Posted on 02/06/2004 11:17:11 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The message at a technical symposium Thursday afternoon at Livingstone College was that this country needs to work harder to get children excited about math and science.
Participants discussed strategies to get this generation of young people into the math and science educational pipeline as early as possible so they'll be prepared to meet the nation's increasing need for math and science graduates.
Dr. Bernard Harris, a retired astronaut who was the first African-American to walk in space, participated in the panel discussion, which was moderated by John Hairston of NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Harris told his predominantly African-American audience that they would be either slaves or masters in the 21st century, and that the choice was up to them.
"I want my children to be masters," he said. "Our slavery will be determined by our lack of initiative in our own communities."
The key to becoming masters, he said, is the three E's: exposure, experience and education.
"We need to change our mindset from consumer to producer, or we will be relegated to service jobs," he said.
We're falling behind in preparing our children in the STEMsubjects (science, technology, engineering and math), Harris said.
Nine out of 10 jobs will require skills in math and science Harris said. With a particular concern for the African-American male, he spoke of the need to develop local programs, supported by local funding and foundations.
"You're the one who knows what your community needs," he said. "My call is to engage you. The answer is in the leadership in this room."
Also participating in the symposium was Dr. Adena Loston, the associate administrator for education at NASA headquarters in Washington. Loston began her career with NASA in 2002 as the senior education advisor and is responsible for guiding efforts to organize and enhance NASA's education programs.
Loston spoke of growing up in Mississippi, where she watched the moonwalk on television. She laughed as she shared the memory of hearing some of her relatives say that the astronauts weren't really walking on the moon.
Her mission at NASA, she said, is "to inspire the next generation of explorers."
"That's actually in my job description," she said.
The country hasn't had a presidential vision for space exploration since John F. Kennedy's, she said. Today, however, under the current administration, there is a renewed commitment to the space program and a new vision for its future.
NASA's educational initiatives are committed to making a difference in the nation's communities and classrooms, she said. Livingstone College is now a part of that initiative through participation in its Science, Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA).
Livingstone's SEMAA program, unveiled in 2002 and funded with a $450,000 congressional appropriation, is designed to increase participation and retention of K-12 youth, particularly those from populations that are underrepresented in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.
Loston talked about some of NASA's initiatives, including the NASAScience and Technology Scholarship Program, which will be rolled out in the fall. Students awarded this scholarship will receive full tuition to public or private colleges if they agree to work for NASA for at least four years after graduation.
She also spoke of the importance of getting students into the science and technology educational pipeline and keeping them there.
Dr. James Johnson Jr., dean of the College of Engineering at Howard University, emphasized the importance of retaining students. "We begin to lose our students in the fourth to the eighth grades," he said.
He spoke of the necessity of keeping students interested and engaged, particularly in math and science. Practical applications of science and technology can help get young students excited about STEM courses and motivate them to take the classes that will give them a good foundation in math and science for college, he said.
Other speakers included W. Mamie Johnson, the project director for the Livingstone College SEMAA program; Dr. Decatur Rogers, dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University; and Dr. Pangie Burns, visiting scholar at Livingstone College.
Keshia Leach, an African-American doctoral candidate in electrical engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, offered students advice about how to navigate graduate school.
Participants emphasized partnerships between colleges and school systems, mentoring and community leadership efforts, all with the goal of inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology.
Contact Katie Scarvey at 704-797-4270 or kscarvey@salisburypost.com.
2x + 3y = z16?
Food for thought.
A space program returning men (and yes of course women and robots) to the Moon to stay and develop its resources will.
Students from a number of non-American cultures seem to develop more interest in math and science even without a space program. This can't be the only reason for going to the moon.
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