.
|
Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This Week's Topics:
. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A possible aquatic cure for psoriasis inspired by an episode of the ABC-TV show Ugly Betty and how a technology called transgenic pharming has enabled the commercialization of spider silk are the winners of the 2008 DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition. Caire Yang, 13, an eighth grade student at H.B. du Pont Middle School, Hockessin, DE, was the Junior Division winner, writing on "An Aquatic Cure for Psoriasis." Nicole Clark, 15, a sophomore at Centennial High School in Boise, ID, won the Senior Division with an essay on "Spider Silk: The World's Strongest Fiber." More than 10,000 students entered the contest from all 50 U.S. states and Canada. The 700-1,000 word essays were judged by 25 National Science Teacher Association (NSTA)-selected teachers, scientists from NASA and DuPont. The DuPont Challenge began in 1986. It honors the memory of the heroes of the Challenger space shuttle and all who work to encourage the next generation to explore the frontiers of science. It is sponsored by DuPont in collaboration with The Walt Disney World Resort, NASA, A+ Media, Inc., and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). DuPont, NASA, and NSTA are all members of the Triangle Coalition. The program's objective is to increase scientific literacy among students and to motivate students to excel in communicating scientific ideas. It also recognizes the invaluable role of science teachers in motivating students to communicate scientific ideas through writing. Visit www.thechallenge.dupont.com for more information about The DuPont Challenge 2008 Science Essay Competition, including a copy of all rules, regulations, and entry forms. . |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
On May 8, the House Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to discuss ways to remove barriers for women in academic science and engineering fields. The Subcommittee held a hearing to receive comments on draft legislation that incorporates recommendations from the National Academies panel that were presented at a hearing in October of 2007. The legislation, titled Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2008 and sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), includes workshops to increase awareness of implicit gender bias in grant review, hiring, tenure, promotion, and selection for other honors based on merit; extended grant support for caregivers; and improved demographic data collection on federal grant-making. Women are consistently underrepresented in tenured faculty positions at research universities, despite earning more than half of all science and engineering bachelor's degrees in 2005. According to data compiled by NSF, in 2006, women held 30 percent of all full-time science and engineering faculty positions at U.S. colleges and universities. Specifically, they constituted 19 percent of full professors, 34 percent of associate professors, and 42 percent of junior professors, a category that includes both instructors at 2-year colleges and assistant professors at 4-year institutions. . |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has announced the schedule for "Using Atlas of Science Literacy" workshops this summer. The "Atlas of Science Literacy" is a two-volume resource that presents nearly 100 strand maps developed by AAAS Project 2061. Strand maps present conceptual connections among the ideas and skills that all students should learn as they make progress toward science literacy. Maps graphically display how students might develop in their understanding of important topics such as gravity, natural selection, weather and climate, and statistical reasoning from kindergarten through grade 12. The scheduled three-day workshops will give participants a new perspective on standards-based reform and a new tool for the work that lies ahead. Participants will use Atlas 1 and 2 and other Project 2061 resources to enhance their understanding of science literacy and to improve curricula, instruction, and assessment. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) founded Project 2061 in 1985 to help all Americans become literate in science, mathematics, and technology. Workshop schedules throughout the country and registration information are available at www.project2061.org/workshops.
. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A year ago, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute issued a challenge to 224 undergraduate colleges nationwide: identify creative new ways to engage your students in the biological sciences. Now 48 of the nation's best undergraduate institutions will receive $60 million to help them usher in a new era of science education. This includes the largest number of new grantees in more than a decade; more than a quarter have never received an HHMI grant before. Colleges in 21 states and Puerto Rico will receive $700,000 to $1.6 million over the next four years to revitalize their life sciences undergraduate instruction. HHMI has challenged colleges to create more engaging science classes, bring real-world research experiences to students, and increase the diversity of students who study science. The grant recipients, primarily undergraduate institutions, include traditional liberal arts colleges, historically black colleges and universities, small religious schools, and larger state institutions, all united by a commitment to teaching undergraduates. Science education at American research universities is supported by a separate HHMI grants program. . |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teachers and other educators are encouraged to register now to attend one of the U.S. Department of Education's summer workshops, where teachers share successful strategies to raise student achievement. "Creative teachers across America are using innovative strategies to inspire students to achieve their potential," said U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. "Our workshops give educators a chance to share best practices and learn from those who are getting great results in the classroom." This year the Education Department workshops will be co-hosted by the United States Mint, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Park Service (NPS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA), and Department of Energy (DOE). Each workshop will include numerous breakout sessions featuring effective teachers and practitioners sharing strategies that have been successful in their classrooms, schools, and districts. Part of the Department's Teacher-to-Teacher (T2T) Initiative, the free summer workshops were first offered in 2004 and, since then, more than 20,000 educators have participated in the workshops, which have been held in more than 50 cities across the country. T2T aims to help teachers improve student achievement by supporting their professional development and keeping them informed about the latest strategies and research that helps students meet high standards. Registration and information on the free workshops being held in 12 U.S. cities are available at www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative. . |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Students from coast to coast had the opportunity to make an out of this world call to the International Space Station last week. Students and educators from One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center, Richmond Hill, NY, and Valley Christian Elementary School, Bellflower, CA, participated in the event. The two locations were part of a 20 minute in-flight education downlink, allowing students from across the country to share in a unique collaborative experience. During the event, students and educators interacted with Expedition 17 astronaut Garrett Reisman. Both locations used NASA education resources to enhance their existing curriculum and worked together to develop a comprehensive education plan to compliment the downlink. Students designed mission patches, learned about space station science experiments, made models of the space station, and explored the NASA website for student research and activities. NASA's education downlinks support the agency's efforts to encourage students to study and possibly pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These events, facilitated by NASA's Teaching From Space Office, use the unique experience of human space flight to promote and enhance STEM education. For information about NASA's education programs, visit www.nasa.gov/education.
. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
TCEB Sponsors
To find out how your organization can sponsor the TCEB or support the Triangle Coalition in other ways, visit www.trianglecoalition.org/support.htm __________________________________________________________________________ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||