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Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin
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This Week's Topics:
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| Out of an original field of more than 79,000 middle school students across the United States, eleven-year-old Erik Gustafson was recently chosen as "America's Top Young Scientist of the Year" by a panel of judges at the 9th annual Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC). The theme of this year's DCYSC, "Operation Green" presented the 40 students with a series of environmental challenges, each requiring the young scientists to rely on their broad range of scientific knowledge in order to explore and understand today's climate issues. The students worked on a wide range of experiments to test their science skills, from powering a car with alternative energy to solving America's trash problem. Gustafson, the youngest student in this year's competition and a student at Homer Intermediate School in Cortland, NY was selected as the grand prize winner from an elite group of forty of the top young scientists in the nation and was awarded a $20,000 college scholarship. He is the youngest student ever to win the title of "America's Top Young Scientist." In addition to showing exemplary science communication skills at the Challenge, Erik completed an innovative research project closely related to this year's green theme, tracking the pH level in the stream behind his house and the effect of rainfall in increasing the acidity of the water. The second-place winner in the competition was 14 year-old Katherine Strube of Glendale, MO. She won based on her project at the Greater St. Louis Science Fair, which is sponsored by Triangle Coalition member, the Academy of Science-St. Louis. The third place winner is 14 year-old Ambrose Soehn of Boulder, CO. The DCYSC, created by Discovery Communications and Triangle Coalition member, Science Service, provides students the opportunity to not only test their knowledge and push their limits as they explore the world of science, but the competition encourages them to be able to be great science communicators and share what they know with others, a core objective of Discovery's efforts. The 40 finalists, and contenders for the title of "America's Top Young Scientist," hailed from 22 states. The finalists were chosen based on their written essays about science fair projects that each had presented at their local science fairs across the country. During the DCYSC finals, the finalists presented their research to judges and the public, using their communication skills and creative thinking as science communicators to explain the complexities of their research. More details are at www.discovery.com/dcysc. For more information about Science Service, its programs, and publications, visit www.sciserv.org. . |
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Increases in published prices for two-year and four-year public institutions in 2007-08 were slightly larger than in 2006, but lower than the average rates of growth over the past five years. Nearly half a million students received awards in 2006 under two new federal student grant programs. Though higher than the previous year, total federal grant funding to undergraduates was still lower in 2006-07 than it was three years earlier, after adjusting for inflation. The College Board recently released these and other higher education pricing and aid statistics in its annual "Trends in College Pricing 2007" and "Trends in Student Aid 2007" reports. At private four-year colleges and universities, where prices have risen somewhat less rapidly in recent years than they have in the public sector, the 2007-08 increase is similar to last year's, but higher than the average over the past five years. This year's annual data show the following increases in average college tuition and fees for academic year 2007-08: . |
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| The Museum of Science, Boston and Tufts University have announced the availability of an inventive new middle school math enrichment curriculum. Building Math inspires students to learn algebra by solving engineering challenges on imagined adventures to Mount Everest, the Amazon, and a deserted South Pacific island. The three-book Building Math series for grades 6 - 8 was developed by the Museum and Tufts University, and has been piloted successfully over the past two years with hundreds of students in Massachusetts schools. Created with support from the GE Foundation's Math Excellence Program, the Building Math series involves math students in collecting and analyzing their own data in hands-on investigations integrated with engineering design activities. Students develop algebraic thinking skills and solve real problems (such as designing a bridge prototype or building a shelter). On each adventure, they apply math knowledge and concepts to their investigations and use the engineering design process to meet challenges. Building Math is suitable as a replacement unit for algebra lessons, to supplement core math curriculum, or as enrichment that can be implemented all at once or over a year. It is appropriate for summer programs, middle school intensives, and short courses in math.
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U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings recently announced the first year of national data results from the Academic Competitiveness (AC) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants. Results show that in the first year, $233,038,410 in Academic Competitiveness Grants were awarded to 299,089 students nation-wide, and $195,544,735 in National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants were awarded to 60,976 students. The AC Grants provide additional aid to first- and second-year college students who complete rigorous high school coursework, are enrolled full time, and maintain a 3.0 GPA. National SMART Grants are for third- and fourth-year Pell Grant-eligible college students who have maintained a 3.0 GPA, major in math, science, or critical foreign languages and are enrolled full time. . |
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| "The Pulse of Earth Science" was not only the theme of Earth Science Week 2007, but also is the name of the American Geological Institute's (AGI) website that tracks Earth science education nationwide. The site offers detailed, up-to-date information on the status of geoscience education in every state, as well as guidance for advocates. For each state, AGI provides the most recent available data on: * teacher certification requirements and numbers teaching related subjects; * relevant courses that middle and high school students must take; * K-12 enrollment levels in Earth science and related subjects; * coverage of Earth science within state science standards; * state assessment of students in Earth science; * textbooks adopted and relevance of relevance to Earth science; and * contact information for state education agencies. The website features findings that many are likely to find surprising. While every state but Iowa includes Earth science in education standards, this priority seldom carries through to curriculum requirements or high school exit exams, for example. Only about one in five states offers Earth science as an elective within overall science requirements, and North Carolina is the only state requiring an Earth science course for graduation. "The Pulse of Earth Science" Advocacy Guide, includes recommendations for taking action within state and local school systems. Ideas are provided for partnerships with other Earth science supporters, suggestions for contacting decision-makers, and tips to ensure that your students get the Earth science education they deserve. Triangle Coalition member, the American Geological Institute, is a nonprofit federation of 44 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 100,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources and interaction with the environment. Find out more at www.agiweb.org. . |
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| The Triangle Coalition publishes a calendar of educational events and conferences with links for more details. The following are a few upcoming events which may be of interest to TCEB readers: November 2007 8-10 -- NSTA Area Conference, Denver, CO 11-15 -- American Nuclear Society/ENS International Winter Meeting and Nuclear Technology Expo, Washington, DC 14-17 -- North American Association for Environmental Education Annual Conference, Virginia Beach, VA 15-20 -- School Science and Mathematics Association Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN 27 - December 1 -- Acoustical Society of America 154th Meeting, New Orleans, LA 28 - December 1 -- NABT Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA 29-30 -- NCTM Regional Conference and Exposition, Houston, TX 30 IT -- Summit Los Angeles December 2007 6-8 -- NSTA Area Conference, Birmingham, AL . |
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TCEB Sponsors
This issue of the TCEB is made possible by grants from: To find out how your organization can sponsor the TCEB or support the Triangle Coalition in other ways, visit www.trianglecoalition.org/support.htm __________________________________________________________________________ |
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