Science Education: Not Just for Teachers Anymore! - Copernicus ...

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OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR4108 HINDERAKER HALLRIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA 92521951.827.5201February 2008To All Copernicus Science Education Summit Participants,On behalf of the University of California, Riverside (UCR), I want to welcome you to the 2 nd annualCopernicus Science Education Summit “Science Education: Not Just for Teachers Anymore! Voices of OurCommunities of Learning.” We are honored that you have joined us today in our continuing efforts to addressour nation’s need for additional and more thoroughly trained math and science teachers through thisCopernicus Project Science Education Summit. In this knowledge-based economy of the 21 st century, it isimperative that California have a cadre of teachers proficient in the fields of mathematics and science.The Copernicus Project, a five-year $11.5 million US Department of Education Teacher Quality Enhancementfunded project for science education, is now in its fourth year of implementation. Copernicus partnershipsreflect depth and breadth including 3 Universities, four community colleges, 8 school districts, and over 100business partners from the US, Canada, and the UK, as well as programs and organizations on and off theUCR campus including the California Council on Science and Technology, the Competitive Crisis Council,MESA, Science Math Initiative, Early Academic Outreach Programs and ALPHA Center. Our collaborativeefforts emphasize high impact initiatives such as inquiry-based science teacher professional development,community-wide involvement in science and math education, applied-science internships with businesspartners, and research on the performance of science and math teachers using inquiry-based pedagogy.We recognize that in order to transform the current state of teacher preparedness and student success,outcomes require long-term, institutional change. Outcomes such as sustained growth of student interest inscience, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, recruitment of high-quality science teachersfrom a growing pool of diverse candidates, and sustained support and professional growth for these teachersthat will encourage them to stay in the education field. For this long-term change to occur, we need to fullyengage the community and create a culture of awareness among stakeholders who will reap the benefits of ahighly-skilled workforce with a strong background in science and math.The Copernicus Project aims to galvanize these partnerships for future work that will create long-term andsustained changes to promote STEM Education for students of all backgrounds. With the continuedengagement from our community of learners, we have the ability to make a difference in the lives of studentsand teachers. Your contributions at this Summit are critical and we thank you for your participation.Cordially,Robert D. GreyActing ChancellorFebruary 20, 20082Science Education Summit
February 20, 20081207 Sproul HallRiverside, CA 92521Phone: (951) 827-5802Fax: (951) 827-3942steven.bossert@ucr.eduI am pleased to welcome you to the second annual Copernicus Science Education Summit. The Graduate School ofEducation is grateful for your enthusiastic support of this important, innovative program, and for your active participation.The Copernicus Project team, led by their Principal Investigators Linda Scott Hendrick and Athena Waite, has once againdone an outstanding job of engaging friends and partners in the critical task of working together to promote high qualityscience education for all students. The Project has become a recognized leader in connecting current and prospective scienceteachers to UCR’s exceptional programs in the agricultural, biological, and physical sciences as well as in engineering andtechnology. Using the wealth of expertise and resources among faculty from various academic departments and researchlaboratories provides both an enriching influence for our local schools and a vivid example of the value of universityresearch for public education.On this same date last year, over two-hundred friends and partners of the Copernicus Project met at the Mission Inn to takethe first step in this critical dialogue-recognizing that a collaborative effort among various stakeholders in essential inproviding long-term, sustainable solutions that are needed for high-quality science education in our schools. Today, wewelcome returning friends and partners, and a substantial number of new friends and partners to take the next steptogether—to hear your voices and send a resounding message across the state: science education is a critical investment forsuccess in the 21st century.The Copernicus Project and the Graduate School of Education at UC - Riverside, along with you and your fellow summitparticipants, have been working very hard to make this message loud and clear through creative partnerships and projects.By coming together at events such as this one, we can learn from one another about what must be done to assure success inscience education. In the afternoon, the program invites you to attend several breakout sessions that address issues raised inlast year’s discussions. One of theses sessions is on a topic that I have passionately pursued since arriving at UCR nearlyfour years ago: to establish a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) center within UCR’s GraduateSchool of Education that focuses on the unique and important diversity of students, families and communities within InlandSouthern California.The current status of teacher preparedness and student success in science education requires and effective and sustainedapproach to understanding the socio-cultural aspects of successful teaching and learning. I believe that a Center forDiversity in STEM Education at UC - Riverside will help us collaborate effectively and leverage the various resourceswithin our school districts and at the university in ways that will better serve the needs of our students and our region. Withthe outstanding leadership provided by my co-facilitator, Mr. Rick Piercy, CEO of the Lewis Center for EducationalResearch, we invite you to share your ideas and help us chart a collective vision for a center that will have an enormousimpact on our future.Best wishes for a stimulating and successful summit.Sincerely yours,Steven T. BossertDean and ProfessorFebruary 20, 20083Science Education Summit
Page 1 and 2: Science Education:Not Just for Teac
Page 3: Table of ContentsChancellor’s Wel
Page 7 and 8: Copernicus Project OverviewMade pos
Page 9 and 10: Schedule of Events8:00—9:00 …
Page 11 and 12: Dr. Susan HackwoodExecutive Directo
Page 13 and 14: Breakout DiscussionsEngaging Divers
Page 15 and 16: The Copernicus Project PartnersUniv

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