A prestigious group of more than 100 leading scientists and engineers representing government, academic organizations and business will convene in Santa Fe, N.M., this week to learn about research and best practices for reforming K–12 and college science education programs for the nation’s youth. These leaders are participating in a national symposium—“Changing the Course of Science Education: The Critical Role for Scientists and Engineers”—conducted by the National Science Resources Center of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academies, in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy.

The symposium is the first in an annual series of NSRC programs with a goal of engaging 1,000 science and engineering leaders in K–12 and college science education reform by 2011. It builds upon the 2005 National Academies’ report “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”—a seminal study on U.S. science education and workforce competitiveness.

“We teach science not only to produce future workers but also because good citizenship demands at least a basic understanding of how the world works,” maintains NSRC Executive Director Sally Goetz Shuler. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s voters; they will be asked to evaluate many issues—environmental, biomedical, technological—in which science literacy can help them reach intelligent, well-reasoned solutions. Our experience is that scientists and engineers bring credibility to this effort, and that they have a critical role in improving the quality of science learning and teaching in our schools.”

Keynote speakers are Anders Hedberg, director of Corporate Philanthropy for Bristol-Myers Squibb, and John Winn, director of the AP Training and Incentive Program of the National Mathematics and Science Institute. Other speakers include Shuler; Suzanne Donovan, director, Strategic Education Research Partnership; and Terry Wallace, principal associate director for Science, Technology and Engineering at Los Alamos National Laboratory; as well as science and education advisors to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. In addition, New Mexico’s Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici will provide taped remarks.

Representatives of the following companies and universities also will make presentations: Bayer; the U.S. Department of Energy; Florida Institute of Technology; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; New Mexico State University; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Battelle); and the University of Washington.

There will be an opening reception Tuesday evening, April 10. Business sessions will be conducted Wednesday, April 11 from 8:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 13. All events will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott located at 3347 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe.

Symposium support is provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Los Alamos National Bank and three publishers of research-based science instructional materials: Carolina Biological Supply Company, Delta Education and Lab-Aids.

For more information about the NSRC or attending upcoming science education symposia, visit www.nsrconline.org. To request a press kit for this symposium, contact the NSRC at [email protected] or call Barbara Thomas at (202) 633-2978 or Jim Benson at (202) 633-2959.