How business‐education partnerships are building a diverse science and technology workforce: Lessons from Bayer

Abstract

AbstractThe CEO of Bayer Corporation proposes business‐education partnerships in K–12 schools as a necessary action for building a stronger, diverse pipeline of future science and technology workers—and science‐literate customers. Bayer and other companies bring much more than money to the table, and the success stories prove the power of volunteerism, education reform, and raising public awareness. The author makes the case for business involvement in K–12 education; describes Bayer's signature partnership program, Making Science Make Sense; and discusses resources Bayer has developed for other interested companies, including a compendium of the programs most successful in closing science achievement gaps for girls and minorities, and a forum that brought companies together with the programs' leaders to learn what such partnerships entail and can achieve © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.