for Jennifer
Posted by DrJeff
Copyright 2010 | About this blog
Dear Jennifer,
Good talking to you just now on the phone. I thought a simple approach might be to put this hidden page together for you with a list of hot links. It’s simpler for you.
I am the Center Director for the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE), a project of the 501c3 non-profit Tides Center. We are dedicated to creating and delivering national science and technology education programs that inspire and educate America’s next generation of scientists and engineers. We strongly believe that these kinds of programs are essential if America is going to compete in the high tech marketplace of the 21st century. We also recognize that science, and more generally human exploration, is really about the act of journey, not the book of knowledge—which provides the critical link between student and professional explorer, where the latter can truly be viewed as hero and role model to the next generation. Finally, a core characteristic of our programs is engagement of entire communities through a Learning Community Model for STEM education.
We have these wonderful programs that engage grade K-12 students, their teachers, their families—and their entire community, at a time when the nation desperately needs inspiration in science education, yet also at a time of financial crisis. We so want to make a difference, and we know we can, but without underwriting it’s not possible. That’s why I contacted you. I thought an article in Chronicles of Philanthropy might put the cause and our capabilities in front of philanthropic organizations that might want to bring these powerful programs to their communities.
Our programs include: an exhibition approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts for permanent placement on the National Mall in DC and in communities across the nation; the award winning Family Science Night program at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum; oversight of an educator training program for NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft mission to the planet Mercury (training 3,000 teachers annually); and the Journey through the Universe initiative taking entire communities to the frontiers of exploration through programming that is strategically tuned to community needs in STEM education, is delivered systemically across districts, and is designed to be sustainable. We have substantial grade K-12, conceptually powerful content, including a commitment to climate change education. We also work hard to fully embed use of Social Media in education.
Finally, we have just launched the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, a historic and time critical opportunity for entire school districts to hold middle and high school competitions to design an experiment for flight aboard the last Space Shuttle. The entire competition at the community level is embedded in community-wide programming through the paradigm of the Learning Community Model.
This is all pretty cool stuff.
The links—
National Center for Earth and Space Science Education Home Page
This is a very good read: Testimonials
A summary of Our Programs, with links to the individual program web pages and main websites.
The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program
Some Relevant Essays I’ve written at Huffington Post:
Troubled about America’s Future
The Remarkable Power of Twitter: A Water Cooler for the 21st Century
The Address of a Self-Important World: Humanity Needs a Reality Check
Some relevant posts and pages at Blog on the Universe:
On the U.S. crisis is science education
An open letter to President Obama on Science Education
Scientists and Engineers as Heroes
In terms of myself, I’m a nationally recognized science educator. For example, I’m the keynote speaker at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in Kansas CIty this October for 2,500 science teachers. My profile can be found on the NCESSE staff page, and my complete bio is here at Blog on the Universe.
Contact: Jeff Goldstein, NCESSE Center Director, Cell: 301-395-0770
jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org
Best wishes,
Jeff
