NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
December 2011 News & Announcements Alice J. Teter* Journal of Chemical Education, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States ABSTRACT: This article highlights current information of interest to the chemical education community. KEYWORDS: General Public, Public Understanding/Outreach, Conferences, Professional Development
’ RESOURCES FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING CHEMISTRY
Vernier Awards 30 Technology Grants
Vernier Software and Technology has chosen 30 innovative schools to receive its 30th anniversary technology grants. As recipients of the grants, each of the 30 selected schools will receive $10,000 worth of Vernier technology equipment of their choosing. Chosen from nearly 2000 applications, grantees from 10 K 8 schools, 10 high schools, and 10 college or university science departments shared inspiring stories about how they will use the technology and outlined concrete plans for implementation, while demonstrating financial need. To learn more about all of Vernier’s 30th anniversary technology grant winners, visit http://www.vernier.com/30years (accessed Oct 2011).
Inspire the Next Generation of Scientists
Spellbound, a new ACS video series, tells the stories of eight chemists whose childhood curiosity about everyday things helped them launch careers in laboratories, win Nobel Prizes, and accomplish other notable achievements. Free and available at http:// www.acs.org/Spellbound (accessed Oct 2011), http://www. youtube.com/ACSVideoTheater, on iTunes, and on DVD by request (
[email protected]), the videos are suitable for classrooms and other audiences of scientists and nonscientists. Watch them, share them, and encourage educators, museums, science centers, news organizations, and others to do so also.
’ DECEMBER DEADLINES
U.S. News and World Report Rankings: Best High Schools for Math and Science
Kids in Need Teacher Grants
U.S. News and World Report released its first-ever edition of the Best High Schools for Math and Science during the U.S. News STEM Summit: Making Science Cool: Solving the Shortage of Math and Science Students. According to U.S. News, the list of 200-plus schools was drawn from the U.S. News Best High School rankings (published in December 2009) based on the performance of students in a series of AP math and science classes using 2008 graduating class data. U.S. News also launched the U.S. News STEM Education Center where “users can browse viewpoints from top experts in the field, rankings of top STEM schools, and stories about programs and people that are making a difference”. “The Best High Schools for Math and Science rankings were developed as part of U.S. News’s larger initiative to provide consumers with the latest news, research, and resources concerning STEM education”, said U.S. News and World Report Editor and Chief Content Officer, Brian Kelly. To see the list of schools and a description of the evaluating criteria, go to http://education.usnews. rankingsandreviews.com/best-high-schools (accessed Oct 2011).
The Kids In Need Foundation, in its third year partnering with LOFT Loves Teachers program, supports the Kids In Need Teacher Grants. These grants will be awarded to approximately 100 teachers so they may purchase supplies needed to conduct innovative projects in their classrooms. Funding from $100 to $500 is available for original classroom projects. Grant requests may be submitted online at http://www. kinf.org/ (accessed Oct 2011) until December 9, 2011. The Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Grants program recognizes the creativity of teachers and alleviates the need for teachers to reach into their own pockets to pay for materials to do special projects. LOFT Loves Teachers honors the daily commitment teachers make in and out of the classroom and is dedicated to providing teachers with necessary classroom tools. Kids In Need encourages teachers to register for LOFT’s teacher appreciation program at http://LOFTLovesTeachers.com/ (accessed Oct 2011) and learn about the perks LOFT offers educators.
’ NOVEMBER DEADLINES
Online Science Courses
Montana State University’s Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on both pedagogy and science content. It offers a variety of online and campus courses across many disciplines, and now includes several online courses. A highlight for spring 2012 is Snow and Avalanche Physics for Science Teachers. Students need not be enrolled in the master’s program to take courses. Learn more at http://www.montana.edu/msse (accessed Oct 2011). Copyright r 2011 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.
Grants for Data-Collection Technology in the Classroom Available for Teachers at All Levels
Vernier Software and Technology and the National Science Teachers’ Association (NSTA) are accepting applications for the annual Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards. The awards, valued at $3000 each, will recognize up to seven educators who demonstrate the best inquiry-based, hands-on learning activities Published: October 12, 2011 1597
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Journal of Chemical Education using data-collection technology interfaced with computers, TI graphing calculators, and other hand-held devices such as the Vernier LabQuest Datalogger. Each award consists of $1000 in cash, $1000 in Vernier equipment, and up to $1000 toward travel and expenses for attending NSTA’s 2012 National Convention. Award recipients, including one elementary teacher, two middle school teachers, three high school teachers, and one college-level educator, will be chosen based on their application, which is judged by a panel of NSTA-appointed experts. All applications, either selfnominated or nominated by a colleague, are due by November 30, 2011. Last year’s winning entries encompassed a wide-range of datacollection activities, including the testing of gravitational force on model cars, the benefits of aerobic activity, the effectiveness of filter design to purify water, the technology and biomechanical analysis to improve athletic performance, and more. For more information and to prepare your 2012 entry, visit http://www.vernier.com/grants/nsta.html (accessed Oct 2011).
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
’ DO YOU HAVE NEWS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO SHARE? If you have news or announcements of interest to the chemical education community, send a brief description to Alice Teter at
[email protected].
’ AUTHOR INFORMATION Corresponding Author
*E-mail:
[email protected].
DivCHED International Travel Award
The Division of Chemical Education (DivCHED) funds a travel award each year in support of a division member who presents and fully participates in an international chemical education conference held outside the United States. The awardee will have the responsibility to communicate information and insights gained at the conference to the membership through available CHED publications and by postings on the DivCHED Web site. Applications for the 2012 award are due November 30, 2011. Information about eligibility and the application process can be found at http://www.divched.org/ (accessed Oct 2011).
’ WEB SITES OF ONGOING INTEREST A number of Web sites regularly add information about programs and funding sources for science educators. These sites sometimes post dates and deadlines too late to make it into print. Here is a partial list of such sites. We encourage you to visit them often (all accessed Oct 2011). • ACS Grants and Scholarships: http://www.acs.org/ (Home > Funding & Awards > Grants) • ACS Meetings: http://www.acs.org/ Home > Meetings • Dorothy and Moses Passer Education Fund: http://www. divched.org/content/awards • International Year of Chemistry: http://www.chemistry2011.org/ • National Science Foundation (NSF): http://www.nsf.gov/ funding/ • NSF Education and Human Resources: http://www.nsf. gov/dir/index.jsp?org=EHR • NSTA New Science Teacher Academy: http://www.nsta. org/academy/ • Pittcon 2012: http://www.pittcon.org/ • Research Corporation for Science Advancement (Cottrell Awards): http://www.rescorp.org/ • Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge: http:// www.wecanchange.com/ • Toyota TAPESTRY Grants: http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry/ • Vernier Technology Awards: http://www.vernier.com/grants/ nsta/ 1598
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