DOE to Improve S&T Education through STARS Initiative

Capturing students’ interest in science and mathematics during the middle school years is crucial to America’s future workforce and the nation’s security, according to U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham.

To help foster the next generation of American scientists and engineers, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Scientists Teaching and Reaching Students (STARS) initiative involving both students and teachers in grades K-12. Abraham outlined the STARS initiative, launched by DOE and its national laboratories, earlier this month at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in Paolo Alto, Calif.

Citing disappointing results from the 1999 Third International Mathematics and Science Study, which reported that 12th-graders in the U.S. performed among the lowest of 21 nations in math and science, Abraham emphasized the importance of addressing the problem of math and science literacy in the nation. The report indicated that U.S. students in the fourth grade ranked at or near the top in science and math globally; however, by 12th grade they fell behind nearly every industrialized rival.

The STARS initiative will work to fill the deficiency occurring during the middle school years by incorporating several programs intended to pique students’ interest in math and science careers. The initiative consists of seven steps:

• Host Science Appreciation Days at the national laboratories throughout the year, offering activities and resources to 2,000 fifth- and eighth-graders and exposing them to a broad range of possibilities in science fields;
• Create the Office of DOE Science Education to coordinate all education outreach for DOE and explore ways to expand the leveraging of resources at the national laboratories by forging partnerships with federal and nongovernmental agencies;
• Upgrade and promote the “Ask a Scientist” website, which provides a forum for basic and complex science questions screened by teachers and answered by scientists;
• Establish the Science Teacher Professional Development Program, in which 77 K-14 teachers are provided mentor-intensive science experiences to improve their knowledge and technical expertise in science and math. The three-year program will begin this summer and take place for 4-8 weeks at seven national laboratories.
• Develop Career Day programs at the national laboratories to invite local schools and communities to attend open houses or seminars in science and technology, presented by scientists working at the labs in order to explore different career paths in science and math;
• Host a yearly “What’s Next?” Expo to bring together scientists and corporate innovators to demonstrate breakthrough science technologies they expect to become commonplace in the future; and,
• Promote Science Superstars, a program to introduce teachers, students, and education professionals to internationally recognized, award-winning scientists and Nobel Laureates in order to inspire young scientists to continue their studies in the field.

These seven actions will lay the groundwork for success on an immediate level, according to Abraham. To ensure long-term success and meet future goals, however, additional steps need to be taken. Abraham announced the creation of a special task force to consider such steps.

The Secretary of Energy Task Advisory Board will solicit input from scientists, mathematicians, education specialists, business leaders, and teachers and report their findings and recommendations to Abraham by the end of the year. According to DOE’s press office, the task force will be chaired by a yet-to-be-named leader in the science, technology and business realm.

Press announcements and other backgrounders concerning the STARS initiative are available through the DOE Office of Science: http://www.er.doe.gov