by incorporating hands-on activities. "We try to fill our summers with things we can put in the classroom," one participant said, as she prepared to launch a model rocket. Click above for the article, or click here to learn more about NASA-sponsored educational programs in your region.
NSF Program Spurs Grad Student, K-12 Collaboration
Jun 5 2002 - National Science Foundation
Starting this fall, the National Science Foundation will provide $21 million in three-year grants that will enable about 300 graduate and advanced undergraduate students in science, math, engineering, and technology to share their enthusiasm for learning by serving as K-12 teaching fellows in 18 states. "The program is successful because both students and teachers benefit from the opportunity to work with graduate students who are excited about science and math...," an NSF official said. Click above to read an NSF press release, which also includes a list of grant recipients.
"Physics First" Backers Would Change the Order of Educational Universe
Jun 3 2002 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The above article explores the pros and cons of teaching physics (to ninth graders) before biology and chemistry, a practice that a growing but still small number of schools have adopted. While the approach has its skeptics, supporters maintain that physics forms the basis of all science and that, if taught conceptually, will lead to a greater grasp later of chemistry and biology. Advocates also believe the approach may be a good way to heighten students' enthusiasm for and knowledge about the sciences. "There's just a lot of dissatisfaction with how science is taught at the high school level...," NSTA Retiring-President Harold Pratt says in the article. "Physics first is one attempt to do something about that. And it's a reasonable one."
In-Depth Report: Disparities in Science Education Are Glaring and Growing
May 29 2002 - Sacramento Bee
An in-depth investigative report by the Sacramento Bee has found science to be “one of the most inequitable aspects of school life” in the four-county region. According to the report, “the older the school and the poorer the kids, the more limited the science experience can be.” Specifically, the report finds that while many well-off, suburban high schools “have been able to make science a rich and exciting part of the day,” cash-strapped urban schools often face “science situations that are paltry, grim, and outdated,” including scarce lab space, inadequate equipment, and limited course selections. Moreover, these disparities tend to carry over into the realm of student achievement, with the highest science test scores turning up in the wealthiest communities. Nevertheless, the article notes, many science teachers refuse to give up, providing excellent instruction against formidable odds. Click above to read the full report…
Two House Lawmakers Back Alternative to Evolution in Ohio
May 29 2002 - Washington Post
The evolution debate in Ohio rages on. In the latest move, two U.S. House members from Ohio have urged their state's Board of Education to consider language in a conference report accompanying the "No Child Left Behind" law as justification for adopting a science curriculum that includes the teaching of alternatives to evolution. The non-binding language reads: "Where topics are taught that may generate controversy (such as biological evolution), the curriculum should help students to understand the full range of scientific views that exist." While the language seems innocuous (and that’s how many lawmakers saw it), a number of science groups (including the NSTA) had warned members of Congress that the statement might be exploited to challenge the teaching of evolution across the country. The good news is that federal education officials have said they have no intention of interpreting the language as requiring local school systems to teach alternatives to evolution.
Report Documents Trends in Science and Math Education
May 24 2002 - NSTA
What percentage of eighth grade students scored at or above the proficient level on the most recent NAEP science exam? How many high school students took upper-level science courses by the time they graduated in 2000? What percentage of science teachers are certified in their main field? And, on average, how many hours of professional development do science teachers participate in per year? For the answers to these and other questions, check out State Indicators of Science and Mathematics Education 2001, a biennial report produced by the Council of Chief State School Officers. The report provides national and state data on trends in science and math education, with a focus on four areas: student achievement, content and instruction, teacher preparation and supply, and conditions for teaching. Click here to read an online version of the report.
Science Standards Have Yet to Seep Into Class, Panel Says
May 22 2002 - Education Week
While the national science education standards have been instrumental in changing some district- and school-level policies, those changes haven't yet filtered down to the classroom, suggests a preliminary review commissioned by the National Research Council. "We saw little change since the introduction of the standards in how [science] is being taught," one researcher noted, including "little to no change in the use of hands-on or inquiry-based learning." Still, experts speculate that as more states add science tests to their assessment systems, the standards should gain more influence in the classroom, particularly if the tests are linked directly to the content specified in the standards.
Encore Broadcast of "Evolution" Begins May 14
May 13 2002 - NSTA
"Evolution" -- the critically acclaimed, seven-part, eight-hour television series -- will air again on PBS beginning May 14. Click above for more information on the series. Dates and times for the broadcast will vary by local market, so check local listings, or log on to pbs.org/stationfinder/index.html to find your local station's Web site. Also, be sure to check out the series' supplemental website, pbs.org/evolution, for a treasure trove of educational and classroom resources.
Comic Books Used to Teach Physics
May 10 2002 - Yahoo -- AP
Is Spiderman's web really strong enough to swing him from building to building? Why did Superman's home planet of Krypton explode? If you're curious, the person to ask is University of Minnesota professor Jim Kakalios, who has designed a freshman physics course dubbed "Everything I Know of Science I Learned From Reading Comic Books." According to Kakalios, using comic books to teach the fundamentals of physics can be a great way to stimulate student interest in science. Click above to learn more about his course...
The Little Scientists: Preschools Employ Science-Based Approach
May 1 2002 - Education Week
The above article explores the growing trend to use science as the hub of an integrated early childhood curriculum. Two novel curriculums, for example, include: ScienceStart!,
developed by Lucia French at the University of Rochester; and "Science Explorations," designed by the Education Development Center in Newton, MA. Experts hope that early exposure to challenging scientific concepts will not only increase children's literacy and vocabulary skills (preliminary assessments are encouraging in this respect), but also help youngsters build the knowledge base they'll need to succeed at science in later years. "They are laying the foundation for those process skills and observation skills," former NSTA President JoAnne Vasquez says in the article. "It's about learning to ask the right questions."
All-Girl Chicago Public School Is One of a Kind
Apr 30 2002 - Chicago Sun-Times
The above article profiles the Young Women's Leadership Charter School -- a new all-girls middle and high school focused on math, science, and technology -- and one of the few public schools of its kind in the country. Motivated by a dearth of female scientists, the school's founders opted for an all-girls setting in light of research showing that some girls excel in single-sex environments. (Other studies dispute that claim, the article notes.) How is the school faring so far? "It's all a leap of faith," one teacher said of the school's approach, which includes a strong emphasis on critical thinking. "We're putting in place what should work, but only time will tell."
Global Science & Technology Week Starts Today (April 29)
Apr 29 2002 - National Science Foundation
Global Science & Technology Week (see previous story)
kicks off today with a special two-hour webcast, "Meet a Scientist or Engineer" (from 1 to 3 p.m., EST). The event will feature top scientists at several sites taking questions from middle school students. Click above for a description of the webcast, as well as information on other GSTW events. Or click here to go directly to the webcast website.
Commentary: Teaching Science Through the Power of Story
Apr 23 2002 - American Educator
"How can we make science human and enjoyable without betraying its nature? The answer lies in humans' innate capacity to understand narrative," writes esteemed Harvard professor Edward O. Wilson, who urges educators to use stories to "draw young minds into the scientific culture." To read Wilson's full commentary, go to the Spring 2002 issue of American Educator, a quarterly journal published by the American Federation of Teachers. Another can't-miss feature of the issue is "The Story of the Atom," an article by writer Joy Hakim that tells the story of how scientists discovered and came to understand this basic unit of matter.
Teachers Get Ready to Return to Space
Apr 22 2002 - Time
The above article profiles teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan, who will go to space sometime after the completion of the International Space Station in 2004 (see previous story). According to the article, NASA hopes that Morgan, like Christa McAuliffe, will help put a human face on space exploration, reviving interest in the agency and in math and science generally. "It's hard every day, but it is not harder than teaching," Morgan says of astronaut training. Read more...
High Schools Vie to Build a Robotic Champ
Apr 22 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
The above article takes a look at two popular robotics tournaments: the well-established FIRST competition and its more "combative" rival, BattleBots IQ. While the game rules for the two competitions differ markedly, both share a common goal: to expose high school students to the joys of tackling scientific and technical challenges. Find out more...
"Space Teacher" Carrying a Dream
Apr 17 2002 - Yahoo -- AP
Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut tapped to fly in space in 2004 (see previous story) commented yesterday on her upcoming assignment. "It's not that I'll be fulfilling [Christa McAuliffe's] mission, but helping carry it on," she told reporters from Houston. Read more...
The New Scientific Method
Apr 16 2002 - Santa Fe New Mexican
The above article profiles a Santa Fe high school where teachers, with the help of outside experts, are developing a novel introductory science curriculum that incorporates "complexity theory" and basic computer modeling. "[The curriculum] teaches you about thinking, about analyzing systems and analyzing processes," said MIT teacher education director Eric Klopfer, who hopes to introduce complexity theory and MIT's (free) StarLogo
modeling software to teachers and students around the world. Find out more...
Student Behind Global Telescope Network
Apr 15 2002 - CNN -- AP
The above article profiles Ryan Hannahoe, a 16-year-old sophomore and astronomy buff who has helped create the Student Telescope Network (STN). Launched last February, STN is an Internet-based project that enables students worldwide to access and download images from a New Mexico telescope set under clear, dark skies. "The typical school [because of light pollution] has nothing at all, they look at a picture in a book," says Hannahoe. "Here, we're taking a picture and doing actual research, which is really cool, basically learning to be an astronomer." Read more...
Schools Consider Teaching Physics Before Biology
Apr 8 2002 - Dallas Morning News
The above article examines the growing trend to teach "physics first" -- that is, to reverse the traditional sequence of high school science courses so that physics is taught in 9th grade, followed by chemistry and then biology in later grades. For example, as part of a pilot program, the San Diego school district will enroll all of its 10,000 freshmen in physics next year. While the approach has its skeptics, supporters maintain that it's important for students to have a foundation in physics and chemistry before learning biology, a field that has become increasingly focused on how life functions at the molecular level. "There is a fundamental flaw in the order of teaching now," NSTA Executive Director Gerry Wheeler says in the article. In teaching biology first, "we just point out things, and biology classes turn into a huge vocabulary lesson." Read more...
Commentary: Why More Women Aren't Becoming Engineers
Apr 4 2002 - Education Week
"While women today make up 30 percent of doctors and lawyers and 50 percent of the overall workforce, they represent fewer than 10 percent of engineers," the author of the above commentary writes. "What is wrong with this picture? Like an iceberg, the biggest part of the problem lies below the surface in the way boys and girls are introduced to science and technology." Read more...
Science Teachers To Share Info Through NSTA's "Building a Presence" Program
Apr 3 2002 - SF Gate.com -- AP
As reported in a previous news item, NSTA launched its Building a Presence for Science program in California last week during the NSTA national convention in San Diego. The above AP article looks at how the program will work in the Golden State. "[The program] helps us cast a wide net to teachers in every school," said Nancy Taylor, San Diego County's science education coordinator who is helping build the information-sharing network. It "will change the way [teachers do] business in the Information Age." Read more...
Ohio Curriculum Team Issues Revised Science Standards
Apr 3 2002 - Akron Beacon Journal
Score one for advocates of evolution. Earlier this week, the team responsible for writing Ohio’s science standards issued a revised draft that, like the first, recognizes only evolution as the scientific explanation for how life developed on Earth. In doing so, the team ignored a mounting campaign to encourage the teaching of so-called "intelligent design," a theory that the mainstream scientific community overwhelmingly rejects. But the fight isn't over; the Ohio Board of Education could still overrule the writing team when it votes on final standards later this year. (For previous news stories relating to the Ohio evolution debate, click on "National/State Standards" in the right-hand column of this screen.)
Is Science Outrunning the Teachers?
Apr 2 2002 - San Diego Union-Tribune
The above article, which ran last week in the San Diego Union-Tribune, examines some of the major challenges facing today's science teachers. These challenges include: the time crunch, scarce resources, the difficulty of keeping up with rapidly changing scientific content, and the isolation of the classroom. The article also takes a look at efforts by the NSTA, such as last week's national convention and the Building a Presence for Science program, which aim to give science teachers the tools they need to do their jobs better.
Hands-on Lessons Boost Science Scores
Mar 25 2002 - Detroit News
The above article examines several Detroit-area school districts, where elementary students are being exposed to kit-based, hands-on science lessons. Not only do students enjoy the lessons, but they're learning, the article says. For example, in one district, fifth-grade state science scores have improved steadily in the last six years, from 33.9 to 51.1. Teachers "like the hands-on science program and they like that all the materials are provided," a district official said. Read more...
Sally Ride Enters New Frontier: Convincing Girls That Science is Cool
Mar 19 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
Many girls, particularly those in middle school, don't rate science very high on the cool test. But Sally Ride, a scientist and the first American woman in space, is out to change that. Click above to learn more about the Sally Ride Club, and its offshoot, the Sally Ride Science Festival, both of which are aimed at sparking interest in science among middle school girls.
Ohio Curriculum Team Stands By Evolution
Mar 18 2002 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
The team writing Ohio's new science standards will soon issue a new draft that calls for students to be taught only evolution in classroom discussions of how life developed on Earth. In addition, the writing team has added a definition of science that seems to rule out consideration of "intelligent design." That definition reads: "Scientific knowledge is limited to natural explanations for natural phenomena." The revised standards, to be made public April 1, could set up a possible clash with the State Board of Education, but the writing team appears undeterred. "We know the state board could still overturn our decision, but we're proceeding with what we believe is correct," one team member said. Find out more…
NPR Talks to Science Teachers about Inquiry Method
Mar 15 2002 - National Public Radio
As part of an ongoing series on a large urban high school in Seattle, a reporter from National Public Radio recently spent a day with teachers who are struggling to implement a new science curriculum. The curriculum features the inquiry method of teaching, an increasingly popular approach to instruction that encourages students to ask their own scientific questions and then find the answers through hands-on experiments. So how are teachers and students adjusting to the new curriculum? Click above to go to the NPR website, where you can hear the broadcast (Episode 4).
Biology Class Rite Hits a Nerve
Mar 13 2002 - Los Angeles Times
A decision by a Los Angeles school to resume the practice of dissecting fetal pigs and cats is generating controversy, the above article reports. Students who object to the move argue that the practice is useless and inhumane to animals; software programs that simulate dissections are sufficient teaching tools, they say. But the school's science teachers generally support the decision, arguing that the opportunity to dissect whole animals provides students with vital hands-on experience -- and important preparation for college. Besides, they add, any student who has a moral objection can always opt out. Click above to find out more…
List of FREE Classroom Resources Expands
Mar 13 2002 - U.S. Government
Several new teaching resources in the sciences have been added to the Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) website, sponsored by a consortium of more than 40 federal agencies. Click above to see all the offerings (there are dozens)....
Colorado Teen Wins "Junior Nobel Prize"
Mar 12 2002 - Denver Post
Ten high school seniors received scholarships of up to $100,000 yesterday at the Intel Science Talent Search, one of the nation's most prestigious science competitions. First place went to Ryan Patterson, a Colorado student, for his "American Sign Language Translator," a glove that converts American Sign Language to written text on a portable display. That invention also earned Patterson top honors last December in the Siemens Westinghouse Science & Technology competition. To learn more about Patterson and his device, click on the Denver Post article above. For detailed information on all the top 10 winners, click here
Panel Discussion on Evolution Draws Hundreds
Mar 12 2002 - Cleveland Plain-Dealer
The debate over evolution continues in Ohio. In a panel discussion yesterday, two supporters and two critics of evolution sparred over whether so-called "intelligent design" should be included (along with evolution) in the state's science standards. Lawrence Krauss, one of the pro-evolution panelists, said that framing the question of what to teach in a two-on-two debate looks fair but gives intelligent design a credibility it doesn't deserve. All major scientific groups, he added, support teaching only evolution, and to do otherwise would be a waste of valuable education time.
Space Shutterbugs: NASA Helps Students Snap Photos from Space
Mar 11 2002 - Boston Globe
For three days last week, a computer laboratory at a Massachusetts middle school was transformed into a Student Mission Operations Center, replete with Internet access to a digital camera aboard the International Space Station. The undertaking was part of EarthKAM, a NASA-sponsored education program that invites middle school students to take snapshots of the Earth's geographic features from the unique vantage point of space. About 80 middle schools worldwide participate. Click above for the full Boston Globe article, or click here to learn more about EarthKAM.
For the Classroom: How Astronomers Know the Vast Scale of Cosmic Time
Mar 11 2002 - American Astronomical Society
Responding to efforts by a vocal few to exclude discussions of the Big Bang and the vast age of the cosmos from K-12 science curricula, the American Astronomical Society has published a special on-line article for teachers. The article explains the evidence showing that we live in a universe that is between 10 billion and 15 billion years old and that both the universe and its contents undergo evolutionary change. A list of written and web resources is also included. Click above for the full article...
Ohio Evolution Debate Attracting National Attention
Mar 8 2002 - Columbus Dispatch (requires free registration)
Ohio is drawing national attention as the latest battleground for the "intelligent design" movement. At the center of the dispute is whether intelligent design should be included in Ohio’s new grade-by-grade science standards. The 19-member state school board, which will ultimately decide the issue, appears split on the question. The board will hold a panel discussion on the topic next Monday, an event that is expected to draw hundreds of observers. Meanwhile, the mainstream scientific community remains overwhelmingly opposed to the concept of intelligent design. "It's amazing to me that we are even having this debate," one physics professor said. "We should be working to improve science curriculum and not fighting off some medieval attack on science."
Biology Classes Analyzing Genetics
Mar 6 2002 - Education Week
Ever since the discovery of DNA, and especially over the last 10 years, the field of genetics has grown in leaps and bounds, making it difficult for educators to keep pace. But as the article above suggests, high school biology classes may slowly be catching up with the latest scientific research on DNA and the human genome – much to the delight of teachers and students. "We need to do this kind of science for kids," said a high school biology outreach coordinator at the University of Washington in Seattle. "They're going to need this knowledge to make decisions."
Students' "Future Cities" Showcased in National Competition
Feb 26 2002 - USA Today
The clean and efficient city of Apricus -- Latin for "a sunny place" -- took first prize in last week's Future City Competition, a national contest that challenges middle school students to dream up futuristic city models, grounded in sound engineering principles. Other cities honored in the competition included Fusiopia (which uses fusion power), Aquaticus (which lies partly underwater), and Augustawind (which relies on wind power). Click above to read more about these urban utopias, or click here for the competition's website.
Scholars Critique Advanced Classes in Math, Science
Feb 21 2002 - Education Week
As reported last week (see previous story), the National Research Council has released a report that is critical of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs in math and science. The above Education Week article offers an additional look at the study's findings. "What the NRC panel found...was that the programs suffer from what TIMSS and other research have concluded about the rest of the curricula in the United States: They're comprehensive but shallow," the article says. Click above for more...
NRC Study Faults Advanced Study Math and Science Programs
Feb 15 2002 - NSTA
A new study by the National Research Council offers several criticisms of advanced study math and science programs in U.S. high schools. Above all, the report contends that advanced study courses often cover too much material too quickly, at the expense of deep conceptual understanding. Click above for more information...
Texas Science Teachers Fear Losing Clout, Resources Along With State's 8th Grade Test
Feb 13 2002 - Education Week
Texas middle school teachers are worried that their classroom resources will be drastically reduced next fall when the state cuts its 8th grade science test. "If it's not tied into money, we're lost," said one science teacher, commenting on the fact that financial sanctions and rewards for schools are linked to student scores on state tests. Experts agree that such concerns are justified. "There is a greater emphasis, in terms of time and coverage, on [subjects] that are tested," noted a researcher who has studied state testing systems nationwide. Read more..
Students Craft "Future Cities" for National Competition
Feb 12 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
The above article profiles the National Engineers Week Future City Competition, a national contest that challenges middle schools students to design a "city of the future." Incorporating extensive math, science, and engineering skills, the competition has expanded since its 1992 debut to involve some 950 schools and 30,000 students. This year's finals will be held next week in Washington, DC. Click above for the full article, or click here for the competition's website.
Ohio Governor Sidesteps Evolution Argument
Feb 11 2002 - Columbus Dispatch
As Ohio finds itself at the center of a national debate over whether so-called "intelligent design" should be taught alongside evolution in the classroom, Gov. Bob Taft is withholding comment on the controversy, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Click above for the full article, or click here to read a New York Times story (requires free registration) on the evolution debate in Ohio. "The old seductive argument" of being fair to both sides "doesn't play well in science if the other side is not a science," one critic of intelligent design says in the story. Read more...
NSTA President's Column: The Science of Learning
Feb 8 2002 - by NSTA President Harold Pratt
In his most recent column, NSTA President Harold Pratt urges science teachers to shift their frame of reference from teaching to learning to "examine what we know about how [students] learn science." Consistent with this approach, he then outlines six important ideas from the book How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, which was published last year by the National Research Council. (Note: The NSTA president's column is also published in every issue of NSTA Reports!, NSTA's newspaper for and about science educators. Click here to learn more about this rich source of science education news.)
Ohio Scientists To Fight Anti-Evolution Push
Feb 8 2002 - Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Ohio scientists have established a new group, Ohio Citizens for Science, to counter a well-organized push to add "intelligent design" to the state's public school science curriculum. The group's formation comes amid an escalating battle in the state over how evolution should be taught in schools (see previous story). "Intelligent design is not a theory in the scientific sense," one group member said. "To try to confuse science with non-science leads to scientific illiteracy."
Study: Solid Curriculum Improves Math and Science Achievement
Feb 8 2002 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Preliminary findings from a new study of international math and science test results suggest that school districts can best improve student achievement by adding coherence (logical structure) and rigor (tough courses) to their curricula. In fact, a strong curriculum can cut in half the differences in academic performance caused by social class, the lead researcher estimates. Find out more...
JASON Project Update: Web Widens Scientific Quest
Feb 5 2002 - MSNBC
This year’s JASON project, which is focusing on the “frozen worlds” of Alaska, is bringing together 1.3 million students from around the world, with most of them tuning in over the Internet. (See also previous story).
Many observers believe that the project’s use of two-way communication links between schools and professional researchers may help spark a revolution in science education and global research. “Clearly this will be more and more what schools will be doing,” said deep-sea explorer Robert Ballard, who established the JASON Project 13 years ago. Read more…
Experts to Weigh in on Ohio Science Standards
Feb 5 2002 - Columbus Dispatch
Ohio's debate over the teaching of evolution continues to rage on. At a special meeting yesterday, the Ohio Board of Education's standards committee decided to invite two supporters of evolution and two supporters of so-called "intelligent design" to participate in a panel discussion at the board's March meeting. The move came after some board members complained that intelligent design is not included in proposed curriculum guidelines for science. Click above for the full article, or click here to read NSTA's official position statement on the teaching of evolution in schools.
Science Goes to Preschool
Feb 1 2002 - HHMI News
It's never too early to learn about science. That's the message being delivered in Chicago, where the Howard Hughes Medical Institute is helping to fund a science education program for 1,000 three-, four-, and five-year-olds. "The more science they get when they are really young..., the less likely they are to struggle with science when they get older, and the more likely they are to develop a lifelong interest," says Kati Gilson, who heads the program. Click above to see what her pint-sized scientists are up to...
JASON Project Update: Students Probe Peculiar Ice Worms in Alaska's Glaciers
Jan 29 2002 - National Geographic
One of the goals of the JASON project, which began yesterday (see previous news item), is to unravel the mysteries of ice worms, inch-long creatures that make their home on Alaskan glaciers. “Ice worms are just remarkable creatures,” said Daniel Shain, an evolutionary biologist who will be working with JASON students to study how the worms are able to live in such frigid conditions. Read more...
Live from Alaska, JASON Project Broadcasts Begin Today
Jan 28 2002 - JASON Project, Anchorage Daily News
This year, the JASON Project is taking a group of lucky student "argonauts" to the most remote and frozen areas of Alaska, where they will work alongside master researchers to conduct actual scientific experiments. Live broadcasts of the expedition begin today, and nearly 1 million students worldwide are expected to watch. Click above to find out more...
"Physics Today" Article: Two Revolutions in K-8 Science Education
Jan 28 2002 - Physics Today
The above article, published in the Sep. 2001 issue of Physics Today, chronicles reforms efforts in K-8 science education over the last few decades, paying particular attention to the evolution of two "revolutionary" ideas: 1) the notion that science education should be for all children, not just the best and brightest; and 2) the notion that "science should be something students do, not something that is done to them." The article also examines the "five crucial elements" of science education reform, as gleaned from past studies of exemplary districts. What are these five elements? Read on...
Ohio Lawmakers Enter Debate on Science Curriculum
Jan 24 2002 - Columbus Dispatch
Debate is intensifying over the teaching of evolution in Ohio, with some state lawmakers backing legislation that would require schools to teach students about "all theories on the origins of life." These developments follow last week's heated arguments among State Board of Education members, some of whom pushed for a rewrite of Ohio's proposed science standards because they do not include "alternative" theories to evolution. The proposed state standards were the work of a 46-member writing team, composed primarily of science teachers from across the state, and are supported by a panel of science experts.
CA Elementary Schools Put Science on Back Burner
Jan 22 2002 - Sacramento Bee
With the advent of standardized testing and its ever-growing focus on boosting reading, writing, and math performance, many California elementary schools are putting science on the back burner, an article in the Sacramento Bee says. Some districts have opted to make it an elective, others squeeze science units in occasionally, and still others have dropped science altogether. What do educators have to say about this? Click above for more...
DragonflyTV Debuts on PBS; NSTA Distributing Companion Teacher Guides
Jan 18 2002 - NSTA
DragonflyTV, a new half-hour science show for children ages 9-12, will debut this weekend on PBS in most locations. NSTA is distributing teacher guides in conjunction with the show through its elementary school and middle school teacher journals. Click above to find out more...
New Report Documents States' High-Tech Readiness
Jan 17 2002 - American Electronics Association
How well is your state preparing students to compete in a high-tech workforce? CyberEducation 2002, a new report by the American Electronics Association and the Nasdaq stock market, examines the condition of math, science, and technology education at the national and state levels. The report analyzes such factors as computer and Internet access in schools, student achievement scores in math and science, performance standards for K-12 students and teachers, and the number of engineering degrees conferred by colleges and universities. Click above for national highlights, or click here for state-by-state press releases.
Teachers To Discuss "Physics First" at National Meeting
Jan 17 2002 - American Institute of Physics
"Despite resistance, even among physics teachers, more schools are switching to a science curriculum that teaches physics before chemistry and biology," the above press release by the American Institute of Physics reads. "The national movement is called 'Physics First,' and high school physics teachers from around the country will be talking about...the program at the annual meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in Philadelphia, January 19-23." Click above to read the full release, or click here to learn more about the AAPT's upcoming meeting.
Math and Science Could Be Big Losers Under New Education Law
Jan 16 2002 - Education Week
The above article provides a good account of the implications of the newly reauthorized ESEA for science and math teachers. The law, signed by President Bush last week, effectively eliminates dedicated federal funding for K-12 math and science education, which last year totaled close to $400 million. As a result, math and science teachers will now have to compete for professional-development aid from a new $2.85 billion block grant, pitting them against teachers of other subjects and efforts to reduce class sizes. “From what we’ve seen, a lot of money is going to reading and math programs,” NSTA Legislative Affairs Director Jodi Peterson says in the article. “We’re seeing science squeezed out in elementary schools.”
National Survey Depicts Status of K-12 Science and Math Education
Jan 15 2002 - NSTA
What's the status of K-12 science and math education in the United States? A recently released report provides data on trends relating to teacher background and experience, curriculum and instruction, and the availability and use of instructional resources. Click above for more information...
Evolution Targeted in Ohio Curriculum Review
Jan 15 2002 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
For a while, it seemed as if the effort to update Ohio's science curriculum was proceeding relatively smoothly, with the state finally ready to use the word "evolution" in its standards. But it now looks like a controversy over the teaching of Darwin's theory may be erupting, with several members of the State Board of Education pushing for a rewrite that would present evolution as "an assumption, not fact," and would include an alternative explanation for how humans and other living things came to exist. "Obviously, the process has broken down," said Lynn Elfner, director of the Ohio Academy of Science. "All bets are off at this point. It's a political ballgame now."
Intel CEO Makes Case for Greater Investment in Science Education
Jan 10 2002 - Sacramento Bee
In the above op-ed, Intel CEO Craig Barrett makes the case for why the nation, and California especially, should invest more in science education. A scientifically proficient citizenry is crucial to maintaining a secure nation and strong economy, he argues, yet recent NAEP science results show that California "ranks at the bottom of a national heap that is itself deplorable." One solution, he argues, is to improve science teaching according to the recommendations made by the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century. Click the link above to read the full op-ed, or click here to read a similar op-ed by Barrett (and former Sen. John Glenn) that was published two weeks ago in the Arizona Republic.
California Math and Science Program Receives Prominent National Award
Jan 10 2002 - Education Week
A California state effort to help disadvantaged students improve their math and science skills was recently given $100,000 as one of the five winners of the 2001 Innovations in American Government Awards, which are sponsored by the Ford Foundation and Harvard's JFK School of Government. The California program, which sets up special assistance to prepare students to perform better in math and science, serves about 32,000 students in a network of 440 schools, 35 community colleges, and 23 universities. A teacher-mentoring program in Toledo, Ohio, was also among the five awardees.
Students Failing to Make Gains on Science Tests
Jan 7 2002 - Houston Chronicle (requires free registration)
Recent national test scores showing flat student achievement in science beg the question: Is the nation doing enough to advance science education? Some observers say that as more schools face accountability from state tests, which often focus on reading and math, science is being pushed to the sidelines. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that states and schools are beginning to take science a little more seriously--either by incorporating science into high-stakes tests or by encouraging students to enroll in more advanced science classes. Whatever the case, most experts agree that society pays a high price for weak science programs. "The entire population needs to be more educated about science," says Robert Dennison, an AP biology teacher from Texas.
Supreme Court Refuses Case on Teaching Evolution in Public Schools
Jan 7 2002 - Associated Press
The Supreme Court declined to review a case today involving the teaching of evolution in America's public schools. The case was brought to the nation's top court by a high school biology teacher, who was suing his Faribault, MN, school district over his claim of a right to teach evidence against evolution. The court's refusal to hear the case is a victory for schools that require teachers to instruct on evolution even if the teacher has conflicting personal views.
Bay Area After-School Science Program to Go Nationwide
Jan 7 2002 - Associated Press
A free after-school program aimed at promoting interest in the sciences among low-income and minority students will soon expand to 15 sites nationwide thanks to a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Participation in the Community Science Workshops (CSWs) broadens students' worlds, says Dan Sudran, founder of the original CSW in San Francisco's Mission District. "I always tell them, 'Whether you end up working in science or not, it just makes you see life in a bigger picture.'" Click above to read the full AP article, or click here to read a press release about the ongoing effort to build a national CSW network.
That's Gross. And It's Science.
Jan 2 2002 - Washington Post
It all began when writer and teacher Sylvia Branzei was cutting her toenails. "I was thinking, 'What's that gunk underneath my toenails?' Through science, I could find out," she recalled. And thus was born "Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body." First, Branzei released a book by that name, and now, three Grossology exhibits--celebrating all that is stinky, crusty, and slimy about the human body--are traveling around the world. Click above to read the full article, or click here for more information on the exhibit, including a tour schedule.
Opinion: We Risk the Future by Failing to Fund Education in Science
Dec 31 2001 - Arizona Republic
In the above op-ed, Intel CEO Craig Barrett and former Sen. John Glenn express regret that while the recently passed No Child Left Behind education bill calls for $450 million to be spent on math and science education, congressional appropriators approved only $12.5 million for these subjects (read also NSTA's Dec. 19 legislative alert). "That amount will hardly create a ripple of change, let alone the wave that the [recent NAEP science] results show we so desperately need," contend Barrett and Glenn, who argue that a far greater federal commitment is needed to substantially improve science teaching and education across the nation.
Teachers Fear Funding Cut for Training in Sciences
Dec 26 2001 - Arizona Republic
As reported last week, the recently approved federal education reform bill slashed dedicated funding for math and science education to $12.5 million. (Click here to read a recent NSTA legislative alert on this matter.) Although it is too early to predict exactly what this cut will mean for individual schools and classrooms, the above article reports that some science teachers in Arizona are worried that the bill will leave them without sufficient funds for professional development. While the state and local school boards could still put federal block grant money toward science training, the article says, it is feared that funding once set aside for science will now go to "higher priority" areas (such as reading, writing, and math) that are addressed in state tests (science is not currently tested).
"Green" School Provides Model of Environmental Responsibility
Dec 21 2001 - CNN.com
Students at Oak Grove Elementary School in Graton, CA, take their recycling very seriously--and they do it well. With some assistance from trash-eating pigs and worms that help turn scraps into soil, the school has managed to cut its waste output by nearly 90 percent. And when the school received a $10,000 award for its recycling efforts, it promptly used the money to install solar panels on the roof. "I think the whole focus on taking care of things and taking care of the Earth...has an effect," says the school's custodian Fred Hall, a fervent recycler. "These kids seem to be happy."
Starshine 2 Becomes Second Disco Ball in Space
Dec 20 2001 - Cosmiverse
Around the world, youngsters took an added interest in the recent launch of Space Shuttle Endeavor. That's because it carried an extraordinary research satellite that students themselves helped build: Starshine 2, part of the Project Starshine series. Like its sister satellite Starshine 3, which was launched Sept. 29, Starshine 2 has hundreds of mirrors that reflect sunlight, allowing it to be seen from Earth with the naked eye. Nearly 30,000 students in 26 countries painstakingly polished the mirrors, and now students will begin the second phase of the project: observation. The hope is that Starshine sightings, properly timed and recorded by students, will provide valuable information to scientists about how solar activity affects the density of Earth's upper atmosphere. Read the article above, and then click here to visit the Project Starshine website (great photos of the deployment are included).
Massachusetts Pioneers K-12 Engineering Curriculum
Dec 12 2001 - Teacher Magazine
In an effort to connect science with students' real-world experiences, Massachusetts, with the aid of universities and engineering groups, is implementing a first-of-its-kind plan to put engineering in every K-12 classroom in the state. According to a proponent of the plan, at least 25 other states are considering incorporating engineering into their standardized curricula, so the lesson plans that accumulate from the MA classes most likely will be keenly studied.
When Science Teachers Know Their Stuff
Dec 11 2001 - Christian Science Monitor
In an effort to boost students' science achievement, schools are increasingly looking to hire teachers with strong undergraduate science backgrounds, the article says. This is true even at the elementary level, where some schools are experimenting with separate teachers for science classes. "Science-only teachers are better equipped to stay abreast of the science curriculum, and to to develop students' curiosity, open-mindedness, and persistence," said the headmaster of one Boston school that recently hired three science-only teachers for grades two through five.
The ABCs of DNA
Dec 10 2001 - [Washington] Herald
From forensics to cloned sheep, students are growing up in an era when DNA is commonly in the headlines. Now, a lab exercise being field-tested in several Washington state high schools gives students the chance to investigate actual DNA fragments firsthand as they learn about genetics and its real-world applications. The lesson plan was developed through the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Science Education Partnership, which connects Seattle-area research scientists with science teachers to bring biotechnology into the classroom.
U.S. Students Average Among International Peers in Reading, Math, and Science Literacy, New Study Shows
Dec 4 2001 - NSTA
U.S. 15-year-olds perform at the international average of their peers in other highly industrialized countries in reading, math, and science literacy, according to the first round of results from a new international study. Click above for a summary of the results (including science results), as well as for links to the full report and additional information.
Behind the Numbers: More Coverage of National Science Test Scores
Nov 28 2001 - Education Week
As reported in a previous story, the science test scores of the nation's public school students have remained essentially flat since 1996. But what's the story behind the numbers? As the article below points out, an analysis of NAEP test and survey data hints at how to improve science scores in the future. Of particular interest are two findings: 1) The more science courses that students take, the better they perform; and 2) Eighth graders whose teachers had an undergraduate major in science education scored higher than those whose teachers had majored in education. Read the complete Education Week article
for more analysis...
National Science Test Scores Show Flat Student Achievement; NSTA Responds
Nov 20 2001 - NSTA
The National Center for Education Statistics, an arm of the U.S. Education Department, released a key report today detailing student science achievement among the nation's fourth, eighth, and 12th graders. Overall, the report shows stagnant student test scores in science since 1996. Click the above link to get more information, including NSTA's response to the report.
Science Show Electrifies Students
Nov 20 2001 - Washington Post
The Mobile Discovery Center, a science museum on 18 wheels, rolled into a Washington, D.C.-area middle school last week, part of an outreach effort by the nonprofit National Science Center and the U.S. Army designed to make science exciting. The rig, which is outfitted with several interactive science demonstrations, tries to visit each of the contiguous 48 states every three years. The visits are free to schools. "I thought it was wonderful, high interest, hands-on, motivational," raved an eighth-grade science teacher whose students experienced the program.
Intel Chief Criticizes U.S. Math and Science Education
Nov 19 2001 - USA Today
In a Q & A with USA Today, Intel CEO Craig R. Barrett argues that while the future of the U.S. economy depends on the ability of public schools to produce graduates who can compete internationally in math and science, most U.S. graduates are not up to snuff. "This is something you wouldn't tolerate in any other situation," he says. Click here to read Barrett's full comments. Then, click here to participate in NSTA's discussion forum: Do you agree with Barrett that U.S. public schools are failing to produce graduates with adequate math and science skills?
Opinion: We Need a Revolution in Science Teaching and Learning
Nov 7 2001 - Education Week
Given the fact that most American students are not excited about science, the sad truth is that the future will likely lack an adequate supply of scientists, the author of this op-ed writes. What is America to do? "We don't just need more science education in this country; we need a revolution in the way we teach science. Specifically, science educators must help students make the connections between science and the world in which they live--science for real life," she advises.
Take NSTA's Quick Poll: Do Your Students Like Science Class?
Nov 7 2001 - NSTA
In a recent op-ed for Education Week (posted above), the author writes: "It is evident that American students are not excited about science." Do you agree with that premise? What has your experience been? NSTA wants to know. Click here to take NSTA's Quick Poll, and register your opinion.
Take NSTA's Quick Poll: Is Science Education Being Shortchanged at Your School?
Oct 24 2001 - NSTA
Amid the nationwide push for more standardized tests, which tend to focus on reading and math, some educators have raised concerns that other subjects (such as science) are being shortchanged. NSTA would like to know what your experience has been. Are you satisfied with the amount of attention that is paid to science education at your school? Click here to take NSTA's Quick Poll, and tell us what you think.
Opinion: Why Controversy Belongs in the Science Classroom
Sep 17 2001 - Harvard Education Letter
Contrary to conventional wisdom, controversy is an important part of scientific practice, the author of this opinion piece writes. And in the classroom particularly, controversy can be a good method for sparking student interest in scientific topics.
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