8^th Science in Savannah Symposium

Armstrong Atlantic State University hosts Exploring the Global Impact of Improving Science and Mathematics Education to explore the national impact of partnerships between higher education, K-12 school districts, businesses, and industry created by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the NSF Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Program (http://www.nsf.gov/ehr/MSP/). In Georgia, a statewide initiative, Partnership for Reform In Science and Math (PRISM) (http://www.gaprism.org/), has been funded by a $34.6 million grant from (NSF). The program that Armstrong Atlantic (http://www.prism.armstrong.edu/) coordinates in southeast Georgia received $5 million over a five-year period. Nationwide, the NSF has funded 52 similar projects under the banner of the Math and Science Partnership Program.

The primary focus of these highly collaborative ventures is to strengthen and reform science and mathematics education resulting in improved student achievement and ultimately increasing our nation's capacity to provide a competitive workforce well versed in the intellectual capital of science, mathematics, and technology.

To date the National Science Foundation has provided over $600 million to fund these initiatives in 30 states involving over 150 institutions of higher education, 70 business partners and 1200 university faculty. These programs will impact over 141,500 teachers and an uncountable number of K-12 students. The collaborative work of the math science partnerships is an effective balance of both program implementation and research of effectiveness.

Just four years later, the impact of these partnerships is readily seen. Program coordinators and evaluators as well as teacher and faculty participants are well positioned to share practices proven effective that can be replicated nationwide.

This year's symposium will feature talks by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Raymond Simon and Georgia State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. James E. Hamos of the National Science Foundation and Jan Kettlewell of the University System of Georgia will also speak. A panel of businesspeople with a track record in supporting science and math education will host a special session for business leaders on the importance of supporting P-12 math and science education. Speakers from throughout the nation will join in a series of presentations on the success of NSF-funded projects and practical applications to the education system from pre-Kindergarten through high school.