CEE and Purdue University Host Bite of Science to Strengthen Science Teaching

Sept. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Purdue University will host the Bite of Science dinner event for high school teachers at the Discovery Learning Research Center, in Discovery Park at Purdue University.  The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 26th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Science teachers and teachers of humanities who wish to broaden their perspective of science in their classroom are invited to participate.  

The mission of the Teacher Enrichment Program helps to assure a future talented and diverse U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  It focuses on best practices and resources, as well as exposure to the breadth and depth of scientific discovery, often not available to rural and urban high school teachers and their students.  The Bite of Science professional development opportunities for teachers is estimated to impact at least 9,375 Indiana students in 2012.

The Teacher Enrichment Program will provide content and information to teachers so they can engage students to become interested in pursuing STEM careers.  

CEE will feature Dr. Clark Gedney, Director, Bio Media Center for Instructional Computing, Purdue University and Co-Director of the USA Biology Olympiad and Dr. Barrett Caldwell, Professor of Industrial Engineering, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University and Director of the Indiana Space Grant Consortium.   They will discuss their work and relate it back to the classroom.  

“I am excited to speak about the research that I have conducted in the Bio Media Center at Purdue University and my experiences as a Co-Director of CEE’s USA Biology Olympiad at the Bite of Science dinner event,” said Dr. Clark Gedney.  “I am truly dedicated to enriching science education for teachers and students and to encouraging careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

The goals of the Teacher Enrichment Program are to:
•   Provide teachers with enhanced professional development
•   Furnish the opportunity for teachers to ask questions and to interact directly with scientists and engineers
•   Foster excitement in teachers to create an interest for students in STEM fields
•   Inform teachers so they have a better understanding of research and development
•   Allow teachers the opportunity to network with their peers

Contact Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer, Director of the Teacher Enrichment Program, at nschuh@cee.org to attend the cost-free event offered by CEE.

About the Center for Excellence in Education
The Center for Excellence in Education was founded in 1983 by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro, President of the Center. The Center's mission is to nurture high school and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and to encourage collaboration between and among leaders in the global community. CEE sponsors the Research Science Institute (RSI), the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), and the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP). For more information about the Center and its programs, visit CEE’s Web site, www.cee.org

Media Contacts:  
Maureen Palmer, 703-448-9062 ext. 222, mpalmer@cee.org
Phillip Fiorini, 765-496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu

Sources:   
Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer, 434-825-4777, nschuh@cee.org
Clark Gedney, 765-494-4921, cgedney@purdue.edu
Barrett Caldwell, 765-494-5412, bscaldwell@purdue.edu

Related websites:
Center for Excellence in Education: http://www.cee.org
Teacher Enrichment Program: http://www.cee.org/teacher-enrichment-program-tep
College of Science: http://www.science.purdue.edu
Discovery Park: http://www.purdue.edu/dp