Firms urged to commit to education reform

Abstract

Increasingly, corporate America has been moving toward greater support of science education programs. Its motivation is both altruistic—concern about the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of U.S. science education—and self-interested—the need to increase scientific literacy and ensure a future supply of well-trained scientists and technicians. Now, that support is reaching down as far as the elementary school level. As a means to help companies assess the effectiveness of their own programs and to develop strategies for reforming science education, the National Science Resources Center (NSRC) late last month sponsored a one-day meeting entitled Corporate America's Impact on Elementary Science Education. NSRC is a joint effort of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution aimed at systemic reform in science education, rather than quick-fix or piecemeal approaches. Hosted by Merck, at its new headquarters in northwestern New Jersey, representatives from more than 70 companies—includi...