The Science Education Program (SEP) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provides professional development instruction to in-service and pre-service teachers.

Teacher Research Academies
The Teacher Research Academy (TRA) is a professional development program where middle school, high school, and community college science faculty add to their science content knowledge and skills. This instruction is offered in a continuum progressing teachers from novice to mastery in four content areas that reflect the "cutting-edge" science found at LLNL. These content areas are Fusion and Astrophysics, Biotechnology, Environment and Energy Technologies, and Biophotonics. This instruction provides teachers a context to understand how this science is used to solve real, large-scale problems.

Teams of LLNL research scientists working collaboratively with master science teachers develop the curricula and materials, and provide the instruction. This team approach ensures that the content is up-to-date and accurate, and that the presentation models best practices in instruction.

During this challenging and exciting professional development program, teachers attend hands-on workshops where they practice using advanced scientific instrumentation with classroom activities aligned with the California Science Content Standards. Many of these teachers then participate in a paid ($4000 summer stipend) mentored research work experience. Participants may earn up to 9 semester units of CSU extension credit, or 10-quarter units of graduate credit applied toward a MS in Education from CSU East Bay. Workshop schedules, registration and details about the Masters degree option are available on the TRA Website.

Science Teacher and Researcher (STAR)
LLNL is one of several federally funded research centers collaborating with CSU Cal Poly Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) to provide pre-service and early-career science teachers with an eight-week-long, paid mentored research internship. This research experience encourages science majors to pursue careers in science teaching by helping them develop professional identity as both a scientists and science educator. Applications will be available on December 1, 2009. The internships begin on June 14 and end on August 7, 2010. Additional details and registration information are available on the CalPoly CESEME Website.