What We’re Reading: Washington Post editorial board favors STEM visas

The Washington Post editorial board on Wednesday advocated for increased visas for foreign-born, American-educated graduates with advanced degrees in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.  While these individuals are being actively recruited by other countries, the U.S. reaps none of the rewards that these people can bring to a national economy through innovation and job creation.

Congressional leaders have gone back and forth on the issue for months, seeking compromise. So far, no agreement is in the cards. Republicans, under the influence of anti-immigrant restrictionists, are loath to increase the number of immigrants. Some Democrats are reluctant to ditch the green-card lottery, also known as the diversity visa program, which benefits mainly African and Eastern European immigrants. Others worry that a separate deal on STEM graduates now may make it more difficult to nail down a comprehensive immigration reform package later.

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What’s clear is that, without a deal, this country is the loser. Globally, demand for STEM graduates is soaring and competition is stiff. Canada, Britain and Australia have all structured their immigration rules to favor their job markets. China is offering cash and other incentives to lure Chinese scientists home after they have trained overseas. Meanwhile, the U.S. system remains tilted in favor of foreign relatives of citizens and permanent residents.

Senator Coons continues to advocate for needed reform to our immigration laws, including visas for those who earn advanced degrees in the STEM fields. Earlier this week, Senator Coons and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation that creates a pilot program where 55,000 new green cards per year will be available for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in STEM fields. It also reduces the red tape to obtain a student visa and allows high-tech workers currently in the United States on temporary visas to renew their visas without first returning to their country of origin. 

Click here to read the entire editorial on the Washington Posts’ website.

Senator Coons passes resolution to honor International Chemistry Olympiad

On Tuesday, Senator Coons passed a resolution through the U.S. Senate honoring the student participants in the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad. In the resolution, the Senate welcomed the International Chemistry Olympiad to the United States, acknowledged the importance of encouraging students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and honored the University of Maryland, College Park, as well as the American Chemical Society for making this event possible.

Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) co-sponsored the resolution, which passed the Senate unanimously.

About 300 students from over 70 countries will gather in Washington, D.C. next month to participate in the International Chemistry Olympiad. The competition brings students together and tests their abilities in the theory and practice of chemistry, with specific opportunities in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and spectroscopy. By interacting with their peers from countries around the world, participants will have the chance to foster important relationships and be a part of a scientific community.

Chris is committed to encouraging students to pursue STEM fields through innovative events like this one. He previously co-hosted the first-ever Kent County Science Fair in Dover and checked out student projects at the 20th annual Sussex County Science Fair. Chris was himself an undergraduate chemistry major, and is passionate about science and math education. He believes events like the International Chemistry Olympiad can fuel students’ critical thinking skills and open doors to their future.

Senator Coons Celebrates National Robotics Week with FAME

Senator Coons marked the third annual National Robotics Week and Delaware’s inaugural National Robotics Day at Barclays on the Wilmington Riverfront.  Chris joined members of the Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering (FAME) as they recognized robotics technology as a pillar of 21st century American innovation.  FAME, Inc. Executive Director Donald Baker talked with Chris about the growing importance of robotics and the role it plays in encouraging students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). In Delaware, FAME is a year-round program that works with students in grades 6 through 12. 

“I was impressed to learn that FAME is working to increase the number of women and minority students who decide to go into robotics and the sciences,” said Chris.  “Events like Robotics Day are fun to attend, and they also help ensure STEM education is getting the attention it deserves in today’s curriculum.”

The event provided a great opportunity for networking and interaction between students, industry leaders and other experts. As a former student of the sciences himself, Chris was thrilled to participate in National Robotics Day. He encouraged the students in the audience to continue pursuing science and pointed out to the female students that they don’t need to look far for inspiration – the heads of two of Delaware’s largest science-based companies, DuPont and W.L. Gore, are both women.

Senator Coons speaks with students at Howard High School of Technology about STEM education

In celebration of Teach For America Week, Senator Chris Coons served as a guest teacher on Thursday at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington. Leading the Advanced Biology class normally taught by TFA science teacher Ashley Sorenson, Senator Coons spoke with juniors and seniors about the value of education and encouraged the students to pursue a career in the sciences.

“The 21st century economy is taking root in science and technology, and if we want to make our economy stronger and our nation more competitive, we have to give students the skills they need to succeed in STEM fields,” Senator Coons said about the experience. “It’s imperative that our children have positive role models to reinforce the importance of education and encourage them to pursue higher education, and that is what young Teach For America educators do.”

Since its launch in 1997, Teach For America Week has brought hundreds of distinguished guest teachers from across America into our nation’s schools to inspire students and raise awareness about the challenges facing students in low-income communities and demonstrate that when students are given the educational opportunities they deserve, they reach their highest potential.

Senator Coons is inspired at Sussex County Science Fair

Senator Coons went back to his roots as a chemistry major at the 20th annual Sussex County Science Fair on Monday. Chris was blown away by the work of the middle and high school participants whose projects covered a wide spectrum of scientific studies. He also took the opportunity to meet with and thank science teachers who encouraged students to participate.

“Teachers who go the extra mile, teachers who inspire kids to use what they’re learning in the classroom and apply it to everyday life--those are the educators who motivate students to follow their dreams and to go on to do great things,” said Chris.

The fair provided students with the opportunity to be recognized by the community for their curiosity and achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) academics. Since arriving in the Senate, Chris has worked hard to promote STEM education.

“An education rooted in STEM gives students a leg up when it comes to finding good quality jobs,” he said.

Chris also spoke with Priyen Patel and his sister, Bansri, students at Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown who he previously met last year in Washington when they were on Capitol Hill for the international BioGENEius competition.

At the fair, Chris recognized all the hard work students, educators, judges, sponsors and volunteers like Helen Gieske put in to make this important event a reality for the 20th straight year. He also congratulated all of the winners:

Sussex County BioGENEius Winners             

Priyen Patel, Sussex Tech            

Bansri Patel, Sussex Tech             

Gopika Lakshmanan, Indian River            

Melissa Schoonfield, Sussex Central                                       

William McCabe, Indian River                    

Sussex County Science Fair Winners            

Grade 7                               

First Place: Cohen Davis, Sussex Academy

Second Place: Golden Fees, Sussex Academy

Third Place: Brooke Ward, Sussex Academy

Honorable Mention: Colleen Anderson, Sussex Academy

Honorable Mention: Gabrielle Hastings, Sussex Academy

Honorable Mention: Griffin McCormick, Sussex Academy

Grade 8                               

First Place: Ricky Brokaw, Sussex Academy

Second Place: Ashe Hebrank-Ekas, Beacon Middle

Third Place: Grace Brokaw, Sussex Academy

Honorable Mention: Tobias Ferl, Sussex Academy

Honorable Mention: Nicholas Conrad, Beacon Middle

Grade 9                               

First Place: Melissa Schoonfield, Sussex Central

Second Place: Alison Jennings, Indian River

Third Place: John Douglass Messick, Sussex Central

Honorable Mention: Tiffany Raeuber, Sussex Central

Honorable Mention: Jack Saxton, Indian River

Grade 10                             

First Place: Bansri Patel, Sussex Tech

Second Place: Sid Miller, Cape Henlopen

Third Place: Merrick Kovatch, Indian River

Honorable Mention: Jennifer Peasnall, Sussex Central

Honorable Mention: Mason Chambers, Sussex Central

Honorable Mention: Chelsea Shanahan, Indian River

Grade 11                             

First Place: Caroline Maahs, Sussex Central

Second Place: Priyen Patel, Sussex Tech

Third Place: Trevor Aldred, Cape Henlopen

Honorable Mention: Kristin Kneller, Indian River

Grade 12                             

First Place: Sara Westhafer, Indian River

Second Place: Amber Pearce, Sussex Central

Senator Coons congratulates local student on attending White House science fair

As a participant in the second annual White House Science Fair, Priyen Patel, a junior at Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown, was rewarded for his hard work with a well-deserved handshake from President Obama.

Senator Coons, who had the opportunity to meet Priyen last summer after the BioGENEius challenge, came away impressed with his practical application of his science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

The White House science fair celebrated student winners of a broad range of STEM competitions from across the country.  Senator Coons is a passionate supporter of STEM education, and admired the higher-order thinking skills that Patel used in his project, “Over-the-Counter and In Your Water?  The Most Effective Filtration of Pharmaceuticals.” 

“Congratulations to Priyen on this remarkable accomplishment,” said Chris. “Priyen’s project exemplifies what STEM education is all about—using science, technology, engineering and math to solve real world problems.  An education rooted in STEM will give students like Priyen a leg up when it comes to finding good quality jobs.”

Priyen’s project focused on using various water filters to determine the concentration of medicines that end up in our drinking water.  Priyen first became interested in the issue of pharmaceutical containment after reading an article in the News Journal in 2010 and learning common drugs were being found in the local water supply. 

After winning his high school science fair, Priyen advanced to the Sussex County Science Fair, then moved on to the Delaware BioGENEius Challenge. His win in the 2011 U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge earned him the spot in the White House science fair where he represented Delaware, the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, and the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge. 

DSU a big part of NASA's new mission to Mars

Senator Coons congratulated Delaware State University for their research and development of lasers to be used on NASA's Curiosity Rover mission to Mars. Scheduled to launch November 25, the rover will contain a ChemCam instrument that was partially developed at DSU and uses lasers and spectroscopy to analyze the contents of rocks on the surface of Mars.

Dr. Noureddine Melikechi — who is the founder of the DSU Optics Research Program where the research took place — worked with NASA in connection with the upcoming launch. Alissa Mezzacappa, a DSU Ph.D candidate in optics and a graduate research assistant, assisted Dr. Melikechi. The two of them are in Cape Canaveral to witness the launch in person.  

An ardent supporter of science, technology, engineering and math education, and a lifelong fan of NASA and the space sciences, Chris is extremely proud of DSU’s involvement in the project. Historically, NASA’s missions have cultivated American’s hope and wonderment about our vast universe and has inspired many young people to pursue a career in the sciences.

The involvement of DSU in the Mars mission is the latest accomplishment of the University’s prolific Optics Program. The Optics Program received a $5 million grant to work on a $2.5 billion space project with a large team of scientists from throughout the United States and France.

With a focused vision, Dr. Melikechi methodically worked to maximize every new opportunity and each research success. Founded as a one-person project in 1995, Dr. Melikechi expanded DSU’s Optics Research Program to include 12 professors, 18 graduate students and two post-doctoral researchers. It will soon move into a new, 65,000-square-foot building, supported by $10 million in state funding and millions more in private bonds DSU plans to raise.

Click here to learn more about the “DSU goes to Mars” mission. 

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to improve education. 

What We’re Reading: Women and STEM education

From the Associated Press: Since the ratification of the 19^th Amendment nearly a century ago, women have broken numerous societal barriers and are leveling the occupational playing field in areas that were once considered “male professions,” including law and medicine.

Our current economic environment has hurt many job sectors and forced companies to lay off workers. Senator Coons and many others agree that, in order to improve our economy and ensure its future success, we must invest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, which has always been at the heart of American innovation.

Women are currently still lagging behind men in earning higher degrees in the profitable STEM fields. Fortunately, women are making steady strides, thanks, in part, to an increased push by secondary education teachers to encourage girls to pursue careers in these fields.

With two-thirds of all undergraduate degrees and 60 percent of master's degrees now going to women, many believe it's only a matter of time before that trend influences the upper echelons of the STEM fields.

Already, statistics from the Council of Graduate Schools show that women, overall, earned slightly more than half of the doctorates handed out in all disciplines in the United States in 2009 and 2010. When it comes to the STEM fields, women have been most successful in medicine and biology – and least successful in engineering, math and computer science.

But experts hope that, too, will change. A recent report from the American Association of University Women notes that, 30 years ago, the ratio of seventh- and eighth-grade boys who scored more than 700 on the SAT math exam, compared with girls, was 13 to 1. Now it's 3 to 1.

Read the entire story here.

Learn about Chris’ work to improve education here.