• In New Bayer Survey, Fortune 1000 Executives Send Message to Obama, McCain About STEM Education and U.S. Competitiveness
• The Candidates Speak Out
• NSTA Board Adopts Position Statement on E-Learning
• Invest in Yourself … Attend an NSTA Conference on Science Education This Fall

In New Bayer Survey, Fortune 1000 Executives Send Message to Obama, McCain About STEM Education and U.S. Competitiveness

The U.S. Presidential candidates should be very concerned about the country’s ability to attract and retain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers in order to maintain America’s global leadership in innovation, say CEOs and other senior executives leading America’s Fortune 1000 STEM companies in a new Bayer-commissioned survey.

In the new Bayer Facts of Science Education poll, the senior executives say they, themselves, are concerned about this issue, with more than half reporting their companies are already experiencing a shortage of American-trained STEM talent. One way to counter this talent issue and help solve the country’s STEM workforce shortage, they say, is to build a diverse STEM pipeline beginning at the earliest educational level. And while the executives believe they and other STEM companies have a responsibility to support such a diverse pipeline, they also say the current American precollege education system is failing to engage girls and minorities to pursue STEM careers.

• Read more about the findings of the new survey

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The Candidates Speak Out

A number of resources are available for those looking for information on specific science and education positions from the two presidential campaigns.

The nonpartisan Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) have created the Science, Health and Related Policies (SHARP) Network, an interactive website that tracks where candidates stand on science issues.

SEA and eighteen other science organizations came together to ask the 2008 presidential candidates fourteen questions on science and technology policy on issues including: innovation, climate change, energy, education, national security, pandemics and biosecurity, genetics research, stem cells, ocean health, water, space, scientific integrity, research, and health.

The groups also posed seven questions on science and technology policy (including education) to the 2008 Congressional candidates.

• New York Times article on Obama education plan
• New York Times article on McCain education plan

Additional resources:

• www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/FactSheetScience.pdf
• www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php
• www.edin08.com/

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The NSTA Board of Directors voted recently to adopt the position statement, The Role of E-Learning in Science Education. The new statement supports and encourages the use of e-Learning experiences for science students, as well as for science educators engaging in professional development. The statement sets forth key elements of effective, high-quality e-Learning experiences, and makes declarations that specifically address e-Learning as a component of teacher preparation and professional development and in blended instructional approaches for preK–16 students.

NSTA wishes to thank the outstanding panel of science educators and experts who dedicated their time over recent months to develop the statement.

• View the new e-Learning statement
• View all NSTA position statements

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Three fall conferences offer science educators a chance to invest in their own professional and personal development. NSTA’s strength—bringing together the best and most experienced educators who will share their expertise with those who want to learn—opens the door of opportunity in Charlotte, Oct. 30–Nov.1, Portland, Nov. 20–22, and Cincinnati, Dec. 4–6. Our conferences promote face-to-face learning through seminars, workshops, presentations, and science community involvement. Take a look at the roster of events we have planned for every grade band and every discipline:

• In Portland, our full-day programs include Physics Day, Chemistry Day, Physical Science/Earth Science Day.
• In addition to over 400 workshops and presentations, we offer intensive short courses (ticketed). Sample:
• Wind Energy in Your Classroom,
• Interactive Notebooks, English Learners, and Science Literacy
• Phundamental Physics with a Phyzz for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
• Keynote: Discovery Channel Jamie and Adam, Mythbusters
• Workshop-Use Scaffolded Inquiry to Build Science Literacy in Physical Science
• Workshop—Cafeteria as Lab: Waste Analysis Studies
• Mission to Mars: Sustainable Living in a Closed System
• FDA/NSTA Symposium: Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food

And lots more—field trips, exhibitor workshops, Exemplary Science Programs, Force and Motion symposium with Stop Faking It! author Bill Robertson ... Check out the program scheduler for each conference at www.nsta.org/Portland or www.nsta.org/Cincinnati, or www.nsta.org/Charlotte. To save the most, register early.

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And Don’t Forget…

Visit our member services web page to ensure that NSTA has your current contact information.

Visit the NSTA Science Store for an outstanding array of bestselling books and teaching resources. Receive 30% off the price of the September featured book, Science for English Language Learners: K–12 Classroom Strategies.

NSTA is offering more Web Seminars through the autumn months. Visit the website for more information about these upcoming professional development opportunities.