Summit on Science Set for March 16, 2004

National Forum Part of March 15–20 ESTME Week

Top leaders in science and education will take to the national stage for a day of dialogue about effective science education and the critical importance of K–12 science to the nation during the U. S. Department of Education’s Summit on Science, scheduled for March 16, 2004, in Washington, D.C.

The Summit on Science is part of the national Math and Science Initiative (MSI), which began in February 2003 with the purpose of increasing student achievement in the sciences and mathematics. Over the past year, this national and federal initiative has brought together a vast number of representatives from government agencies, businesses, science and education groups, and other stakeholders to work collaboratively on three interdependent goals:

Engage the public in recognizing the need for better mathematics and science education for every child in our nation's schools.

Initiate a campaign to recruit, prepare, train, and retain teachers with strong backgrounds in mathematics and science.

Develop a research base to improve our knowledge of what boosts student learning in mathematics and science.

MSI has focused on mathematics this past year, and a number of detailed action plans to support these goals have been developed  (http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/progs/mathscience/index.html).

The high-profile speakers and topics slated for the March 16 event promise to bring science education into the national spotlight. Education Secretary Rod Paige will welcome participants to the Summit. He will be followed by John Marburger III, Science Adviser to President Bush and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, who will discuss science literacy and the role of K–12 science and math education in producing the next generation of scientists and engineers.

NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe will speak about the next generation of NASA explorers, then introduce Nobel Laureate Professor Carl Wieman from the University of Colorado, who will discuss scientific discovery and the joy of learning and teaching science.

The Honorable Michael Wynne, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics for the Department of Defense, has been invited to deliver the keynote address about national security and how it relates to the emerging science and technology workforce.

Three panels of distinguished researchers, scientists, and educators will highlight many of the pressing issues in science education today. Panel topics will include the science of learning science, science education and No Child Left Behind, standards and curriculum, informal science and classroom partners, and professional development and emerging tools to increase teacher quality. Invited panelists include Barbara Morgan, NASA Educator Astronaut; Jim Pellegrino, University of Illinois-Chicago; Jim Stigler, author of the TIMSS video study; and JoAnne Vasquez, 1996–1997 NSTA President and a member of the National Science Board.

The three interactive panels will be moderated by Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health; Rita Colwell, Director of the National Science Foundation; and Bruce Alberts, President of the National Academy of Sciences.

Watch for more information on the Summit on Science in upcoming issues of NSTA Express and NSTA Reports, or visit the MSI website mentioned earlier as more information becomes available.

The half-day Summit on Science is just one of the many events and activities celebrating science and math education planned for ESTME Week, March 15– 20, 2004. Plan now to incorporate some of the ESTME Week teaching resources and activities into your classroom.

On January 19, the ESTME website, which has as its theme “Science of Everyday Life," will go live, offering teachers and administrators a wealth of information, such as "the best of the best" in online math, science, and technology resources nationwide and interactive experiences that exemplify the theme. Also planned is a special webcast of the Exploratorium's popular "Iron Science Teacher" competition.

In addition, the Department of Education is compiling a nationwide directory that identifies groups of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers willing to visit classrooms during ESTME Week to share their knowledge and their love of science, math, and technology with your students.

On March 15, 2004, a conference entitled “Informing Policy in Support of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education” will be held at The Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C. The conference will highlight current state and national legislative issues that will have an impact on local STEM programs. Conference participants will learn more about topics such as No Child Left Behind, the Math and Science Partnerships, and the Higher Education Act from speakers, which include science and math education champions in the House and Senate (or their staff) and representatives from the U.S. Department of Education, NSF, and the National Science Board. NSTA is co-sponsoring the annual advocacy conference, which is hosted by the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education. For more information or to register, go to http://www.triangle-coalition.org.

Also that week, President Bush will announce the recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. These teachers will participate in ESTME Week activities in Washington D.C.

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