EDUCATORS' CORNERAAAS - Education Programs

AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) helps advance science education through a number of programs that focus on school curriculums, resources for educators, public education, scientific career advancement and workforce training. The Education Programs page contains the following sections: Schools, Teachers & Librarians; Children, Families & Communities; Higher Education; Public Interest; Careers & Workforce; and 2061.

Access Excellence
Access Excellence, launched in 1993, is a national educational program that provides health, biology and life science teachers access to their colleagues, scientists, and critical sources of new scientific information via the World Wide Web. Access Excellence will form the core of the educational component of the National Health Museum Website that is currently under development.

Building Engineering & Science Talent (BEST)
BEST (Building Engineering and Science Talent) launched in September 2001 as a public-private partnership to follow through on the September 2000 recommendations of the Congressional Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology Development. A workforce initiative of the Council on Competitiveness in Washington, DC, BEST offices are located in San Diego, CA.

Bio-Link
Bio-Link is a National Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Center for Biotechnology that originated in late 1998 with a grant from the National Science Foundation. The ATE program was created to improve and expand educational programs that prepare skilled technicians to work in the high-tech fields that drive the U.S. economy.

Bio-Link enhances and expands biotechnology education programs by providing cutting edge professional development for instructors, by improving curriculum, by making use of technologies and by creating a system that promotes the sharing of information.

The Biology Project
The Biology Project is an interactive online resource for learning biology developed at The University of Arizona. The Biology Project is fun, richly illustrated, and tested on 1000s of students. It has been designed for biology students at the college level, but is useful for high school students, medical students, physicians, science writers, and all types of interested people. It contains problem sets and tutorials covering: biochemistry, cell biology, chemicals and human health, developmental biology, human biology, immunology, Mendelian genetics, molecular biology. Some resources have been translated into Spanish or Portuguese.

Biotechnology Institute
The Biotechnology Institute is dedicated to educating teachers, students and the public about the promise and challenges of biotechnology. Our mission is to engage, excite and educate the public, particularly young people, about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving human health, food and environmental problems.

Building a Presence for Science
Building a Presence for Science is the largest networking initiative of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The award-winning program is designed to improve the teaching and learning of science from kindergarten through 12th grade. NSTA is the world's largest organization dedicated to the improvement of science teaching and learning.

Center for Science Education (CSE)
EDC's Center for Science Education brings together a group of educators well-qualified to address the wide-ranging needs of teachers, schools, and districts engaged in science education reform. They collectively represent many years of experience and expertise in science and educational research, instructional materials development and design, teaching, strategic planning, organizational change, and evaluation. The Resources for Educators section contains resources, in print and on video, including: research reports, published articles, books, and videos about science education improvement issues.

Chemistry.org Kids
The American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors this site, with resources organized into the following sections: Celebrating Chemistry, WonderNet, Parent/Teacher, Featured Activities, Interactive Games, and Safety Tips. In addition, ACS' National Chemistry Week (NCW) is a community-based program of the Office of Community Activities. This annual event unites ACS local section, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life.

The Educational Outreach Program at Nobelprize.org
Nobelprize.org has a unique way of introducing the Nobel Prizes that goes beyond the mere presentation of facts. These introductions, aptly called "Educational", are made in the form of games, experiments, and simulated environments ready to be explored and discovered. The productions are aimed at the young, particularly the 14-18 age group, who may know about the Nobel Prizes and the Prize winners but often lack a deeper understanding about the prize awarded works.

Learn.Genetics
The Genetic Science Learning Center is an outreach education program located in the midst of bioscience research at the University of Utah. Our mission is to help people understand how genetics affects their lives and society.

National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) is "the leader in life science education." To date, more than 9,000 educators have joined NABT to share experiences and expertise with colleagues from around the globe; keep up with trends and developments in the field; and grow professionally. The National Association of Biology Teachers empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
Each year, the President of the United States recognizes outstanding kindergarten-6th grade or 7th-12th grade mathematics and science teachers by bestowing upon them the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The PAEMST program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House.

Science Gems
Frank Potter's Science Gems, also known as "Great links to Great Science Resources," contains >14,000 Science Resources sorted by Category, Subcategory, and Grade Level for students, parents, teachers, scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

Try Science
TryScience.org is your gateway to experience the excitement of contemporary science and technology through on and offline interactivity with science and technology centers worldwide. Science is exciting, and it's for everyone! That's why TryScience and over 400 science centers worldwide invite you to investigate, discover, and try science yourself. New interactive content is added regularly to these areas: Adventure, Experiments, Field Trips, Curious?, and Live Cams.

return to top

Science Education Resources in Southern California

Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES)
The Zoological Society of San Diego's center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES) is the largest zoo-based multidisciplinary research team in the world. Biodiversity conservation is the theme that unites the work of CRES, and scientific innovation is the means by which CRES achieves its success. CRES is the science of saving species.

Discovery Science Center
Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting teachers and increasing public understanding of science, math and technology through interactive exhibits and programs.

Expanding Your Horizons Network
Expanding Your Horizons in Science and MathematicsTM conferences are designed to nurture girls' interest in science and math courses and to encourage them to consider science and math-based career options such as engineering, computer science and physical science. San Diego hosts an annual EYH event in the spring.

Faculty Outreach Collaborations Uniting Scientists, Students and Schools (FOCUS!)
The purpose of the FOCUS! partnership at UC Irvine is to improve mathematics and science achievement in three high-need California school districts by uniting the efforts of mathematics, science, education and research library faculty and staff with educators from local community colleges and educational support agencies and school districts. FOCUS components include: California Teach/Math Science Initiative, Faculty Outreach Collaborations, Teacher Leader Cadre, Future Teacher Highway, Discipline Dialogues, PreK/K SMARTS, and Research & Evaluation.

Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF)
Our mission is to maintain a continuous process that encourages and rewards professional excellence, promotes educational enrichment, and provides unique opportunities for independent achievement in science and technology for the thousands of seventh through twelfth grade students of all private, parochial, and public schools of the Greater San Diego Region wishing to participate.

High Tech High
High Tech High began in 2000 as a single charter high school launched by a coalition of San Diego business leaders and educators. It has evolved into a school development organization with a growing portfolio of innovative charter schools spanning grades K-12. HTH combats the twin problems of student disengagement and low academic achievement by creating personalized, project-based learning environments where all students are known well and challenged to meet high expectations. HTH schools show how education can be redesigned to ensure that all students graduate well prepared for college, work, and citizenship.

KPBS Kid's Science
Resources include: SciGirls (Encouraging Girls in Science), EekoWorld (Children Inspired through Science and the Environment), Women in Science (Statistics on Women in the Science Community), Girls in Science (Statistics on Girls in the Science Community), Get to Know the Environment! (Fun activities), and Science Resources.

MySDscience San Diego Science Web 2.0
MySDscience, the virtual coffee shop or happy hour for scientists and science enthusiasts - discussions, blogs, and user groups allow an idea to spark and flourish with the interest and support of the scientific community. On MySDscience, everyone in San Diego has the opportunity to ask specific questions of a scientist or to enter the general dialogue of the local research community.

Ocean Institute
The mission of the Ocean Institute in Dana Point is to inspire all generations, through education, to become responsible stewards of our oceans. On weekdays, students participate in our innovative and award-winning educational programs. On weekends, we open our doors to the public for a sneak peek into how ocean science, history, and literature are used to inspire life-long learners!

Orange County Science, Technology, and Society Network (STS)
The Orange County STS Network project establishes a permanent science, technology, and society (STS) network which provides continuous updating of science and technology issues in middle and high school curricula. The project is sponsored by the UCI Science Education Advisory Board which overseas a partnership of K-12 and postsecondary schools with technology-based corporations in Orange County. The STS Network is one of many programs coordinated by the UCI Science Education Programs Office.

Project Tomorrow
We are very pleased to announce our merger is complete and we are excited about starting 2006 as a new organization. NetDay and Project Tomorrow have long shared a vision and common understanding of the importance of providing excellence in education, and now we are combining our efforts to leverage the strengths of both organizations for increased effectiveness and impact, both locally in Southern California and nationally. We are excited about this merger for three reasons: Enhanced Focus on 21st Century Learning, Community Involvement - National Impact, Continued Success in Science, Technology and Mathematics.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center seeks to inspire lifelong learning by furthering the public's understanding and enjoyment of science and technology. The Fleet Education Department seeks to develop and implement a wide array of innovative educational programs and exhibits to promote lifelong learning and a deep appreciation of science and technology for the entire community, including: Family Science Days: Join us for kid friendly experiments and other projects the whole family can enjoy. Family Science Days are on the third Saturday of each month from 12-3 p.m. Saturday Science Club for Girls: Attention girls in grades 5 through 8... Join us on the second Saturday of each month to investigate exciting science topics. Each Saturday session will be filled with new challenges, hands-on activities and interaction with local women scientists. Throughout the year, we will explore an array of fields including biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, physics, robotics and much more!

Sally Ride Science Festivals
Sally Ride Science Festivals bring together hundreds of girls for a festive day of science and socializing. Parents and teachers are welcome too! Each festival features: an inspiring talk; workshops for girls, given by local veterinarians, astronomers, microbiologists and engineers; workshops for parents and teachers on ways to support girls' interests in science and math; a street fair with hands-on activities, booths, food and music. Reach for the Stars at the annual Sally Ride Science Festival in Southern California.

San Diego Natural History Museum
The San Diego Natural History Museum will be the premier collections-based environmental education and natural history research resource in our region. We will provide programs that are timely, user-friendly, and relevant to the real-life needs of the diverse populations of the San Diego-Baja California region today and tomorrow.

San Diego Science Alliance Resource Catalog
The San Diego Science Alliance (SDSA) provides the Resource Catalog "on-line" to support K-12 education in San Diego. Teachers can find a broad range of resource programs in many subjects related to Science and Mathematics. Use the Find Programs and Resources link to search the catalog by kind of resource, subject area focus, grade range, and audience. Each resource gives a brief description, information about the resource, and contact information for the member organization.

Science Olympiad
The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events, which students prepare for during the year. A regional event takes place in San Diego each year

UCI Chemistry Outreach Program
Although chemistry is so important that it is often called the central science, opportunities to learn chemistry have declined. In the past, lively demonstrations and interesting laboratory experiments were used to engage students in high school chemistry classes. Issues of safety, disposal, and cost now limit teachers' abilities to incorporate demonstrations and laboratory experiments, rendering the subject less exciting and less relevant to the students' daily lives.

The UCI Chemistry Outreach Program was developed to address these issues. In the UCI Chemistry Outreach Program, a graduate student or postdoctoral coordinator sends teams of graduate and undergraduate student volunteers to Orange County schools to perform demonstrations and talk about chemistry. The coordinator contacts the high schools, develops the demonstrations, recruits and trains the volunteers, and supplies the volunteers with materials needed for the demonstrations.

return to top

Disclaimer: Outside of the BIOCOM reports, the links on this site are provided for informational purposes only and have no affiliation with BIOCOM.