VANCOUVER, Wash. — The National Science Foundation recently awarded the Science and Mathematics Education Resource Center a $50,000 planning grant for a project titled “Planning for Reform in Secondary Science and Mathematics.” The goals of the PRiSSM grant are to increase science and math knowledge and problem solving skills across the community, increase the number of people entering careers in science and math, and increase the number of qualified science and math teachers in our region.
SMERC is a partnership between Washington State University Vancouver, Educational Service District 112 and Hewlett-Packard. The project’s principal investigators are Anne Kennedy, director of SMERC; Brian Tissot, Washington State University science program coordinator and associate professor of environmental science; and David Slavit, associate professor of mathematics and teaching and learning.
In collaboration with Clark College and southwest Washington school districts, the PRiSSM grant examines the present status and future needs of science and mathematics education in the local region, particularly seventh grade through college.
A planning symposium will take place Feb. 6 and 7 to discuss the future of mathematics and science education in our region and formulate strategies that facilitate this vision over the next 10 years. A group of 60 educators, administrators, business representatives, government representatives, parents and community members will participate. After the symposium, SMERC will apply for additional funding to implement programs based on their findings.
For more information, please call Eric Walla, project coordinator, at 360/546-9655.
