*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 1991.10.24 : Science Education Partnership Grants Contact: Joanne Hough (301) 443-0747 NIH Press Office Marc Stern (301) 496-2535 October 24, 1991 HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced the first Science Education Partnership Awards. The awards match scientists to creative educators to produce such things as videos, model curriculum materials and interactive exhibits that foster "excitement about the health sciences" in young people and the general public. Each of the 24 funded partnerships links Public Health Service-supported researchers or other biomedical scientists to innovative teachers, community leaders such as the Black Church Network, and media experts to produce projects that pilot teachers institutes, a hands-on museum exhibit on the immune system and AIDS, and other programs. Stanford University, for example, will work in partnership with Lucasfilms Learning--a multimedia design group based within George ("Star Wars") Lucas' film company--to develop interactive software programs such as video discs to spark young people's interest in science on topics including the effects of drugs and alcohol. Dr. Sullivan said, "The president has set a goal for the nation of being 'first in the world in science and math' by the year 2000. These new projects will help get us there by providing tested models in which teachers, community organizations and scientists become partners to bring the excitement of science to every child and adult in our land." The SEPA grants, totaling nearly $5 million, were made by two agencies of the Public Health Service--the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. The SEPA pilot projects run the gamut of science education possibilities. For example-- o Rutgers University--in cooperation with the Camden, N.J., school system--will provide training about modern techniques in neuroscience to all of Camden's middle school science teachers during summer training institutes. o The American Association for the Advancement of Science, working with the Black Church Network, will develop and test a set of participatory biology activities to be disseminated to more than 500 churches for use in after-school programs, health fairs, and mall and grocery store exhibits. o The New York Hall of Science and the Association of Science Technology Centers will develop, test and tour nationally a 500 square foot, hands-on exhibit on AIDS and the human immune system for families, teachers and students grades 6-12. o A rural partnership for science education in Cooperstown, N.Y.--to include a summer science training program for teachers and a summer science camp for students grades 3-8, using state-of-the-art lab equipment--will serve as a model for other rural school districts. Assistant Secretary for Health James O. Mason, M.D., who heads the Public Health Service, said the SEPA grants are especially aimed at engaging the interest of women and minorities in science. "As the recently released Carnegie Commission report on math and science education pointed out, the federal roles should be to induce constructive change and to assist the states and communities in implementing the best science education programs possible. The SEPA program, which is just one facet of a broad PHS Science Education Initiative, will accomplish just that," Dr. Mason added. Nearly 200 proposals were submitted for SEPA grants, which are eligible for funding for a maximum of three years. Once proven successful, the 24 funded projects will be replicated for widespread use across America. "These awards will bring us closer to our goal of increasing the number of scientifically literate citizens capable of making informed decisions on the many health and science issues of our day. This is critical if we hope to plan wisely for our country's future as a leader in science," said Frederick K. Goodwin, M.D., administrator of ADAMHA. "Because increasing scientific literacy and enhancing science education are such vital national goals, I am looking forward to the accomplishments of these award recipients. The proposals were very creative, so we have every reason to believe that the results will be innovative and impressive," said Bernadine Healy, M.D., NIH director. ADAMHA SEPA Grantees National Association of Biology Teachers, Reston, Va., "NABT and the Society for Neuroscience Partnership in Neurobiology Education" $244,586; Mary Bellamy (703) 471-1134 Hampshire College, Amherst, Mass., "New Program for Science Eduction: Brain and Cognition," $217,671; Christopher Chase (413) 549-4600, ext. 619. University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., "Making Connections Making Choices: A Partnership," $350,307; Susanna Cunningham (206) 543-1047. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., "Science for Life: Summer Program for High School Women," $117,221; Cinda-Sue Davis (313) 998-7225. Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla., "Animal Models in Basic Research: A Workshop for Teachers," $229,219; Patricia Hayward (904) 644-6747. Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., "Interactive Multimedia for Middle Grade Life Sciences," $233,318; Craig Heller (415) 723-3693 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., "Summer Institute for Biology Education," $269,725; Raymond Kessel (608) 263-6355. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C., "The AAAS Black Church Health Connection Project," $75,995, Shirley Malcolm (202) 326-6680. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, "Houston Science Education Partnership: Brain Link," $221,655; Leslie Miller (713) 798-4613. Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, D.C., "Partnership for Future Minority Health Scientists," $269,409, Herbert Nickens (202) 828-0572. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, "Health Science Partnerships for the Middle/Junior High School," $84,901; Rita Kay Voltmer, (513) 529-4927. Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, N.J., "Rutgers-Camden Partners in Life Sciences," $135,709; Jesse Whitlow Jr., (609) 757-6334. NIH SEPA Grantees University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif., "USC/Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School Science Partnership," $240,870; Janet Blanks. Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., "Socio-Technological Instruction Modules in Molecular Genetics and Environmental Chemistry," $263,030; Sarah Elgin. University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., "Using Insects in Elementary Classrooms for Early Lessons," $267,611; Douglas Fleury. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, "Biosciences for Low- Income Students and Their Teachers," $130,008; Gary Floyd. Boston University, Boston, Mass., "CityLab: Biotechnology Learning Laboratory," $202,262; Carl Franzblau. Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, N.Y., "A Rural Partnership for Science Education," $266,464; Estelle Goodell. Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa., "Science Teachers Workshops for Computer Training," $115,633; Susan Henry. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, "Nutrition and Human Growth-Enhancing Middle School Science," $69,885; Velimer Matkovic. University of Denver, Denver, Colo., "Establishing a Life Sciences Curriculum Center," $226,095; James Platt. WQED Communications, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., "The Universe Within," $187,909; Marc Pollock. New York Hall of Science, New York, N.Y., "National Traveling AIDS Exhibit and Education Program," $223,720; Martin Weiss. Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., "Research Scientist-- Pre-College Educator Partnership," $199,702; Norman Willett.