HR: 16:40h
AN: ED12D-04 [PDF]
TI: Scientist - Educator Partnerships
AU: * DeVore, E
EM: edevore@seti.org
AF: SETI Institute, 2035 Landings Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043 United States
AB:
Science is the quest for knowledge about the natural world, and scientists are often characterized as driven by curiosity and
the desire to discover, traits they share with children exploring the world through youthful eyes. In contrast, formal
science education at the pre-college and college levels frequently distills the joy of scientific research and discovery into
a body on known facts, laws, and disciplinary studies, loosing the excitement of doing science. When scientists partner with
teachers and other educators, there is an opportunity for engaging students and the public with scientists and their
research projects. Further, scientists provide expertise to create up-to-date and accurate materials for use in classrooms,
science centers, and youth groups. Scientists also see engagement with teachers, students, and the public through science
centers as a means of growing the next generation of scientists to continue the work. Often this process is facilitated by
science education professionals who work at the interface between the worlds of scientific research and formal and informal
education. The partnership between the research scientist and the science education professional can result in improved
science education for a broad community of teachers, students and the public.
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting